Legendary NC High School Football Coach Jack Holley, age 74 died peacefully Monday afternoon, May 20, 2013 at his home in Teachey, NC after a two week stay in Duke Hospital due to complications of myelofibrosis, a rare type of chronic leukemia.
Born August 15, 1938 in the Ashton area of Pender Co, NC, he was the son of the late William Harvey Holley and Doris Thelma Pershake. He was also predeceased by a brother, William "Bill" Holley a sister, Joyce Ann Holley and a grandson, Battle David Inwalle.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Judith Carol "Judy" Wells Holley of the home, two daughters, Julianne Williams and husband Al of Kenansville, NC and Jemma Inwalle and husband Scott of Wallace, NC, a son, Battle Holley and wife Brook of Pin Hook, NC, seven grandchildren, Candace and Trey Williams, both of Kenansville, NC, Walker and Anna Jack Imwalle, both of Wallace, NC, Anastan, Tabor and Bennett Holley of Pin Hook, NC and a great granddaughter, Ellisan Smith.
Jack graduated from New Hanover High School in 1957 where he played on four championship teams in three different sports to include football, basketball and baseball. After graduating from New Hanover High School, Jack attended Guilford College where he also played football. Holley was born to coach, and after graduating from Guilford College in 1963 he went on coaching football for the next 48 years with a record of 412-96-9 in 44 seasons as head coach holding the record for the most wins in history in the state of North Carolina. Holley also coached numerous conference championship games, which has put him in the top ten of football coaches nationally. Holley also coached in both the North Carolina Coaches Association East-West all-star games and the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. In October, 2011 ESPN's high school site ranked Coach Holley as eighth, making him a national leader in all-time victories. Holley coached for several high schools including Carolina Military Academy, Tabor City High School, Hallsboro High School, West Columbus High School, South Columbus High School, Wallace-Rose Hill High School and Harrells Christian Academy. Jack's record included 14 state championship title appearances and in 2008, while coaching at Harrells Christian Academy, he led his team to a win earning a NCISAA Championship State Title. His teams at Wallace-Rose Hill appeared in back-to-back title games in the state 1-AA championships, losing each by one point to Thomasville in 2004 and 2005. In 1998, Coach Holley was inducted into the Guilford College Hall of Fame and in 2007, inducted into the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame. Jack was inducted into the NCHSAA (North Carolina High School Athletic Association) Hall of Fame in 2014 and was represented on his behalf by his wife, Judy Holley during special halftime ceremonies at Kenan Stadium when North Carolina played Georgia Tech. Holley was later officially inducted into the NCHSAA during the special Hall of Fame banquet held in Chapel Hill, NC. Holley was also posthumously inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in Raleigh, NC on May 5, 2017.
Holley announced his retirement from coaching in May of 2007 while at Wallace-Rose Hill High School, but returned to the profession at Harrells Christian Academy where he remained until declining health later forced him to permanently retire in 2011. Holley is credited with changing the game of high school football in North Carolina by utilizing the weight room, a practice he introduced while coaching at Tabor City in 1964. Holley beleived that weight lifting made his boys stronger and much faster running players. His teams were known for being tough, aggressive squads that played great defense, depended on the run and rarely made mistakes. He also served in the United States Army as a cook at Ft. Benning, Ga. Coach Holley was a member of the Wallace Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and golfing but especially enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren.
Funeral Services were held Friday, May, 24 2013, 6:00 p.m. at the Thell B. Overman Field, Legion Stadium in Wallace, NC conducted by Dr. Philip Gladden. Burial followed in Rockfish Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Many of the estimated 2,500 in attendance lit up the stands in school colors of those programs Holley coached and played for.
Pallbearers were Battle Holley, Trey Williams, Julianne Williams, Scott Imwalle, Walker Imwalle, Jemma Imwalle, Adam Scronce and Adam Soles.
In lieu of flowers, everyone was encouraged to make memorial contributions to Coach Jack Holley's Lunch Box Fund, First Bank, 517 North Norwood St., Wallace, NC 28466. The family also requested that everyone become a blood donor and could contact their local Red Cross for more information.
