BOTETOURT – Don Meredith died early Friday morning at his home near Fincastle. The well known retired teacher and retired basketball coach at Lord Botetourt High School was mid-way through his second term as the Fincastle Election District representative on the Board of Supervisors.
He was raised on the family farm near Fincastle and graduated from Fincastle High School in 1958 as one of the school’s top basketball players ever.
He went on to Ferrum College, then a junior college, and graduated from Lynchburg College with a BA in physical education. He is enshrined in the sports halls of fame at both Lord Botetourt High School and Ferrum College.
His first job was teaching at Floyd County High School, where he coached basketball, football, track and golf. He led the basketball team to a district championship.
His next job was teaching at Liberty High School, where he was the school’s head basketball coach. He moved back to Botetourt to the family farm in 1971 when his father passed away. He taught at Botetourt Intermediate, and then went to Lord Botetourt High School in 1976 where he became the head basketball coach.
Meredith coached up until 1995 when he retired after leading LBHS to eight district championships and one regional championship.
He also served as president and vice-president of Botetourt Country Club before running for the Board of Supervisors as an Independent in the fall of 2003.
He easily won the election over two other candidates, and was re-elected in November 2007.
Health issues forced him to miss several supervisors’ meetings in the past year, and last fall he relinquished the committee seats he held hoping that his health would improve.
Meredith supported two major capital projects while on the Board of Supervisors—the renovations and additions at James River High School and the new Eagle Rock Library that’s currently under construction. Meredith helped secure the land for the library.
While Meredith was popular as a supervisor, he is best known for coaching basketball at LBHS where his flamboyant style on the court was as renowned as his coaching ability.
Arrangements were still being finalized Friday evening by Rader’s Funeral Home in Daleville, 992-1212.
