William (Bill) Jerry Chappell, Sr.

Bill Chappell passed away peacefully at his home Sunday morning surrounded by his family. William (Bill) Jerry Chappell was born February 12, 1933, in LaGrange, Georgia. He was preceded by his parents Lucille and Leon Chappell, his daughter Andrea Chappell and his sister-in-law Joyce Bledsoe.

Bill considered his family to be his greatest blessing and love. He cherished them more than any other accomplishment. He deeply loved his wife, children, and grandchildren and found tremendous joy over the past year in his great-granddaughter, Mary Wesley.

Bill attended Georgia Southwestern College on a baseball and basketball scholarship and graduated from the University of Georgia. He received his master’s degree from George Peabody College.

From an early age his dream was to be a football coach, and he accomplished that goal with a storied career. He began coaching with Herb St. John in Perry, Georgia with their inaugural football team. In 1955 he and his new bride moved to Dalton where he became assistant coach for Alf Anderson at Dalton High School. He became head coach in 1964, and he coached for 33 years without a losing season. His favorite saying was “If you saw a turtle on a fence post, it didn’t get there by itself.” He attributed Dalton’s football success to dedicated players, talented assistant coaches, a cooperative administration and a community that wanted excellence. One of his proudest moments was when the stadium at Harmon Field was named Bill Chappell Stadium.

Bill was a member of the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association serving as president. He was awarded the GACA Dwight Keith Award and received the Atlanta Area Official Association Coach of the Year and the Atlanta Touchdown Coach of the year in 1967 and 1979. He was Chattanooga All Tri State Coach of the Year three times. He was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, the Georgia Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame, the Georgia Southwestern Hall of Fame and the Dalton High School Hall of Fame.

He was given the Distinguished Citizen Award by the Northwest Georgia Council Boy Scouts of America in 2015 and honored by the Family Support Council as the Toast of the Town.

Bill was a Rotarian and a Director of Fidelity Federal Savings Bank (Regions). He was an active member of Dalton First United Methodist Church. After retirement his spiritual life was deepened by attending Ricky Townsend’s Followers of Jesus on Wednesday mornings and Chuck Harris’ the Word on Thursdays. He faithfully read his devotions each morning and his faith grew. In retirement golf filled many hours and he experienced some wonderful travels with friends. Bill also enjoyed spring and fall vacations at St. Simons and Saturday Oakwood breakfasts with good friends.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years Bennieta, his son Billy (Jackie), grandson Will (Kat), granddaughter Callie, and his great granddaughter Mary Wesley Chappell. Also, a niece and 3 nephews.

The family would like to thank the caregivers at Hamilton Medical, Regency, Hamilton Home Health and Hospice and his hospice nurses for their excellent care.  A special thanks is given to Wisyieh Faulknor.

A Celebration of Bill’s life will be held at 3:00 PM on Thursday, October 31st at Dalton First United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Stephen Usry and Rev. Chuck Harris officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service from 1:00 to 3:00 PM in the Atrium of the Church. A private interment will be held after the service. The family requests no flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Dalton First United Methodist Church, 502 S. Thornton Ave. Dalton, GA 30720.