Remembering Coach Neal #tryonnc

As most of you know by now, Coach Neal passed away early Wednesday morning. He had been in declining health for several years. It is hard to say what the impact he had on the youth of Tryon was, because the values he instilled will be helping children and grandchildren for many years to come. I made some brief comments in this piece from 2010 about the 1970 football team, but I cannot overstate what he has meant to Tryon High School.

Elmo F. Neal 

(April 19, 1926 - January 29, 2014) Send Flowers Send Sympathy Card View/Sign Guest Book | Create Memorial Website 
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Spartanburg, SC- Elmo F. Neal, 87, husband of Toma Austin Neal, died Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at his home. Born in Summerville, SC, Elmo was a son of the late Peter J. and Mary Dunning Neal. He was a graduate of Summerville High School, received his Master’s Degree from Western Carolina University, and was a World War II Veteran serving in the Navy. Elmo was principal, head coach, and a teacher at Tryon High School, in Tryon, NC, and served the Polk County school district in various capacities for over 30 years. He also taught and coached at Hart County High School in Hartwell, Georgia. Elmo was also a member of the Catholic Church of Jesus Our Risen Savior in Spartanburg, SC. He will always be remembered for living his faith, loving his family, and his loyalty to his profession.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, DeWanda (David W.) Dyson, of Spartanburg, and D. Austin Neal of Austin, TX; grandsons, D. Andrew Dyson, and Jared A. Dyson of Spartanburg; a brother, George P. (Joann) Neal of Atlanta, Ga; sisters, Trudy Flannagan of Madison, Wisconsin, and Mary Thomas Neal of Charleston, SC; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Ellen Harrelson.
Pall bearers are: Steve Massey, Bill Metcalf, Ken Sanford, Glenn Thompson, Lewis Crissone, Sonny Lankford, Bob Gregg, Anson Merrick, Newt Raff, and Bill Brock. All former players are asked to serve as Honorary Pall Bearers. His players want everyone to know that he was and will always be known as “Coach”.
The family will received friends on Saturday, February 1st, 10:30am, at Jesus Our Risen Savior Catholic Church.
A funeral mass will follow at 12:00noon in the sanctuary.
Burial will be held in Mountain View Cemetery, North Ave, Greer, SC 29651.
The family is at the residence.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Catholic Church of Jesus Our Risen Savior, 2575 Reidville Rd, Spartanburg, SC 29301; Covenant Baptist Church, 200 Evangel Road, Spartanburg, 29301, and Piedmont Hospice, 209 Riverside Ct, Greer, SC 29650.