Former Paintsville Football Coach Walter James Brugh Sr., age 87, of Van Lear, passed away Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at St. Marys Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia. Coach Brugh was a lifelong resident of Paintsville, Ky. Born to Frank and Margret Hammond Brugh on July 7, 1926. Walter was one of eleven children. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Raymond and Lacy Brugh, a sister Mary Cummings, and by his loving wife, the sweetheart of his life, Nancy Ward Brugh. Walter attended Paintsville High School through his junior year when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in the South Pacific during World War II. Upon completion of his three year tour he returned to complete his senior year at age 21. He graduated from Paintsville High School in 1947. He went on to attend the Citadel, in Charleston, South Carolina, where he played football for four years. After graduation he returned to his hometown of Paintsville to become an assistant football coach under James Wheeler, where he served for five years before taking over as head coach in 1956. He led the Tigers to victory as head coach for 39 years and continued after retirement to coach and mentor young football players for the remainder of his life. Coach Brugh is survived by his four Children: son Jim (Bonnie) Brugh of Prairieville, Louisiana; daughter Chandra Alfaro of Sarasota, Florida; son Mike (Faye) Brugh of Mobile, Alabama; and daughter Beth (Ippy) Slone of Van Lear, Kentucky. He also is survived by his four grandchildren: Christopher Alfaro, Alyssa Alfaro, Billy Slone, and Whitney Slone. Coach Brugh has been bestowed many honors during his life time. He was a World War II Veteran, a Kentucky Colonel, a Master Mason, a lifetime member of the Kentucky High School Coaches Association, a lifetime member of the Lifetime Honor Roll at Paintsville High School, a member of the KHSAA Sports Hall of Fame, to name a few. Coach Brugh was a lot of things to a lot of people, but most of all he was known to us as the ³The Big Blue Legend². Funeral services will be 1:00pm Saturday, February 15, 2014 at the Paintsville High School Gymnasium with burial to follow in the Highland Memorial Park at Staffordsville. Larry Vickers will officiate. Friends may visit the Phelps & Son Funeral Home from 12pm to 9pm Friday and one hour prior to the service Saturday at the High School. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that contributions be made to the Walter J. Brugh and Nancy Brugh Scholarship Fund by contacting the Phelps & Son Funeral Home @ (606)789-8989. Arrangements are under the direction of the Phelps & Son Funeral Home, Paintsville. Tags: 1951
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