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Luke
Worsham, born in Birmingham, Alabama, lived an inspiring life
and touched countless students in his career as a teacher
and coach.
Worsham was a WorId War II Army veteran who served as an infantryman
in the European Theater. After his military service, he graduated
from the University of Chattanooga where he was a member of
the football and wrestling teams and was the student body
president.
Upon his graduation in 1949, he agreed to teach one year at
the Baylor School while he prepared for entrance to medical
school.
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He found
his calling and enjoyed teaching and coaching so much, he
never left Baylor, where he was a member of the faculty for
41 years. Worsham is a giant in the history of the Baylor
School. He is known for not only his toughness and strength,
but for his love and compassion for the students he taught.
When John Hannah, a former Baylor student-athlete, was inducted
into the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, the first person
he mentioned in his acceptance speech was his former coach
and mentor, "Maj."
Worsham was affectionately known as "Maj," a nickname
for Major, his rank during Baylor's military preparatory school
era. He was there when the institution dropped military prep
in the late 1960s and when the school made the transition
to coeducation in the mid 1980s. During his tenure, he coached
football, track, swimming and wrestling. He is most recognized
as a pioneer in the development of high school wrestling.
Worsham's
wrestling teams won 14 Mid-South championships and were runners-up
on six other occasions from 1950-70 and also captured a national
prep school championship in 1970. Baylor entered the TSSAA
in 1970 and won three state championships in 1978, 1979 and
1981.
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