Padgett Funeral Home of Wallace, NC served the Holley family.
Born August 15, 1938 in the Ashton area of Pender Co, NC, he was the son of the late William Harvey Holley and Doris Thelma Pershake. He was also predeceased by a brother, William "Bill" Holley a sister, Joyce Ann Holley and a grandson, Battle David Inwalle.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Judith Carol "Judy" Wells Holley of the home, two daughters, Julianne Williams and husband Al of Kenansville, NC and Jemma Inwalle and husband Scott of Wallace, NC, a son, Battle Holley and wife Brook of Pin Hook, NC, seven grandchildren, Candace and Trey Williams, both of Kenansville, NC, Walker and Anna Jack Imwalle, both of Wallace, NC, Anastan, Tabor and Bennett Holley of Pin Hook, NC and a great granddaughter, Ellisan Smith.
Jack graduated from New Hanover High School in 1957 where he played on four championship teams in three different sports to include football, basketball and baseball. After graduating from New Hanover High School, Jack attended Guilford College where he also played football. Holley was born to coach, and after graduating from Guilford College in 1963 he went on coaching football for the next 48 years with a record of 412-96-9 in 44 seasons as head coach holding the record for the most wins in history in the state of North Carolina. Holley also coached numerous conference championship games, which has put him in the top ten of football coaches nationally. Holley also coached in both the North Carolina Coaches Association East-West all-star games and the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. In October, 2011 ESPN's high school site ranked Coach Holley as eighth, making him a national leader in all-time victories. Holley coached for several high schools including Carolina Military Academy, Tabor City High School, Hallsboro High School, West Columbus High School, South Columbus High School, Wallace-Rose Hill High School and Harrells Christian Academy. Jack's record included 14 state championship title appearances and in 2008, while coaching at Harrells Christian Academy, he led his team to a win earning a NCISAA Championship State Title. His teams at Wallace-Rose Hill appeared in back-to-back title games in the state 1-AA championships, losing each by one point to Thomasville in 2004 and 2005. In 1998, Coach Holley was inducted into the Guilford College Hall of Fame and in 2007, inducted into the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame. Jack was inducted into the NCHSAA (North Carolina High School Athletic Association) Hall of Fame in 2014 and was represented on his behalf by his wife, Judy Holley during special halftime ceremonies at Kenan Stadium when North Carolina played Georgia Tech. Holley was later officially inducted into the NCHSAA during the special Hall of Fame banquet held in Chapel Hill, NC. Holley was also posthumously inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in Raleigh, NC on May 5, 2017.
Holley announced his retirement from coaching in May of 2007 while at Wallace-Rose Hill High School, but returned to the profession at Harrells Christian Academy where he remained until declining health later forced him to permanently retire in 2011. Holley is credited with changing the game of high school football in North Carolina by utilizing the weight room, a practice he introduced while coaching at Tabor City in 1964. Holley beleived that weight lifting made his boys stronger and much faster running players. His teams were known for being tough, aggressive squads that played great defense, depended on the run and rarely made mistakes. He also served in the United States Army as a cook at Ft. Benning, Ga. Coach Holley was a member of the Wallace Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and golfing but especially enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren.
Funeral Services were held Friday, May, 24 2013, 6:00 p.m. at the Thell B. Overman Field, Legion Stadium in Wallace, NC conducted by Dr. Philip Gladden. Burial followed in Rockfish Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Many of the estimated 2,500 in attendance lit up the stands in school colors of those programs Holley coached and played for.
Pallbearers were Battle Holley, Trey Williams, Julianne Williams, Scott Imwalle, Walker Imwalle, Jemma Imwalle, Adam Scronce and Adam Soles.
In lieu of flowers, everyone was encouraged to make memorial contributions to Coach Jack Holley's Lunch Box Fund, First Bank, 517 North Norwood St., Wallace, NC 28466. The family also requested that everyone become a blood donor and could contact their local Red Cross for more information.
Padgett Funeral Home of Wallace, NC served the Holley family.
