Trosper and I had a great visit yesterday w/ Lynn & Steele Harmon. One of Steele's stories.....

Steele was at Parris Island (Marine). His old HS coach from Bellevue,  Ben Flora, called him and said he needed to come back and be the HFC at Bellevue HS. Steele told him he could not do that because he had already committed to go to Highlands and be an assistant for Homer Rice. Coach Flora told Steele, "I've got Judge Waddell with me here, we got it worked out." Judge got on the phone & told Steele, "We have it worked out, you are going to be the head coach at Bellevue."

 

Mr. Flora came back out of retirement to be AD at Bellevue in 1975. He was a great guy. I made a good impression on him that year, my first at Bellevue. Ben and his wife loved to travel. On their trips they would go to HS games around the South. In about 1977 I found a map in my school mailbox with a route from Bellevue to Mt. Dora Florida. The attached note said they were looking for a new head coach and he felt it would be a good job for a young assistant like me. I wasn't the only person to get one of those. We all appreciated it because if he felt you could do the job you could. We also kidded each other if we got one after a tough loss. They don't make them like Ben and Irene anymore. I had the pleasure of teaching several of his grandchildren. Just fine people.

Steele looks great! Chief, was he at Centre when you were "young"? He was a great man and an inspiration to so many players and coaches.

9 minutes ago, 9068 said:

Steele looks great! Chief, was he at Centre when you were "young"? He was a great man and an inspiration to so many players and coaches.

He was the head coach at Centre when my Dad went to Boyle, 1969.  He became a very good friend for my Dad and has been a wonderful family friend for the past 56 years. 

What a great story. My Grandpa and his family went to Bellevue High school but before Steele, but the Flora name still carries weight for us older guys that appreciate the history. Thanks for sharing.

1 minute ago, Breds82 said:

What a great story. My Grandpa and his family went to Bellevue High school but before Steele, but the Flora name still carries weight for us older guys that appreciate the history. Thanks for sharing.

Steele has an insane story about playing HS football, losing to Highlands & Coach Flora locking them in the lockerroom and starting a bonfire. They never lost another game in HS. 

I told Steele one time, "My kids don't think your stories are true." Steele said, "Well, if they're not true, they should be."  ?

From Bellevue High School's 1951 yearbook. Ben Flora head football coach, and Steele Harmon was in his junior year. Coach Flora's assistant coaching staff included Bob Miller, who was longtime head coach at Newport and Campbell County high schools, and had the stadium at the old CCHS (now Campbell County Middle School) named after him. Steele's first coaching job was as an assistant on Bob Miller's football coaching staff beginning the fall after Steele's graduation from Centre College in 1956.


Coach Flora



Steele Harmon

4 hours ago, 9068 said:

Steele looks great! Chief, was he at Centre when you were "young"? He was a great man and an inspiration to so many players and coaches.

3 hours ago, ChiefSmoke said:

He was the head coach at Centre when my Dad went to Boyle, 1969.  He became a very good friend for my Dad and has been a wonderful family friend for the past 56 years. 

Centre College football coaching staff from the 1968 football season.

Steele Harmon in his first year of football coaching, the 1966 season for the Newport Wildcats as an assistant under head coach Bob Miller.

That is great stuff. Thank you for sharing @Colonels_Wear_Blue! 

Centre has Homecoming this weekend. Reminded me... when Steele Harmon was the head football coach at Centre, he told me all the alums that came back would say, " I threw the block that sprung Bo (McMillin) for the TD (to beat Harvard 6-0). "

Steele said, "I finally realized, no wonder Bo scored. He had 40 guys on the field blocking for him. "

"I threw the block that sprung Bo!"