Coach Wayne Hoover

Coach Harold Wayne Hoover, age 84 of Park Lane, Lexington passed away Saturday, November 29, 2008 at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Lexington with the Rev. Dr. Ray Howell, III and Rev. Tommy Wilson officiating. Burial will follow at Lexington City Cemetery. Coach Hoover was born on March 14, 1924 in Guilford County to Cossie Waywood Hoover and Addie Leigh Wood Hoover. He was a dedicated teacher, instructor and coach of sports and physical education throughout his career. After graduating from High Point College in 1949, he taught and coached at Pilot Mountain High School, then received a masters degree from Peabody College and became athletic director at Pilot High School. From 1955 to 1957 he was a basketball coach and director of Intermurals at High Point College. During 1957 to 1966 he served as athletic director, taught and coached all sports at Central Davidson High School, won state championships four times, won NC State 2A Championship in 1961, named NC Basketball Coach of the Year in 1963, was named NC Basketball “Coach of the Year” in 1963 and coached in NC High School Basketball All Star Game in 1963. During 1966 until 1975 he taught and coached basketball and golf at Lexington High School winning the State Championship in 1969 and 1971. He was an ACT Teacher of the Year, president of CCCC Association, lifetime member of NC High School Athletic Association and received many other achievements and awards over the years. Coach Hoover was an instructor of basketball at Camp Play-Mor in Windy Hill Beach, SC and operated the Beach Patrol for 27 years. In 2002, he was a charter inductee into the Davidson County Sports Hall of Fame. “He dedicated his life to being a loving father, caring teacher, instructor of sports and physical education to young students spanning years from kindergarten through college.” A member of First Baptist Church Lexington, he was a teacher for the Intermediate Boys Sunday School. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942-1946, serving in the Pacific Theatre of Operations. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW, Lexington Moose Lodge, Life Member of the Elks and served as Exhaulted Ruler four different times. Surviving are his loving wife, Mary Frances Rich Hoover, whom he married in 1948; sons Harold Hoover and wife Margaret of Durham, Brad Hoover of Lake City, FL and Kenny Hoover and wife Tracy of Lexington; daughters Ann Hoover, Jane H. Hensley and husband Jeff of Lexington and Donna H. McDuffie and husband David of Charlotte; grandchildren Evan Hoover and wife Andrea, Jordan, Taite and Jackson McCarthy, Will and Drew Hoover and Abby and Katie McDuffie; two great-grandchildren Madeline and Charlie Hoover; a sister Margaret Peeler of High Point. The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 pm Tuesday at Davidson Funeral Home Lexington Chapel and other times at the home. In lieu of flowers the family request memorials to be made to the Coach Wayne Hoover Scholarship Fund, c/o BBT of Lexington, P.O. Box 209, Lexington, NC 27293.