Being the eighth of nine children was probably a fertile training ground for Turney Ford. The Gordonsville High School star football, basketball, and baseball player and later legendary prep school coach had learned at a very early age how to take care of himself. At Gordonsville High, Ford was captain of all three sports, and his football team went undefeated his last two seasons. He was named to the All-Upper Cumberland football team and was the district basketball MVP in 1935. From Gordonsville, Ford went to Vanderbilt on a football scholarship. One of the Commodore’s most outstanding and consistent athletes, Ford accumulated a remarkable nine varsity letters, making him one of just three men in the history of Vanderbilt to letter in three sports. After a stellar athletic career, Ford’s coaching years began in 1939 at Battleground Academy. After a stint in the Signal Corps during World War II, he returned to BGA for one more season before heading to Union University in 1947. From Union, Ford went to Carthage High School in 1951, where he stayed for eighteen years. He returned to Gordonsville, his alma mater, in 1969 to revive a struggling program. Ford retired in 1983 with 264 football victories, over 500 wins in basketball, and 100 more in baseball. His 1982 Gordonsville Tiger football team, the last he would coach, went 11-1. A fitting way to retire for this legend in Tennessee Prep coaching. Although he is no longer with us, his legacy will remain forever.
