Page 58 - some-stuff-i-wrote-and-some-stuff-i-didn't-(2011)-h-morris-williams

Some Stuff I Wrote (2001) H. Morris Williams

Gene Cox and Dr. Mont

May 18,1993

Gene Cox (CHS, 1952) is enshrined in the Florida Sports Hall of Fame. He has coached

more winning high school football games than anybody in Florida sports history. Yet, Cox may
never have gone into coaching if he had never met Dr. E. F. Montgomery, Sr. (“Dr. Mont”), long­

time pastor of the First Presbyterian Church here. Here’s how they met:
Dr. Mont held an annual summer camp at Camp O’Leno for many years. It was known
simply as “Dr. Mont’s Camp” and kids from across North Florida attended, some year after year.

The campers stayed in cabins and each cabin has a student leader called a counselor. The campers
considered it a high honor to be chosen a counselor. Only Dr. Mont selected the counselors and he

had high standards.
One summer, Dr. Mont’s camp was about to open its first session when a cabin counselor

called in sick. Dr. Mont needed a replacement immediately and he turned toward another student
counselor, Tommy Ives (CHS, 1950), and asked him to suggest a replacement Tommy

th
recommended his friend Gene Cox, even though Gene was young, just a 9 grader. Gene himself
thought he might be too young, but nervously accepted the responsibility, went to Camp O’Leno and

did a great job.
Gene had maturity beyond his years and a natural gift for working with young people. The

kids loved him. Gene got to know Dr. Mont and to see first hand Dr. Mont’s marvelous work with
young people. Dr. Mont recognized the great job that Gene was doing and encouraged him at every
turn. That summer camp and the close relationship to the great Dr. Mont became the “watershed”

experience of Cox’s life - the crucially important time and event that would shape the rest of his life.

Gene knew from then on that he wanted to devote his life to working with young people.
So when you hear of the great coaching record of Gene Cox (more wins than Valdosta High’s
winningest coach, Wright Bazemore, for example), just remember: if there had been no Dr. Mont,

there might have been no Coach Gene Cox - and Gene unfailingly credits Dr. Mont every chance
he gets.

Come to think of it, there may not have been a Gene Cox if there had been no Tommy Ives.
So, lets be sure to credit Tommy for his youthful wisdom in recommending Gene to Dr. Mont. By

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