Legendary coach, educator passes away

T.C. Britton coached Smiths Station’s first football team in 1956, then oversaw considerable building improvements as Lee County Schools superintendent for 24 years.
Thursday morning, he died at 77.

“It’s the passing of a legend in Lee County,” said former Lee County Schools assistant superintendent John Osburn, who played fullback for Britton in the 1960s, then worked under him from 1975 to 1981.

“I can assure you that I would speak for hundreds of youngsters who were at Smiths Station during his 13 years as coach, that if there had ever been a man who was in the right place at the right time, it was T.C. Britton for Smiths Station,” said Osburn, who now directs an educational consulting business in Auburn. “He had a tremendous amount of influence and was one of the greatest motivators I have ever been around. He had a knack for getting the best out of people.”

Hired by legendary Smiths Station principal J.B. Page in 1955 to develop the Panther football program in 1956, Britton coached for 13 seasons, winning the 1958 Class 1A state title and compiling a 99-23 record. Smiths Station is now a 6A school.

He was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.

Britton stepped down from football in 1968, taking the role of superintendent, a position he held until retiring in 1991. He was succeeded by E.L. “Moose” Godwin, who coached the Panthers through 1989 and is the winningest coach (111) in school history.

“People will never understand unless they were here at the time, where the building facilities were in Lee County Schools. Compared to 1968 when he became superintendent to when he left, it’s phenomenal what he was able to do — getting youngsters in good, suitable school buildings,” Osburn said.

Current Lee County Schools Superintendent Dr. Steven Nowlin said in a statement that Britton “cast a giant shadow.”

“While his accomplishments are too numerous to mention, he was well recognized as an excellent superintendent, in particular for his ability to manage money thriftily,” Nowlin stated. “He was a highly respected leader who led this system through many of its growing years. I personally went to him several times for advice on various issues over the last two years.

“His wife, Vernice, was a teacher for many years with the system. We love her and feel for her, and for their son Clinton and daughter-in-law Carol, who teach with us at SSHS. We will miss him, but we will not forget him and all he did for Lee County Schools.

“I am asking all principals and all administrators at all Lee County campuses and buildings to honor Mr. Britton by flying flags at half-staff tomorrow.”

Britton was driven to his physician, Dr. James Zumstein, Tuesday morning in Phenix City by his wife for what she considered to be a “routine” visit.

“I let him out in front,” she said. “He was sitting on a bench while I parked the car. When I came back to him, he collapsed. Dr. Zumstein worked with him for about 45 minutes.”

Mrs. Britton said her husband was then transported to Columbus Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 12:30 p.m. EST. Cardiac arrest was listed as the cause of death.

“He didn’t feel good,” Mrs. Britton said. “He had a pacemaker in September. At times, he felt better. He didn’t get to go to some Smiths Station ball games (this fall), so you knew he was sick.”

Osburn visited with the Britton family at their home Thursday afternoon and recalled fond memories of his mentor.

“I started my association with Coach Britton when I was in the sixth grade,” he said. “He walked into the old auditorium and I tried to pick up a loose basketball, and take it to him. He turned to me and said, ‘I need a manager.’

“Back then, he coached football, basketball and baseball. He let you know early on that you were going to play all three.

“If you spent any time with Coach Britton, you learned to discipline yourself and you understood loyalty. He would say, ‘Big man, don’t ever forget where you came from.’ People talk about Camelot with the Kennedys. I can assure you, as a kid in the 1960s at Smiths Station, it was Camelot with Coach Britton.”

Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. EST at Vance Memorial Chapel in Phenix City. The funeral will be Saturday at Smiths Station Baptist Church at 11 a.m. EST.

Britton will be buried Sunday in the west Alabama city of Millry at the Chapel Hill Baptist Church.