Remembering Jimmy

May 13, 2007

Chris Whitaker

AMERICUS — Jimmy Hightower laughed so hard, his eyes watered.

Story after story and memory after memory were brought back to life Thursday night when the Panther Club honored Hightower for his contributions to Americus’ sports programs, particularly football, at South Georgia Tech’s John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center.

From his son, David, describing what it was like growing up as a coach’s son to some of his players’ first impressions of him, Hightower said the event ranked right up there with some of the things he’s enjoyed most.

“I’ve been real blessed with honors in coaching, the sports hall of fame and coaching hall of fame, and this ranks right up there with him,” he said. “Some of the guys there were the first group I ever coached and some were in the last group at Americus. I was surprised at so many different people that was there.”

Hightower, 77, won seven state championships in his 17 years at Americus from 1954-71— two in football, three in golf and one in baseball and men’s basketball — and many of his former players would say he helped shape their lives today.

He always believed in discipline and that winning would take care of itself if the right things were being done, and that’s how he had a record of 103-16-4 in his 10 seasons as head football coach. He also coached the only football program at Georgia Southwestern from 1982-89.

“You had to do your best every time you lined up, I grew up like that,” said Hightower. “If you did everything else, your chances of winning were better.”

One of the first players he influenced the most was Dan Reeves.

Reeves was selected to play in the state’s football and basketball all-star games his senior year, but by rule, he could only play in one because they were played the same week. He won a state championship in baseball and basketball under Hightower that year, and he preferred to play in the state’s all-star basketball game, especially if Hightower would be the coach. However, Hightower was unsure if he would be selected or not.

Reeves played in the football game and was named the Most Valuable Player as quarterback. He went on to be a standout at South Carolina and played halfback in the NFL for eight seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.

He never expected to go into coaching when he was in high school, but after being a player-coach for the Cowboys, Reeves coached in the NFL for 23 years, winning 10 or more games in nine seasons. He built the Denver Broncos into a dynasty in the 1980s in which they played in three Super Bowls, and he led the Atlanta Falcons to their first Super Bowl in 1998.

Reeves said if it wasn’t for Hightower that he may not have had as much success in his life or coaching career.

“You don’t know when people come into your life how it will affect you at the time, but when I look back it, there were some things he did that greatly influenced how I handled different situations, and I was very fortunate to have a man like coach Hightower to teach me those things,” he said. “There’s no question it was the techniques, fundamentals and him also being extremely well-organized.”

Reeves was one of two NFL coaches Hightower produced. The other was Chan Gailey, current Georgia Tech head coach.

Gailey and Reeves once coached against each other in the NFL on Monday Night Football when Gailey was with the Cowboys and Reeves was with the Falcons. Hightower attended and watched Gailey’s Cowboys win. He said he was thrilled to watch his former players coach.

“I was really proud of them,” Hightower said. “They did the things the right way.”

Gailey said integrity was the most valuable lesson he learned from Hightower.

“He is one of the main reasons I am in coaching today,” he said. “I saw his life, what he stood for, and I saw what he did for young men like me. If I could give something back to people that he gave me, that’s a great profession to be in.”

Reeves and Gailey were two of many who Hightower inspired. Hightower said he enjoyed watching his players grow up, and it was exciting to see several of his players return and see what professions they chose.

“I liked the fact I could see where they start out and where they end up,” he said. “When they were little I never thought about that, but I’m proud to see what they’ve accomplished and the people they are.”

Carl “Pepper” Ryals was a member of Hightower’s 1962 championship team. He described Hightower as a man of high character and integrity and someone who demanded 100 percent in sports and in life.

“We were always ready for every opportunity that we had,” he said. “He taught us that there really isn’t anything in life that you can’t accomplish if you work at it.”

Maybe one of the biggest challenges Hightower faced was raising two of his children as a single parent.

His oldest son, David, got to see the life of his father firsthand, at home and then at school as a coach. While it was hard at the time, David said his father did a great job with them.

“Looking back on it, the very thing of him raising us probably wasn’t an easy choice to make,” he said. “The way he handled his career and work and family ... We can only try to live up to those things that he taught us.”

Hightower admitted Thursday that he was harder on David when he was in high school, but David said he turned out well.

“He taught us that winning encompasses a lot of things, not just the score,” he said. “Winning the wrong way isn’t winning. You win with class. He’s a very good definition of winning.”



More on Hightower



David Hightower

son, played for Hightower, 1968-70

Sr. Account Executive, Blue Cross-Blue Shield



On how Hightower shaped his players’ lives:

“He demonstrated to them that he really cared. There were no question what his expectations were. You didn’t have to be perfect, but his expectations were that we tried to be He taught us inegrity, ethics and to have class.”



Dan Reeves

played for Hightower, 1958-1961

CBS NFL radio announce and

current Georgia State consultant



On what Hightower meant to him:

“I was just tickled to death that he was there for me at a young age. He greatly influenced my life playing football and basketball, and I am truly blessed.”



Chan Gailey

played for Hightower, 1967-70

Georgia Tech head football coach



On Hightower shaping the lives of his players:

“He was always doing things the right way. That is what impressed you. He didn’t take shortcuts. What he said is what happened, and you learned to realize the right way to do things.”



Carl “Pepper” Ryals

played for Hightower, 1959-63

VP of HN Commercial Real Estate in Peachtree City



On what Hightower meant to him:

“He is one of the main reasons I owe a lot of my success in life to him and that my character and willpower and my confidence and motivation comes from years spent under him.”

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