Fincastle Supervisor and longtime coach Don Meredith dies
Don Meredith
Don Meredith, the supervisor for the Fincastle District, died early this morning. Meredith had been in ill health for sometime. No word yet on arrangements.
Meredith was basketball coach at Lord Botetourt for many years and was famous for his coaching techniques and sideline antics. He is survived by his wife Betty, two daughters and a grandson.
January 8, 2010 - 9:55 AM
So sad! What an awesome man. He will be missed.
I have known Don for 54 years. We lived in the same community. He lived in the old Lybrook Home. I knew the Lybrook family. We both taught at Lord Botetourt. Sad to hear of his passing.
We will never forget Don. He was a legend.
We will miss Don Meredith, who was a great coach and friend, also went to church with Don and Betty.
My thought and prayers are with his family at this time.
He was also a person you could talk to about helping to get things done in the school system..
So sad to hear of his passing. His family is in my thoughts and prayers!
i played for coach meredith in the late 70′s.he has touched the lives
of so many people.there is not a day that goes by that i do not
use something that he taught us as young kids.he will be greatly
missed by all of us
One of my all-time favorite coaches to observe, interview and just joke around with after a game. There are few people who created and enjoyed laughter more than “Dandy Don” did. His team’s battles with Northside and Alleghany were classics. He was a Botetourt Original!
He will be missed. I have fond memories of him from my days as a student at LB and he was one of the best friends that we garbage haulers had in the county.
I am very sorry to hear of Don’s passing and my thoughts are with his family. My mother and I visited Don last year and we had a great time. Don was his usual self full of jokes and stories from the old days and the people we all knew from Botetourt. You will be missed.
Don will be greatly missed not only for his legendary coaching record, but also for his community service and involvement. Hundreds of young men whom he coached not only learned to play the game, but also learned to seek loafty goals and to play to their full potential.
Very saddened to hear of his death. I knew him as far back as his days at Botetourt Intermediate. He was a great coach, great teacher, and great man. He always had me in stitches.
Coach Meredith will be greatly missed.
Thanks Coach Meredith, for all of the memories, all of the stories, all of the fun, and most importantly, all of the lessons you taught us. Coach Meredith, as I told you on many occasions, you are one of the main reasons that I decided to become a teacher myself. Thanks Dandy Don for being a Great Role Model for me, and many, many of my friends…Jimmy Garnett, LBHS Class of 1982.
Attending Lord Botetourt while “The Dandy One” was the basketball coach/gym teacher is one of my favorite memories. When he was coaching, there wasn’t an empty seat in the house. For those who don’t know: imagine Bobby Knight with a huge heart. The gym should be renamed “The house that Don built”.
A true coaching legend in the State of Virginia, this is very sad to hear. Coach Meredith was my PE teacher at LB, and I also had several enjoyable and “colorful” basketball conversations with him at games when my son played for LB. The gymnasium at LB should be named in his honor. RIP Dandy Don.
Peace and prayers for Coach Meredith’s family.
He touched my heart many many years ago!
Teresa Bailey, LBHS Class of ’83
Thank you Don for all you taught. “Taught” is the key word. He was a good man with a good heart. He cared about all. He meant the world to me as a father figure, a friend and certainly the greatest basketball coach in the state of Virginia. You will be missed. Thanks for the lessons..
Thank you, Coach, for all you did for LB! You will be missed!
Michele, Class of ’89
A local legend of Botetourt.
Rest In Peace, Coach Don Meredith. You were more than a basketball coach, you were a life coach. God, expand the coach’s box, he will need it. (Facebook post)
Spirited and lively asset to our athletic community at LB in the 70s. Supportive of student athletes, both male and female, Fond memories.
Claudia, LBHS Class of ’79
As an alumni of Alleghany I can only say good things about Coach Meredith. While he was a rival opponent he was still a class act. The fondest memories I have of high school sports were the games with the Botetourt teams he coached. Whether he was stomping the sidelines, over a bad call, or the time he slung his sportjacket into the crowd at ACHS. He not only had a positive effect on the folks associated with LBHS but also at rival high schools as well. My prayers go out to his family in their time of loss.
From as far back to his days at Botetourt Intermediate and LB, I knew Coach to always be colorful, honest, generous and steadfast in his committment to help anyone in need. Simply put Coach was a good, good man and I consider myself a better person for having known him.
Many prayers to Coach’s family
Tony Kelly LBHS Class of ’80
Coach Meredith was bigger than life in so many ways. I knew who he was before I ever made it to LB through stories told by my older Brother. He definitely lived up to those stories (in a good way). I will always remember him with a great big grin & a “Good Morning” as we passed through the halls. RIP Coach – Job Well Done. So many were blessed because you lived among us! (CLB – Class of ’88)
My thoughts and prayers are with his family!As everyone has said Coach Meredith is more then a coach or a teacher to us all. We all walked away from LB with at least one funnyb story or memory. He will be in our hearts for ever!
Coach Meredith was among the most genuine people one could ever hope to know. His passion for life was probably only exceeded by his love and passion for basketball. Don knew the technical aspects of basketball more than anyone I’ve ever known and he was an expert at adjusting his coaching techniques according to the abilities of his players. His teams always seemed to over-achieve. I can vividly recall the ten minute shooting lesson he offered when I was a freshman. The stories, the humour, the halftime ‘talks’, the support, the emotion – wonderful memories.
Thanks Coach for all of the memories, and your loyalty to friends, former players, and most of all Botetourt County.
KR – LB Class of ’84
We are so sorry to hear about coach Meredith death. I knew coach Meredith from Liberty High School and I never thought I would have a child that would play basketball for him. He was a great coach to our son Bobby and I credit him for our son being able to go to college and play basketball. He will be missed our thoughts and prayers our with his family. Scott and Vickie Prince The Villages Florida
Don was more that a good coach. He was the best supervisor.
He was so concerned about what the people wanted, he would
call and ask them for their “in-put” before he voted on major
issues. He was truly one of a kind.He will missed by all of
the people in the district.
God be with Betty Jo and family.
Linda T.
He was a GREAT competitor, and made our games with LB more exciting. He was an awesome person. I can tell you, that Don made everyone, on both sides, better. He brought out the best in people, and he made it fun.
Coach Meredith saw the full potential of his players, students, peers, and community and worked tirelessly to help each realize and reach their goals. He taught us that we are responsible for our own actions and that hard work pays off. I am thankful to have been one of Coach’s students, players, but most importantly one of his friends.
James Quarles
LBHS Class of 1984