April 26, 2024 Coats Museum News #1
Remember reading about Sharon Stevens? Now her husband Doug Stevens was in the news. He had been selected to coach at the Coats Middle School. He had previously taught at Harnett Primary and had a part-time job as recreation director of the Coats Park. He replaced Claude Abate who left the public schools for Cape Fear Christian Academy.
Who recalls going to the Trophy Case in Dunn? The business sponsored a baseball team and it won the regular season championship in the Coats Recreation Farm Baseball League. On the team were Stuart Peregory, Mickey Holland, Lee Pollard, Jonas Parrish, Justin Pleasant, Bradley Cole, Jim Cannady, Josh Parrish, Devone Murchinson, Curt Honeycutt, Adam Byrd, Christopher Baker and Jeremy Pleasant. Teresa and Dan Honeycutt and Joey Pollard coached the winning team (Daily Record June 24, 1994).
It was truly baseball season and Coats fellows were showing their talent and hard work. Several of them were stars in the Eastern Harnett Junior League. They were Gary Walden, Adam Ennis, Garyen Denning, Ashley Stewart and Cory Turlington who played against the Erwin teams.
The BB&T team upended the regular season champion, Stewart Tire Service, by 12-0 to win the Coats Recreational Little League Tournament. Scats’ Yankees downed Matthews Builders’ Braves 17-6 in the midget championship. Players for the Little League who stood out were Kyle Turlington, Travis Pollard, Dallas Messer, Bobby Farthing, Bradley Pope, Gil Stephens, Chris Pope, Chris Allen, Garrett Surles, Stanley York, and Josh Ennis.
In the Midget League, Aaron Bush, Christopher Beasley, Derek Mangum, Adam Roberts, Johnny Coats, Rocky Caudle, Thomas Silman (?), Turner Matthews, and Kevin Jones were major players. After all the tournaments, the All Stars were named. They were Little League-Travis Pollard, Chris Allen, Gil Stephens, Chris Pope, Kyle Turlington, Dallas Messer, Mitch Ferguson, Bradley Pope, Stanley York, Keith Manes, Brian Denton, William Coats, Landon Weaver, Bobby Farthing, Jonathan Hammonds and Brett Butler.
The Midget League All Stars were Christopher Beasley, Adam Bush, Mark Grissom, Kevin Jones, Turner Matthews, Devon Murchinson, Curt Honeycutt, Skylar Barefoot, Brandon Faircloth, Daniel Stephens, Jeremy Tart, Rocky Caudle and Josh Jernigan (Daily Record June 27, 1994).
The 1944 graduating class from Coats High School gathered at the Brass Lantern in Dunn to celebrate their 50th Reunion. Edna Grimes, class president, extended a warm welcome. Teeny Upchurch, class vice president, remembered three deceased classmates- Mable Johnson (Wright), Reba Adams and D.J. McLamb. A memorial table was prepared by Patty Wright Fleming. A bouquet of red roses, pictures and a framed recitation was displayed on an easel (Daily Record June 29, 1994).
We enjoyed a visit from Glenn Dennis with his buddy Lenny Parker. The two are working to get the 1963 Dodge Coats fire truck in drivable condition. Glenn shared that the old 1914 school which houses the museum’s Theater Room and the Research Library was once used to store tires by a business with which he was associated. Imagine that.
The museum volunteers enjoying giving tours to the visitors stopping by the museum on Thursdays. Some former Coats High School classes are holding their reunions at the museum also. It is a beautiful free space to recapture school days with friends from the past. There is so much history preserved there for visitors to explore, reminisce and learn. There is a kitchen and bathrooms and plenty of tables to serve refreshments and display memorabilia. The Class of 1964 will be there on Sunday, May 5th.
Thank you goes to Joy Dan Fleming Spivey for remembering her friend Dovie Beasley with a memorial to the museum. Joy, Dovie would be so honored to know you have remembered her at a place that she loved to visit and a place that her husband Max Beasley gave so much time and talent.
