CARTER COUNTY, TN - OBITUARIES - Harry S. "Bear" Ledford, 22 Oct 2003 ----¤¤¤---- Harry S. Ledford Harry S. "Bear" Ledford, age 87, Elizabethton, died unexpectedly, Wednesday, October 22, 2003, at his residence. A native of Carter County, he was the son of the late W. E. and Emily Whitehead Ledford. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He was a graduate of Elizabethton High School and George Washington University. He was preceded in death by three sisters. Mr. Ledford was involved in sports for many years. He played football under the late E. Niles Brown and also coached with him at Elizabethton during his career. Harry was a 136-pound guard and lettered three years in football for the Cyclones. He also played guard position in basketball and was a third baseman on the baseball team. He was also a boxer in high school and helped Dr. Thompson and Dr. Worelock in forming the Golden Glove program in Elizabethton. He was a varsity performer at George Washington University for three years and played in the Sun Bowl. He played offensive halfback and defensive end. He also played at G-W as second baseman on the baseball team and also the basketball squad, but had to quit due to an injury. He finished his playing career at George Washington University and returned to Elizabethton as a coach for seventeen years. He joined the coaching staff at Elizabethton High School in 1942 and was an assistant football and the head basketball and track coach. Ledford coached one undefeated basketball team at Elizabethton High School and the club lost in the finals of the state tournament. In 1948 Ledford joined the George Washington staff for a year and then took a position as an assistant and trainer with the Washington Caps of the NBA coached by the famed Red Aurback. He remained with the Caps for three years before returning to G-W in 1952. During his stay at George Washington, Harry also owned a farm near the university where he raised and trained race horses. This was his biggest thrill in sports, to see a two-year-old horse in its first race. He was in the horse business about ten years before selling the farm. After leaving G-W, he was associated with the Kansas City Royals, then a minor league team, as a trainer and instructor, and during that time, officials of the club constructed a baseball academy at Sarasota, Fla. Ledford was an instructor at the school along with Bob Lemon, Jor Gordon, Jim Lemon and other former major league standouts. After semi-retirement Harry became a member of the Elizabethton Educational Board and served for one year as the Elizabethton Twins' trainer. In 1952 Harry was selected "Man of the Year" for his work in Civic and Community affairs. Survivors include one special niece and spouse, Janet Denny Arnold and Rodney Arnold, Elizabethton; eight great nieces, Tina Sharp and Erica Arnold, both of Knoxville; Amanda Arnold and Ginnie Norris both of Elizabethton; Aileen Pierson, Maryland; Risha Whalen and Audry Whalen, both of Anchorage, Alaska; Whitney Tubbleville, Atlanta, Georgia; one nephew, Ulys "Squeak" Whalen, Gatlinburg. The funeral service will be conducted at 8 p.m. Saturday, October 25, 2003, in the Chapel of Peace of Tetrick Funeral Home with Rev. Buford Hankins officiating. Eulogy to be given by a great niece, Tina Sharp. The graveside service and interment will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, October 26, 2003, at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. Honorary pallbearers will be friends and neighbors. Those who plan to attend the graveside service are asked to meet at the funeral home chapel at 1:15 p.m. Sunday to go in procession to the cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Saturday, October 25, 2003 in the chapel of Tetrick Funeral Home or friends may call at the residence of a niece, Janet Arnold, 1460 Southside Rd., Elizabethton, TN 37643 at any time. Online condolences may be sent to the family through our Web site at www.tetrickfuneralhome. com. Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is in charge of arrangements. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: The Elizabethton Star http://www.starhq.com/ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------