Shorty White: Difference between revisions

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(updated with month and year of death, and source article; also included JSU reference found in source article; minor style additions; will update with day of death once source article is updated or other source is found)
(Added additional facts from Ben Thomas Article; revised sentence about riding street car with bobby bowden's wife; revised subheadings)
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'''George "Shorty" White''' (born [[1930]]; died April [[2021]]) was a football coach at [[Banks High School]] and a member of the coaching staff for the [[Alabama Crimson Tide football]] teams from [[1975]] to [[1980]].
'''George "Shorty" White''' (born [[1930]]; died April [[2021]]) was a football coach at [[Banks High School]] and a member of the coaching staff for the [[Alabama Crimson Tide football]] teams from [[1975]] to [[1980]].


==Personal Life and Career==
=Personal Life and Career=
White played football at [[Phillips High School]]. He was seen riding a streetcar with [[Bobby Bowden]]'s girlfriend and future wife [[Ann Estock]] in [[1949]] after she had found out from him that Bobby had gone to Panama City with friends and hadn't told her about it.
==Early Years==
White attended [[Phillips High School]], where he rose to prominence as a football standout. Among White's memorable early social escapades was an incident in early [[1949]], when he was seen on a streetcar in the company of [[Ann Estock]], girlfriend and future wife of [[Bobby Bowden]], who was then a [[University of Alabama]] freshman quarterback and former star quarterback for the rival [[Woodlawn High School |Woodlawn Colonels]]. Estock was said to have turned her attention to White after Bowden made a trip to Panama City without her knowledge. Estock and Bowden wed on April 1, 1949.


==College==
White went on to play at [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]] before earning his degree from Jacksonville State.  
White went on to play at [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]] before earning his degree from Jacksonville State.  


White became the head football coach at the then-new Banks High School in [[East Lake]] in [[1961]]. He remained there until [[1974]], a season that featured the legendary [[1974 Banks Woodlawn game|showdown]] with [[Woodlawn High School]] in front of 42,000 people at [[Legion Field]]. He also coached in the [[1969 Banks Parker game|first integrated game in the city]] against [[Parker High School]] in [[1969]].
==Coaching Career==
White became the head football coach at the then-fairly new Banks High School in [[East Lake]] in [[1961]], which was just the third season the school fielded a football team. He remained there until [[1974]], a season that featured the legendary [[1974 Banks Woodlawn game|showdown]] with [[Woodlawn High School]] in front of 42,000 people at [[Legion Field]]. He also coached in the [[1969 Banks Parker game|first integrated game in the city]] against [[Parker High School]] in [[1969]].


==Awards and Honors==
White's 14-year stint at Banks included undefeated seasons in [[1965]], [[1972]], and [[1973]]. The [[1965]] team was named state champions by the Associated Press and the ''[[Birmingham News]]'', before there was playoff system in place for high school football.  The Jets also won back-to-back titles in [[1972]] and [[1973]] with future [[University of Alabama]] and NFL standout [[Jeff Rutledge]] at quarterback.
 
White left Banks to join coach [[Paul Bryant | Paul “Bear” Bryant's]] staff at [[University of Alabama | The University of Alabama]] from [[1975]] to [[1980]] and was present for a pair of national championships in 1978 and 1979.
 
White returned to high school coaching in 1990. He spent four years at [[Pleasant Grove High School]] and his final year at [[American Christian Academy]]. He finished his high school coaching career with an overall record of 116-68-5. He had 88 players sign Division I scholarships during his time as a coach.
 
==Personal Life==
White and his wife, June Melton, had three children: Gary, Darryl, and Dianne. His brother was the late [[Jimmy Sidle]], former [[Auburn University]] quarterback.
 
=Awards and Honors=
He was inducted into the [[Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame]] with the Class of 2009.
He was inducted into the [[Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame]] with the Class of 2009.


