Memorial association raising funds to honor late coach William "Tootie" Carter
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
TOWN OF MAN A memorial association named for a longtime Man High School football coach and the first black head football coach in West Virginia is raising funds to honor the local legend.
Former players and community members launched the William “Tootie” Carter Memorial Association in January with a goal of raising $200,000 to fund a statue in his honor and eventually create a scholarship for local high school students. The initial fundraising project will focus on the design, construction and erection of the memorial. The association plans to have the monument located at William “Tootie” Carter Memorial Football Field at Man High School.
Chad Lusk, the association’s treasurer and a former player, said Carter was known as much for his care for students and families as for his success on the field. A post on the association’s Facebook page says all funds raised through the effort will be dedicated exclusively to the installation of the monument that they say will stand as a symbol of Carter’s legacy of discipline, mentorship, integrity and service.
Logan County Senator Rupie Phillips supported efforts to name the football field after Carter. He said Carter’s reputation extended beyond Logan County and became a source of pride for the Man community. That sentiment was shared by callers to “What’s Your Opinion” on Thursday.
“He didn’t just care about you as a player,” said one caller. “He cared about you as a person, as a kid, you know. He wanted to see you do good in school, do good in sports and do good in life.”
One regular caller to the show, Reverend Michael Pollard, said he would like to see a memorial that encapsulates the whole of Carter’s character and influence.
“It shouldn’t just be about Tootie Carter the coach, but Tootie Carter the person, the individual, the teacher, the principal, the mentor, and I know for a fact that Tootie got saved and was in the church quite a few years before he passed,” Pollard said.
Carter led the Hillbillies for 30 seasons, recording more than 200 wins and 12 playoff appearances. He passed away on January 25th, 2024. Along with coaching football, he served as a school administrator and principal and also coached middle school football and high school baseball.
In a statement, Carter’s widow, Bev, thanked the Man community and those involved in the memorial association for honoring her late husband’s life and legacy.
Donations to the memorial fund can be made in person or by mail at Logan Bank & Trust. We’ve also shared a QR code to the fundraiser on our Facebook page.