Legendary NC High School Football Coach Jack Holley, age 74 died peacefully Monday afternoon, May 20, 2013 at his home in Teachey, NC after a two week stay in Duke Hospital due to complications of myelofibrosis, a rare type of chronic leukemia.
Born August 15, 1938 in the Ashton area of Pender Co, NC, he was the son of the late William Harvey Holley and Doris Thelma Pershake. He was also predeceased by a brother, William "Bill" Holley a sister, Joyce Ann Holley and a grandson, Battle David Inwalle.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Judith Carol "Judy" Wells Holley of the home, two daughters, Julianne Williams and husband Al of Kenansville, NC and Jemma Inwalle and husband Scott of Wallace, NC, a son, Battle Holley and wife Brook of Pin Hook, NC, seven grandchildren, Candace and Trey Williams, both of Kenansville, NC, Walker and Anna Jack Imwalle, both of Wallace, NC, Anastan, Tabor and Bennett Holley of Pin Hook, NC and a great granddaughter, Ellisan Smith.
Jack graduated from New Hanover High School in 1957 where he played on four championship teams in three different sports to include football, basketball and baseball. After graduating from New Hanover High School, Jack attended Guilford College where he also played football. Holley was born to coach, and after graduating from Guilford College in 1963 he went on coaching football for the next 48 years with a record of 412-96-9 in 44 seasons as head coach holding the record for the most wins in history in the state of North Carolina. Holley also coached numerous conference championship games, which has put him in the top ten of football coaches nationally. Holley also coached in both the North Carolina Coaches Association East-West all-star games and the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. In October, 2011 ESPN's high school site ranked Coach Holley as eighth, making him a national leader in all-time victories. Holley coached for several high schools including Carolina Military Academy, Tabor City High School, Hallsboro High School, West Columbus High School, South Columbus High School, Wallace-Rose Hill High School and Harrells Christian Academy. Jack's record included 14 state championship title appearances and in 2008, while coaching at Harrells Christian Academy, he led his team to a win earning a NCISAA Championship State Title. His teams at Wallace-Rose Hill appeared in back-to-back title games in the state 1-AA championships, losing each by one point to Thomasville in 2004 and 2005. In 1998, Coach Holley was inducted into the Guilford College Hall of Fame and in 2007, inducted into the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame. Jack was inducted into the NCHSAA (North Carolina High School Athletic Association) Hall of Fame in 2014 and was represented on his behalf by his wife, Judy Holley during special halftime ceremonies at Kenan Stadium when North Carolina played Georgia Tech. Holley was later officially inducted into the NCHSAA during the special Hall of Fame banquet held in Chapel Hill, NC. Holley was also posthumously inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in Raleigh, NC on May 5, 2017.
Holley announced his retirement from coaching in May of 2007 while at Wallace-Rose Hill High School, but returned to the profession at Harrells Christian Academy where he remained until declining health later forced him to permanently retire in 2011. Holley is credited with changing the game of high school football in North Carolina by utilizing the weight room, a practice he introduced while coaching at Tabor City in 1964. Holley beleived that weight lifting made his boys stronger and much faster running players. His teams were known for being tough, aggressive squads that played great defense, depended on the run and rarely made mistakes. He also served in the United States Army as a cook at Ft. Benning, Ga. Coach Holley was a member of the Wallace Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and golfing but especially enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren.
Funeral Services were held Friday, May, 24 2013, 6:00 p.m. at the Thell B. Overman Field, Legion Stadium in Wallace, NC conducted by Dr. Philip Gladden. Burial followed in Rockfish Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Many of the estimated 2,500 in attendance lit up the stands in school colors of those programs Holley coached and played for.
Pallbearers were Battle Holley, Trey Williams, Julianne Williams, Scott Imwalle, Walker Imwalle, Jemma Imwalle, Adam Scronce and Adam Soles.
In lieu of flowers, everyone was encouraged to make memorial contributions to Coach Jack Holley's Lunch Box Fund, First Bank, 517 North Norwood St., Wallace, NC 28466. The family also requested that everyone become a blood donor and could contact their local Red Cross for more information.
