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David George Price December 25, 1929 – March 19, 2015

He was born on December 25, 1929 to Herbert Cordell Price and Joe Edna Culbertson Price. David “Dave” Price was one of five children. Dave, the oldest, Johnny H. Price, Ned H. Price, and twins Bill G. Price and Betty J. Price.

After graduating from Waynesville Township High School in Waynesville NC he attended Brevard College in Brevard NC, where he played football for two years on a football scholarship. He also met the love of his life at Brevard, Miss Gloria Starnes. With the outbreak of the Korean War, Dave spent four years in the Navy. During this time, Dave and Gloria were married. They returned to Waynesville NC and he obtained a Master’s degree at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee NC. They had five children, Michael David Price, Susan E. Price, Julie E. Price, Lori A. Price, and Amy J. Price.

Over the years he was very active in his community. For many years he was over the Parks and Recreation Summer Community Program in Pineville NC. This program allowed children a place to go to participate in many activities, not just sports but crafts, etc. He coached the local community baseball team. Several summers he would oversee a community swimming pool to allow children a place to swim. He held many basketball camps and sports camps for children of all ages. Coach Price would always open the gym during the summer and after school so that children from all high schools, not just his school, could come and participate in pick-up games and practice. He has worked on a number of building teams for his church, building houses in underprivileged areas. He started the basketball team and coached it for many years for children of all ages at his church; Pineville United Methodist Church where he was a member for 56 years. He has coached at Community Centers. Coach Price helped organized a basketball program in Jaguaquara, Brazil. He was doing mission work at a school in Brazil. Coach Price was very active in his church, Pineville United Methodist Church in Pineville, NC, where he held several positions. He organized a senior golf group. He organized and helped with many community golf tournaments. He donated and supported the Lupus Foundation and supported and donated to the NCHSAA Endowment Fund. He was a supporter and donated to the Korean War Veterans where he attended regular meetings.

Dave Price, the Waynesville native with a sterling reputation, leaves behind a coaching legacy. He was one of the finest coaches ever produced by Haywood County. A 1949 graduate of Waynesville Township High School, his first coach was C.E. Weatherby whom he credits for being a huge influence on his life. Dave Price played on the 1949 “Paper Bowl” championship team. Coach Price started his teaching and coaching career in Davidson NC in 1957. In 1959 he took a job with South Mecklenburg High School teaching Physical Education and coaching football and basketball. During this time he also coached Track and Field, Cross Country, Golf, Tennis, and Softball. He became the Head Basketball Coach where he took the South Mecklenburg Sabers to four State championships. He was a true pioneer in the coaching industry and was instrumental in taking High School Sports to the next level. He was able to set higher standards in High School sports by excelling in coaching and in everything he did. He led his players and everyone around him to excel and recognize their potential. He believed in the ability of his players and supported them in every aspect. Coach Price became an icon in the community and in high school sports. No other coach has had such a deep impact and connection within North Carolina High School basketball. Whatever he was coaching he always produced a winning team. He was an inspirational leader. In 1983, Dave retired from public school and went to Providence Day as Varsity Basketball Coach where he took the Chargers to two State Championships. He was named the NCISBA Coach of the year in 1985. At the time of his retirement it was written in the Charlotte Observer, Feb. 7, 1995 that Coach Price was “the only AAAA Coach in North Carolina public school history to win three straight State Championships……and only a handful of Coaches to win State titles in both public and private school leagues”. He was called the “Dean of High School Coaches”. He was awarded the “Coach of the Year” over 25 times from different associations and nominated for the National High School Coach of the Year several times. In 1970 and 1971 he received the Outstanding Achievement and Leadership to Youth Award. In 1972 he was awarded the Charlotte Sportsman Award for his outstanding contribution to the Scholastic Sports Program in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. That same year he was the North Carolina Coaches association All Star Coach. 1973-1976 he served on the selection committee for the N.C. Coaches All Star Games, during this same time he served on the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Board. In 1976 he was given the Award of Appreciation by the Charlotte NC Chamber of Commerce and was presented the Knight of the Queen City Award by Charlotte NC Mayor John Belk. He was appointed to the Medalist Sports Advisory Board. He received the National Association of Basketball Coaches Achievement Award four times and the National Federation of State High Schools Distinguished Service Award. In 1978 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award as President of the AAAA Southwestern Conference. He accomplished 6 State Championships, 3 State Runner-Up Championships, had 20 years in the State play-offs, 15 Conference Championships, 7 District/Conference Tournament wins, and had 538 wins, not to mention the wins he had from special holiday tournaments. He started coaching in 1957 but didn’t start keeping his records until 1964. The 538 wins recorded and a total of 827 games were from 1964-1995. He was able to send many players on to play for College’s and had two, Bobby Jones and Walter Davis to continue on to the Pro’s. He received special recognition for both his 300th win and his 500th wins. He was able to be reunited with his coach and mentor for an article about his 300th win in the Waynesville Mountaineer when he took his team to play the Tuscola Mountaineers in Waynesville, NC. Coach Price was nominated for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame as well as the National High School Hall of Fame. By every measure he had long been proclaimed as a superior coach by his fellow coaches, fans, and sports writers. Coach Price’s career expanded over 38 years with an enormous amount of awards, plaques, trophies, and countless numbers of newspaper articles which speak for themselves. There is a very good reason for so many awards. He touched the lives of so many people, not just players but children of all ages. He has been a great teacher, coach and mentor to many people.