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Some Stuff I Wrote (2001) H. Morris Williams

also told you that General Van Fleet was head coach of the UF Gators at about the same time, in the

early 1900's.
The First Apostolic Church on McFarlane Avenue has a unique “Hymn Book.” Every song

in the book - words and music — was written by members of that church.
Everybody knows that FSU used to be Florida State College for Women (FSCW). But not
everyone knows even before FSCW, the Tallahassee school was called Florida State College and

had a football team. In 1904, that team defeated Lake City’s Florida Agriculture College (later to
become part of the University of Florida at Gainesville) 23-0 and was undefeated by any state team.

FSU became FSCW in 1905, and 43 years later, in 1948, football returned to FSU.
Melrose School cafeteria manager Dora L. Griffin received $500 from the Florida Dairy

Council for her exceptional work in promoting nutrition education at Melrose. Only two people in
all of Florida received such an award. Dora, whose smile would light up a dark sky, used all her

money to finance even more “fun projects” on nutrition education at Melrose. The whole school
calls Dora fantastic. “I get my blessing from helping people,” Dora said.

The Florida High School Coaches publication “The Coaching Connection” recently
recognized two coaches with Lake City connections. Coach Gene Cox (293 wins) was proclaimed

Florida’s “Mr. Football.” CHS basketball Coach Joe Fields (615-219) was recognized as one of
the premier basketball coaches in Florida. Both are members of at least two Halls of Fame.

Former LCCC President Herbert (Swede) Phillips used to coach high school football in
Monticello. One of his players was Lake Citian Bob Boland. At that time, the Monticello football

field had a severe “north-south” slope that ran the length of the field. Swede and Bob both tell this:
“When we had the pre-game coin toss, we didn’t decide whether to kickoff or receive — but whether

to run uphill or downhill.”
University of Tennessee Head Football Coach Phil Fulmer attended the recent CHS football

banquet, a reminder of the strong connection our town has had with UT over the years. CHS Coach
Hobart Hooser left CHS in 1941 to coach there. CHS athletic great Bobby Sandlin was starting

running back there in the 1950's. Doug Dickey, a former volunteer assistant coach at CHS became
athletic director there. Lake Citian Bob Doubelstein was an All-American lineman there. Coach

Gene Cox (CHS 1952) coached Tony Robinson at Leon High School and Tony later became an al 1-
SEC QB there. CIIS graduate Marilyn Willis is Dean of Continuing Education there. And, of

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