Floyd: Legendary coach Turbeville left indelible impression as a teen

I met Coach Joe Turbeville only once, for less than 30 minutes nearly 60 years ago, but I remember that meeting as if it were yesterday. It was the night of Nov. 26, 1958, and Joe and I had just played in a post-season high school football game, the Pee Dee Tobacco Bowl in Florence. I think it was the last one. One team represented high schools west of the Pee Dee River, the other the east side.

Joe was from Mullins, and I was from Kingstree, and we played on opposing teams. I was offensive right guard, Joe was defensive left guard, and I spent the whole night trying to block Joe. It was a battle. I don’t recall our saying a word as we slammed into each other. It was a hard, clean-fought game, this struggle between us, one without trash talking.

When the game was over — Joe’s team won — I showered and was getting dressed when I saw a big young man come into our locker room. He asked for me. It was Joe. He wanted to shake my hand and say “good game.” Somehow we hit it off, and we chatted for a few minutes. We were both 17, both seniors, and our lives were ahead of us.

Samuel Johnson said of Edmund Burke that anyone who spent 10 minutes with him under a shed seeking protection from the rain would realize he was talking to a genius. I’m no Samuel Johnson, and Joe was no Edmund Burke, but I felt then that I was talking with a boy who would become a man of integrity, honesty and principle. After 15 minutes talking with this boy from Mullins, I knew I had met an extraordinary young man, one blessed with intelligence and character. He made an indelible impression upon me.

I haven’t seen or spoken with Joe since that November night in 1958, but I recalled my bright image of him when I read about his death and the wonderful things people had to say about him. My assessment of Joe Turbeville was right almost six decades ago. He did become a special kind of man, one whom people would love and respect.

This story was originally published February 8, 2016 at 12:37 PM with the headline "Floyd: Legendary coach Turbeville left indelible impression as a teen."