==Legacy==
=Legacy=
In [[2015]], Bank's son [[Darryl White|Darryl]] was part of the team that started the private [[Banks Academy]] in [[East Lake]], near the old Banks High School site. Darryl's son [[Riley White|Riley]], help resurrect the football team as coach, which began playing 8-man football in [[2019]], using the old Banks colors and mascot. In [[2020]] the program entered the [[AISA]] AA program, playing its first home game on [[August 21]] against Pickens Academy.
In [[2015]], Bank's son [[Darryl White|Darryl]] was part of the team that started the private [[Banks Academy]] in [[East Lake]], near the old Banks High School site. Darryl's son [[Riley White|Riley]], help resurrect the football team as coach, which began playing 8-man football in [[2019]], using the old Banks colors and mascot. In [[2020]] the program entered the [[AISA]] AA program, playing its first home game on [[August 21]] against Pickens Academy.


==Media==
=In Media=
White was portrayed by C. Thomas Howell in the 2015 film [[Woodlawn (film)|Woodlawn]].
White was portrayed by C. Thomas Howell in the 2015 film ''[[Woodlawn (film)|Woodlawn]]''.


{{stub}}
{{stub}}
==References==
=References=
* White, David H., Jr (2007) ''Shorty: A Life in Sports.'' BrookSport/Cardinal Publishers Group ISBN 0944353215
* White, David H., Jr (2007) ''Shorty: A Life in Sports.'' BrookSport/Cardinal Publishers Group ISBN 0944353215
* Archibald, John (January 27, 2008) "Shorty was more than the 1970s' Propst." {{BN}}
* Archibald, John (January 27, 2008) "Shorty was more than the 1970s' Propst." {{BN}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:White, Shorty}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:White, Shorty}}
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:Deceased people]]
[[Category:Phillips graduates]]
[[Category:Phillips graduates]]
[[Category:Auburn alumni]]
[[Category:Auburn alumni]]

Revision as of 12:45, 7 April 2021

Shorty White c. 1972

George "Shorty" White (born 1930; died April 2021) was a football coach at Banks High School and a member of the coaching staff for the Alabama Crimson Tide football teams from 1975 to 1980.

Personal Life and Career

Early Years

White attended Phillips High School, where he rose to prominence as a football standout. Among White's memorable early social escapades was an incident in early 1949, when he was seen on a streetcar in the company of Ann Estock, girlfriend and future wife of Bobby Bowden, who was then a University of Alabama freshman quarterback and former star quarterback for the rival Woodlawn Colonels. Estock was said to have turned her attention to White after Bowden made a trip to Panama City without her knowledge. Estock and Bowden wed on April 1, 1949.

College

White went on to play at Auburn before earning his degree from Jacksonville State.

Coaching Career

White became the head football coach at the then-fairly new Banks High School in East Lake in 1961, which was just the third season the school fielded a football team. He remained there until 1974, a season that featured the legendary showdown with Woodlawn High School in front of 42,000 people at Legion Field. He also coached in the first integrated game in the city against Parker High School in 1969.

White's 14-year stint at Banks included undefeated seasons in 1965, 1972, and 1973. The 1965 team was named state champions by the Associated Press and the Birmingham News, before there was playoff system in place for high school football. The Jets also won back-to-back titles in 1972 and 1973 with future University of Alabama and NFL standout Jeff Rutledge at quarterback.

White left Banks to join coach Paul “Bear” Bryant's staff at The University of Alabama from 1975 to 1980 and was present for a pair of national championships in 1978 and 1979.

White returned to high school coaching in 1990. He spent four years at Pleasant Grove High School and his final year at American Christian Academy. He finished his high school coaching career with an overall record of 116-68-5. He had 88 players sign Division I scholarships during his time as a coach.

Personal Life

White and his wife, June Melton, had three children: Gary, Darryl, and Dianne. His brother was the late Jimmy Sidle, former Auburn University quarterback.

Awards and Honors

He was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame with the Class of 2009.

Legacy

In 2015, Bank's son Darryl was part of the team that started the private Banks Academy in East Lake, near the old Banks High School site. Darryl's son Riley, help resurrect the football team as coach, which began playing 8-man football in 2019, using the old Banks colors and mascot. In 2020 the program entered the AISA AA program, playing its first home game on August 21 against Pickens Academy.

In Media

White was portrayed by C. Thomas Howell in the 2015 film Woodlawn.

References

The Birmingham News