CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Visitation will be held Monday from 4-8 p.m.
and funeral services begin Tuesday at 11 a.m., all at Heritage
Funeral Home in Chattanooga, for Tennessee Tech Hall of Fame coach
Bob Joye, who died Friday at the age of 81.
Widely known as a "players' coach," Joye was among the most
well-liked coaches in Tech history, according to many of his
players. He helped the Golden Eagles enjoy some of their greatest
gridiron success during his time on head coach Don Wade's staff
from 1969 until 1981.
Joye began his career at Tech under Wade in 1969 by working with
Tech's runningbacks, and was instrumental in the record-setting
career of future NFLer Larry Schreiber. When Joye switched to
coaching linebackers, he worked with a string of NFL-bound
all-stars, including Jim Youngblood, Howard Stidham and Mike
Hennigan.
Joye helped the Golden Eagles claim Ohio Valley Conference
championships in 1972 and 1975.
He was inducted into the TTU Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.
Obituary for Bobby McDowell Joye
Bobby McDowell Joye , 81 of Ringgold, GA passed on Friday,
August 30, 2013, thus ending a life well-lived.
He was born in Belmont, North Carolina on February 7, 1932, the
youngest of 10 siblings.
He excelled in athletics but especially football. His football
talent was evident by his multiple accolades as well as college
scholarships. His Senior Year in High School he was a North
Carolina All-State selection and played in the 1950 North Carolina
Shrine Bowl game. He accepted a football scholarship to Clemson
University and then transferred to Western Carolina University and
earned All-Conference honors.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army and he proudly served two-years.
He was stationed at Fort Bliss, TX where he also played football.
During his Army time at Fort Bliss, he met Gail Goldman Joye, who
was a Continental Airline Stewardess, and after exchanging vows in
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, they celebrated 55 years of
marriage.
He subsequently played football at William Penn College in
Oskaloosa, IA until his graduation. He continued as the Head Coach
at Ida Grove, Albia, and Ankeny, IA. During this 10-year coaching
period he was designated as the Iowa Coach of the Decade.
From 1969 until 1981, Bobby coached football at Tennessee
Technological University in Cookeville, TN. During the next 11
years his presence and contributions resulted in numerous
championship seasons and the graduation of countless number of
student athletes – which all benefitted from the mentorship
of Coach Joye.
In 1981, he accepted the position as Head Football Coach and
Administrator at Murray County High School in Georgia. Two years
later he assumed responsibility as the Principal of Murray County
High School; a position he held for four years. Subsequently, Bobby
was selected as the Murray County Associate Superintendent (four
years) and he ended his education career as Elementary principal
for another six years; that Elementary school was known as "The
House of Joye".
But his memory will also be cherished by the thousands of former
players, students, and teachers whose lives he literally touched
and influenced.
Bobby is survived by his wife, Gail; son, Bobby Doak Joye;
daughter, Jodi (Jeff) Jones; granddaughter Ashley; great-grandson
Kylar; two brothers, James And Bill Joye; several nieces and
nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Tuesday, September 3, in
the funeral home chapel with Tom Pemberton, Fred Barrell and Harold
McClure officiating. Interment will follow in the Chattanooga
National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made
to the Leah McCammon Foundation, to Benefit Shriner's Hospitals for
Children, 22 East Oakland Park Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
33334.
Visit www.heritagefh.com
to share words of comfort to the family and to view the memorial
tribute.
The family will receive friends from 4-8 PM Monday at Heritage
Funeral Home, 7454 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN
37421.
