Tom Richey

Mr. and Mrs. John C. Richey raised five daughters and two sons. The sons J.W. and Tom were known as “Shag” and “Snag.” The brothers starred in athletics at DeKalb County High School in Fort Payne. Both went on to be team leaders in basketball at Jacksonville State University. The Richey brothers were inducted in the DeKalb County Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.

Tom, as Mr. DeKalb County High, excelled in basketball and football from 1949-1952. Three times he was named to the All-County and All-Eighth District Basketball Teams and twice All-County Football. Football teammates included quarterback Neil Christopher, longtime Guntersville physician, and fullback Jack Locklear, a star center for Coach Ralph “Shug” Jordan at Auburn. Herman “Buck” Watson, a prominent Huntsville attorney and former Vanderbilt football star, teamed with Tom in Wildcat basketball and football.

Clark Lewis, owner of a Fort Payne fast food restaurant, was the first to name him, “Snag.” Lewis, who later operated the Dairy Hut in Guntersville, had watched while Tom was the one to snag all of the loose balls and rebounds.

Tom was offered a basketball scholarship to Alabama and Jacksonville State. Auburn wanted him for football. He chose to play basketball with his brother, James, at Jacksonville State. He was a four-year starter for the Gamecocks, serving as captain and MVP his senior year. Mr. Jax State led the team in both rebounds and scoring.

As a freshman, Tom was a member of Coach “Dirty” Wedgeworth’s 1952 Gamecocks that upset the University of Alabama’s famous “Rocket Eight.” Alabama Coach Johnny Dee, with a fist folded, approached Coach Wedgeworth during pre-game warmups and offered something to the coach. When the Coach extended his open palm, Coach Dee dropped him some chewed-up gum in a wrapper and said, “Dirty, that is all you are going to get tonight.” As they say, “The rest is history.” Richey led the Gamecocks in rebounds and scoring while teaming up with his brother “Shag” in one of Jacksonville’s greatest wins, 67-64.

Tom became the head basketball coach at Geraldine High School in 1956, where the Bulldogs won three county championships from 1956-59, the Sand Mountain Tournament, and twice placed second in the Eighth District Tournament. Tom’s Geraldine stars who played in college included Porter Gilbert at Auburn and Ronnie Harris at Jacksonville State.

Coach Tom Richey moved to become the head basketball coach at Marshall County High School in Guntersville from 1959-1964. The Wildcats won Marshall County championships three times, the Northeast Alabama Conference once, and twice placed second in the Eighth District Tournament. His roster of stars from M.C.H.S. included Bill Jones and Randall Bean at Jacksonville State, Johnny Smith at Alabama, Dale Collins and Joe Williams at Samford, and John Manning at Marion Military. Dale Collins and Johnny Smith were selected to the Alabama All-Star Squad. Among the ranks of the players he coached, there is at least one coach who won a national championship — Bill Jones at Jacksonville State University.

Add to his coaching career baseball, football and work in the summer recreation program. Richey was an outstanding player, coach, teacher, banker, and citizen. The Tom Richey family has been a part of Guntersville and Marshall County for almost a half-century. His overall basketball record of 153 wins and 68 losses adds up as follows:

MARSHALL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 98 WINS AND 43 LOSSES

GERALDINE HIGH SCHOOL 55 WINS AND 25 LOSSES