history was honored on February 24 in the Jones Athletic Center.
More than 100 friends, family and fellow coaches turned out
to honor A.G. `Tunney' Brooks at a reception and ceremony in
the Native Angels Home Care & Hospice Braves Club Room of
the English E. Jones Athletic Center. He was a coach and athletic
director at Lumberton High School for 31 years.
The Lumberton
Booster Club and
Coach Brooks'
friends contributed
$100,000 to
an endowed or
permanent athletic
scholarship in his
name. It is the largest
athletic scholarship
at UNCP.
"I love every one
of you," Brooks said
during the ceremony.
"I love everything
you're doing to help
UNC Pembroke and
Lumberton High
School. I love you
all.
"Thank you
for all you did for
me when I came
to Lumberton," he
continued. "I came
here to teach, but I
learned more from
you.
"I thoroughly enjoyed coaching and teaching," Brooks said,
lighting up the room. "If I'd known I was going to have to do all
this, I'd have run a few laps to get into better shape."
Coach Brooks came to Lumberton in 1959. He coached
football and basketball and was athletic director. He instantly
turned around an ailing athletic program and for 31 years steered
the Lumberton Pirates to solid success.
Attending the event were coaches like Findley Read, who
coached with him in Lumberton, and Rockingham High School
coach Bill Eutsler; friends like Charlie Kinlaw, who like Brooks
played at Wake Forest; and players like Nicky Guy, a Shrine Bowl
player, and Paul Willoughby, who played and coached for him.
"Tunney Brooks was the coach that other coaches said got
more from less," said Paul Willoughby `74, who is a UNCP
trustee. "I was fortunate to play three years for him in the late
1960s and then come back to coach Lumberton High School's
football team under him as athletic director.
"Coach, we love you," Willoughby said.
Willoughby described Brooks with the terms "trust, stability,
organization and structure."
scholarships each year with a guarantee that at least two will
be awarded. The scholarship will be open to male and female
student-athletes at the University, who exhibit character, maintain
a 2.5 grade point average and demonstrate financial need.
The scholarship will be first offered to student-athletes from
Lumberton Senior High School then student-athletes from
will be eligible.
If no Robeson
athlete qualifies,
the scholarship will
be available to any
UNCP student-
athlete.
"I have been
contacted by people
as far away as Alaska
and California
about giving to this
scholarship," James
Granger, scholarship
facilitator, told The
Robesonian.
Former
Chancellor Charles
Jenkins coached
three years while at
"In life and sports,
we run into people
all the time who are
legends in their own
mind, but not coach
"When I coached against him, we almost never won," he said.
Dave Bullock, a former player, is making a special tribute to
the coach of a scale "Pirate" ship named in his honor.
"She's got 30 long guns," Bullock said. "Coach, she's deadly."
Attending the event were Brooks' wife, Joan; sons, Ritchie
and John; their wives, Carol and Sherry respectively; and five
grandchildren.
Ritchie Brooks spoke for the family.
"The things you did made his career, and the things he
did made you who you are," Brooks said. "Thank you for this
ceremony and for what you have done for our father and your
coach."
Athletic Director Dan Kenney said the University will ensure
that the scholarship honors its namesake.
"When we select recipients for this scholarship, we won't
compromise the values that coach Brooks stood for," Kenney
said. "Coach, it is a great honor to be in the room with you."
James Granger, Paul Willoughby, Johnny Strickland, Bruce Mullis and Dan Kenney.