 A
hundred-point scorer and leading the smallest school against the biggest school in the
state tournament were two of the late Rupert Williams' accomplishments in a 35-year career
as a teacher and coach in Henry County.Williams is being honored for the longevity as an educator and the success of his teams by being inducted into the Paris-Henry County Sports Hall of Fame. Williams taught at schools at Oakland, Elkhorn, Liberty 13, Puryear twice, Buchanan and Henry. He began coaching boy's and girls' basketball during his second stint at Williams Puryear High School in 1947. He lead the 1950-51 Hornets to the state tournament where Puryear played Knox High School from Knoxville. It was a David vs. Goliath meeting as Puryear had the state's smallest high school enrollment with 88 students while Knox High was the highest with more than 1,700 enrolled. Knox High won that game by a comfortable margin and won the state tournament. Puryear's strong season included a 26-3 record with a District 28 championship and a Region VII second-place finish. Williams left Puryear in 1953 and moved to Henry School where he was the coach the night that 1999 Paris-Henry County Sports Hall of Fame inductee Janet Hays Scott poured in 100 points against Puryear in 1956. Hays' 100-point effort remains the Tennessee state record. |
