Clif Knight

Hartselle Enquirer

Morgan County School Board approved a request from Danville High School to name its gym “Wayne Bowling Gymnasium” in honor of Coach Wayne Bowling at a regular monthly meeting Sept. 10.

The board acted on the request with a unanimous vote, after which the honoree was given a standing ovation.

Board Chairman Billy Rhodes, a retired schoolteacher, recalled watching Bowling play basketball at the former Austinville High School in Decatur.

“He was an excellent high school and college basketball player and an outstanding basketball coach,” Rhodes said,  “It’s about time for him to be recognized. This is a well deserved honor.”

“It’s an honor for me to be part of the group that is recognizing Coach Bowling for his achievement s and many years of service to teaching and coaching in the Morgan County School system,” said Superintendent Bill Hopkins Jr.

District 2 (Danville) board member Adam Glenn, who played for Coach Bowling, and other board members expressed their congratulations.

“I feel honored to have played a small part in this,” Glenn said. “You helped lots of young boys become men. You taught sound principles and they included humility, You taught us to raise a hand when we were called for a fowl.”

“I appreciate this so much,” Bowling told the board. “I turned 74 recently and I spent half of my life (37 years) teaching and coaching. I hope I was able the young people I coached.”

Bowling continues to be active in sports.

“I play softball for a church team and still try to play some basketball over at West Morgan High School,” he said. “I also do some running and enjoy spending time with my grandkids.”

Danville High Principal Marty Chambers said plans are in the making to have a Sunday afternoon set aside later in the school year to honor Coach Bowling.