The Richmond County Board of Education on Tuesday approved naming Laney's football field after a longtime coach who helped lead the school to glory for parts of five decades.
David Dupree coached the Wildcats for 35 years, led them to two state titles in the all-black Georgia Interscholastic Association (1961, 1966) and sent six players to the NFL.
The 1966 season, which included victories over teams from three states, remains the school's only season with no losses and no ties, according to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association.
Dupree, 84, was inducted into the Georgia High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. He retired in 1983 with 210 career wins after 26 season as head coach.
He was an assistant for nine seasons under the school's first coach, John Tutt.
Dupree "is a legend," said Otis Smart, Laney's athletic director, who once coached under Dupree and still considers him a close friend. "He was a real motivator and touched a lot of people's lives around here."
A public group called the David Dupree Steering Committee has been meeting since May to organize events during the weekend of the school's first home football game, Sept. 4 against Screven County, said committee member Curtis Smith.
"We're still figuring what we want to do," he said, mentioning possibilities of dedicating a plaque to Dupree, having the coach honored with a pregame ceremony and staging a gala to launch a foundation for Dupree.
The school board's building committee discussed the measure to name the field for Dupree early Tuesday, and the board approved it 6-0 with no one abstaining.
Reach Matt Middleton at (706) 823-3425 or matt.middleton@augustachronicle.com.
DUPREE'S CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
David Dupree retired in 1983 after 26 years as Laney's head football coach and 35 years with the program; he was an assistant under John Tutt.
RECORD: 210-73-12
TEAM HONORS: Two Georgia Interscholastic Association state titles (1961, '66); one season without a loss or a tie (1966); six players who went on to play in the NFL
INDIVIDUAL HONORS: Georgia High School Sports Hall of Fame (1992); future namesake of Laney's football field
OF NOTE: Dupree was Laney's track coach from 1949-70. After retiring from Laney, he coached track at Paine College.
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Wait until homecoming PLEASE.
Thanks to the board Coach Dupree deserves this tribute. I agree with the previous comment if at all possible PLEASE wait until HOMECOMING for the field dedication.
Yeah this will bring more Alumni and friends out in support of this event. I need to contact them ASAP.
I wish the NFL players were all listed. I believe Emerson Boozer, William Banks & Curtis Rouse were three of them. Coach Dupree is a legend. Even later in his career he out-coached teams that had more talent and beat them.
I remember coach very well. He deserves this honor. He is also a good person as well.God willing, I will be at this dedication.
Isn't the stadium already named Duprre-Tutt ?Or is it just the FIELD that is being named after Dupree???? Somebody please clarify this for me..
I would like to THANK GOD in advance for allowing us to have the opportunity. Coach David Dupree has produce a FOOTBALL LEGACY, That has stood the test of the truely awsome development of African-American success on the football gridiron. JELLYROLL/55 ONE OF THE LAST OF THE DUPREE LEGACEY PLAYERS. SEE YOU THEIR.FROM KABUL AFGAHNISTAN,DARRICK D. BELL PRICE CLASS OF 1984.
I am pleased to know that Coach David "Duke" Dupree is going to be honored in this fashion. Back in the 70's, when "Duke" came to Sand Bar Ferry Jr. High and gave me a ride to football practice at Laney High, I knew he was serious about football and my development into his program at Laney. I played first string in my first year at Laney because I was serious too, along with being "tough as nails". I played all 3 years and went on to J.C.Smith University on a scholarship ("Dukes" Alma Mata). I currently hold a B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering and work as a Principal Product Development Engineer (in the Advanced Microcontroller & Architecture Division) at MicroChip Technology Systems, Phoenix, AZ. I WILL NOT MISS THIS EVENT ...I WILL BE THERE ... I am coming home. ~Bearman~