John Raymond Gambrell, Sr.

John Raymond Gambrell, Sr., died Saturday, March 14, 2020. “Coach” Gambrell is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ouida, of Fairhope AL, son John R Gambrell, Jr (Randy) and daughter-in-law Sherry Gambrell and Granddog Bella of Knoxville, TN, sister LaVerne Moseley & brother-in-law Frank Moseley of Fairhope, AL Mr. Gambrell is preceded in death by his father and mother, Jim and Jimmie Gambrell of Laurel, MS Coach Gambrell was born on April 30, 1934. He was raised in Laurel Mississippi and started his career at his own high school, Glade High School in Laurel, Mississippi. He spent most of his career in education from 1959 until 1984 as a coach, teacher, high school administrator and county school superintendent in Arcadia, FL. His basketball teams set many records during his 17 year career at DeSoto High School. In the long list of records was an undefeated regular season record of 26 wins and no losses, which included the championship of the Coral Coast Conference. He was equally proud of a record 56 home game winning streak. Beating his Bulldogs at their home court was a difficult task for opponents. After his retirement, the School Board of DeSoto County honored him by naming the gymnasium the “John R. Gambrell Gymnasium”. His teams in the 17 years won 309 games and had over 40 conference, district, and regional championship trophies, playing against many schools much larger than DeSoto High. John was honored by the other 66 Florida school superintendents when he was elected in 1983 as the president of their organization where he successfully helped lobby for the improvement of K-12 education for Florida’s two million students. He left his mark on the students in DeSoto county as he successfully upgraded the educational facilities there. He retired from education after serving the students of Osceola County, Florida (Kissimmee) from 1985 until 1992 as the Assistant Superintendent of Schools for Construction and Maintenance. After his retirement, John and Ouida fulfilled their desire to build a log cabin in Maggie Valley NC, where he would sit on his porch (when he wasn’t golfing) and reminisce about his “boys” who played for him over the years and who organized a reunion in 2008 at which it was revealed the naming of the gym in his honor. John loved to golf and had 6 holes-in-one during his life and after would “shoot his age” in his later years which is a difficult and desired golf achievement. He was equally in love with fishing the rivers and creeks in DeSoto County for his favorite fish, large mouth bass and snook. His love of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ was an integral part of his daily life. A lifelong Southern Baptist, he was ordained as a deacon at First Baptist Church of Arcadia and served as Sunday School Director, Department Director, and Sunday School teacher. He was a deacon in most of the churches he attended as well as a lay preacher for many churches in need of a speaker. He was a member of First Baptist Fairhope, Alabama, where they moved in 2018. Coach Gambrell was a positive, fatherly, Christian influence on many basketball players and others who crossed his path and he cherished visiting with past players and students through the years. A celebration of Coach Gambrell’s life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to “Samaritans Purse” or a worthy cause of your choice. ARRANGEMENTS BY WOLFE-BAYVIEW FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY, INC. 19698 GREENO RD. FAIRHOPE, AL. 36532 (251) 990-7775