Of all the accolades a coach can receive, none are more precious than those which come from his own players. The West End High School basketball players of 1942 to 1948 had these words to say to their beloved coach, Emmett T. Strickland: “You taught us that mutual love and respect among team members would win more games than our playing ability. Most importantly, you were a role model, who provided us a daily example as to how we should strive to conduct our own lives.” If nothing else were ever said about the man and no other awards ever given, these words show us that Strickland was truly a success. Born in 1910 at Hartford, Alabama, Strickland was a star athlete himself at Geneva County High School and at Tennessee Tech, where his senior year he received the medal for the Outstanding Athlete of the Year. Strickland was a teacher and coach at many different schools in Middle Tennessee. While at Donelson, his football teams were in the playoff two years for the N.I.L. championship. While at West End, his basketball teams won four N.I.L., four district, five unit, six regional, and three state championships. As teacher and principal, Strickland taught over ten different subjects. He finished his impressive career in education as superintendent of the Franklin Special School District. Always a compassionate and upstanding citizen, Strickland worked with various charity groups, including the Christmas Seal Campaign and the Williamson County Cancer Society.