Padgett Funeral Home of Wallace, NC served the Holley family.
Born August 15, 1938 in the Ashton area of Pender Co, NC, he was the son of the late William Harvey Holley and Doris Thelma Pershake. He was also predeceased by a brother, William "Bill" Holley a sister, Joyce Ann Holley and a grandson, Battle David Inwalle.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Judith Carol "Judy" Wells Holley of the home, two daughters, Julianne Williams and husband Al of Kenansville, NC and Jemma Inwalle and husband Scott of Wallace, NC, a son, Battle Holley and wife Brook of Pin Hook, NC, seven grandchildren, Candace and Trey Williams, both of Kenansville, NC, Walker and Anna Jack Imwalle, both of Wallace, NC, Anastan, Tabor and Bennett Holley of Pin Hook, NC and a great granddaughter, Ellisan Smith.
Jack graduated from New Hanover High School in 1957 where he played on four championship teams in three different sports to include football, basketball and baseball. After graduating from New Hanover High School, Jack attended Guilford College where he also played football. Holley was born to coach, and after graduating from Guilford College in 1963 he went on coaching football for the next 48 years with a record of 412-96-9 in 44 seasons as head coach holding the record for the most wins in history in the state of North Carolina. Holley also coached numerous conference championship games, which has put him in the top ten of football coaches nationally. Holley also coached in both the North Carolina Coaches Association East-West all-star games and the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. In October, 2011 ESPN's high school site ranked Coach Holley as eighth, making him a national leader in all-time victories. Holley coached for several high schools including Carolina Military Academy, Tabor City High School, Hallsboro High School, West Columbus High School, South Columbus High School, Wallace-Rose Hill High School and Harrells Christian Academy. Jack's record included 14 state championship title appearances and in 2008, while coaching at Harrells Christian Academy, he led his team to a win earning a NCISAA Championship State Title. His teams at Wallace-Rose Hill appeared in back-to-back title games in the state 1-AA championships, losing each by one point to Thomasville in 2004 and 2005. In 1998, Coach Holley was inducted into the Guilford College Hall of Fame and in 2007, inducted into the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame. Jack was inducted into the NCHSAA (North Carolina High School Athletic Association) Hall of Fame in 2014 and was represented on his behalf by his wife, Judy Holley during special halftime ceremonies at Kenan Stadium when North Carolina played Georgia Tech. Holley was later officially inducted into the NCHSAA during the special Hall of Fame banquet held in Chapel Hill, NC. Holley was also posthumously inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in Raleigh, NC on May 5, 2017.
Holley announced his retirement from coaching in May of 2007 while at Wallace-Rose Hill High School, but returned to the profession at Harrells Christian Academy where he remained until declining health later forced him to permanently retire in 2011. Holley is credited with changing the game of high school football in North Carolina by utilizing the weight room, a practice he introduced while coaching at Tabor City in 1964. Holley beleived that weight lifting made his boys stronger and much faster running players. His teams were known for being tough, aggressive squads that played great defense, depended on the run and rarely made mistakes. He also served in the United States Army as a cook at Ft. Benning, Ga. Coach Holley was a member of the Wallace Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and golfing but especially enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren.
Funeral Services were held Friday, May, 24 2013, 6:00 p.m. at the Thell B. Overman Field, Legion Stadium in Wallace, NC conducted by Dr. Philip Gladden. Burial followed in Rockfish Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Many of the estimated 2,500 in attendance lit up the stands in school colors of those programs Holley coached and played for.
Pallbearers were Battle Holley, Trey Williams, Julianne Williams, Scott Imwalle, Walker Imwalle, Jemma Imwalle, Adam Scronce and Adam Soles.
In lieu of flowers, everyone was encouraged to make memorial contributions to Coach Jack Holley's Lunch Box Fund, First Bank, 517 North Norwood St., Wallace, NC 28466. The family also requested that everyone become a blood donor and could contact their local Red Cross for more information.
Padgett Funeral Home of Wallace, NC served the Holley family.