Remember reading about Sharon Stevens? Now her husband Doug Stevens was in the news. He had been selected to coach at the Coats Middle School. He had previously taught at Harnett Primary and had a part-time job as recreation director of the Coats Park. He replaced Claude Abate who left the public schools for Cape Fear Christian Academy.
Who recalls going to the Trophy Case in Dunn? The business sponsored a baseball team and it won the regular season championship in the Coats Recreation Farm Baseball League. On the team were Stuart Peregory, Mickey Holland, Lee Pollard, Jonas Parrish, Justin Pleasant, Bradley Cole, Jim Cannady, Josh Parrish, Devone Murchinson, Curt Honeycutt, Adam Byrd, Christopher Baker and Jeremy Pleasant. Teresa and Dan Honeycutt and Joey Pollard coached the winning team (Daily Record June 24, 1994).
It was truly baseball season and Coats fellows were showing their talent and hard work. Several of them were stars in the Eastern Harnett Junior League. They were Gary Walden, Adam Ennis, Garyen Denning, Ashley Stewart and Cory Turlington who played against the Erwin teams.
The BB&T team upended the regular season champion, Stewart Tire Service, by 12-0 to win the Coats Recreational Little League Tournament. Scats’ Yankees downed Matthews Builders’ Braves 17-6 in the midget championship. Players for the Little League who stood out were Kyle Turlington, Travis Pollard, Dallas Messer, Bobby Farthing, Bradley Pope, Gil Stephens, Chris Pope, Chris Allen, Garrett Surles, Stanley York, and Josh Ennis.
In the Midget League, Aaron Bush, Christopher Beasley, Derek Mangum, Adam Roberts, Johnny Coats, Rocky Caudle, Thomas Silman (?), Turner Matthews, and Kevin Jones were major players. After all the tournaments, the All Stars were named. They were Little League-Travis Pollard, Chris Allen, Gil Stephens, Chris Pope, Kyle Turlington, Dallas Messer, Mitch Ferguson, Bradley Pope, Stanley York, Keith Manes, Brian Denton, William Coats, Landon Weaver, Bobby Farthing, Jonathan Hammonds and Brett Butler.
The Midget League All Stars were Christopher Beasley, Adam Bush, Mark Grissom, Kevin Jones, Turner Matthews, Devon Murchinson, Curt Honeycutt, Skylar Barefoot, Brandon Faircloth, Daniel Stephens, Jeremy Tart, Rocky Caudle and Josh Jernigan (Daily Record June 27, 1994).
The 1944 graduating class from Coats High School gathered at the Brass Lantern in Dunn to celebrate their 50th Reunion. Edna Grimes, class president, extended a warm welcome. Teeny Upchurch, class vice president, remembered three deceased classmates- Mable Johnson (Wright), Reba Adams and D.J. McLamb. A memorial table was prepared by Patty Wright Fleming. A bouquet of red roses, pictures and a framed recitation was displayed on an easel (Daily Record June 29, 1994).
We enjoyed a visit from Glenn Dennis with his buddy Lenny Parker. The two are working to get the 1963 Dodge Coats fire truck in drivable condition. Glenn shared that the old 1914 school which houses the museum’s Theater Room and the Research Library was once used to store tires by a business with which he was associated. Imagine that.
The museum volunteers enjoying giving tours to the visitors stopping by the museum on Thursdays. Some former Coats High School classes are holding their reunions at the museum also. It is a beautiful free space to recapture school days with friends from the past. There is so much history preserved there for visitors to explore, reminisce and learn. There is a kitchen and bathrooms and plenty of tables to serve refreshments and display memorabilia. The Class of 1964 will be there on Sunday, May 5th.
Thank you goes to Joy Dan Fleming Spivey for remembering her friend Dovie Beasley with a memorial to the museum. Joy, Dovie would be so honored to know you have remembered her at a place that she loved to visit and a place that her husband Max Beasley gave so much time and talent.