Memories: Coach Bobby Greenwood – “The Volunteer Coach”

Coach Bobby Greenwood – “The Volunteer Coach”

When Bobby Greenwood left the PGA Tour in 1975 and came back to Cookeville to be with his children, he got into coaching through the basketball Optimist Club program; the baseball Little League and Babe Ruth programs.

“The biggest reward in coaching is to see my former players grow up to be successful, outstanding citizens… sometimes very surprising! 😊,” said Bobby. “I got a lot of help from my assistant coaches such as Coach Charles and Wes Keith, Stacy Farris, and Lon Marcum. I was also the assistant coach to Marty Cook in baseball and to Becki Holman, who was the head coach of the National Championship Girls Basketball team in 1986.

You would think my first love in sports was golf but not at all, my dream was to become a professional basketball player. That was before I realized at 5’9” tall, I was a dwarf.

The night that happened was when at a Cookeville High School game, I drove in and shot a fade away hook shot that was blocked into the 4th row of the bleachers! On the bus ride back to Cookeville I wondered if I might try golf. But, Cookeville High School did not have a golf team at that time… 1956.

In grammar school, I had played on the Old City school basketball team with the great Glynn Carmack. And in high school, I was point guard on the CHS team with the great Jim Ragland. The next year, I was the leading scorer on Riverside Military Academy basketball team.

I played freshman basketball at Tennessee Tech University where it was an honor when Coach Johnny Oldham asked me to guard the great Kenny Sidwell in practice every day.

Years later, I played Cookeville’s Independent Church League Basketball and was the leading scorer in the City until I broke my wrist in the Jere Whitson gym in 1967.

So, after all is said and done, I think that I should have pursued Pro Baseball… 😊”

COACHING RECORD:

*BASKETBALL
1 Tennessee State Runner-up
2 League Championship
1 Tennessee State Runner-up
1 Tennessee State Championship
1 National Championship

*BASEBALL
3 League Championships:
1 minor league
1 little league
1 Babe Ruth league

*5 years – Baseball Coach
*6 years – Basketball Coach

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SOURCES/PHOTO CREDITS:

*Personal recollections of Bobby Greenwood, January 28, 2023.

*Memories: “The Basketball Coach” posted February 10, 2020 at:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2774757632561445&set=pcb.2774766509227224

*Memories: “Coach Bobby Greenwood” posted October 5, 2019 at:
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=2478086018895276&set=a.2478085222228689

*Memories: Bobby Greenwood, 1981-’82 Volunteer Basketball Coach” posted December 1, 2016 at: https://www.facebook.com/greenwoodpga/photos/a.304786246225275/1177171268986764

*Photo credits: http://www.GreenwoodPGA.net

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BOBBY GREENWOOD, PGA
Former PGA Tour Player
Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame
PGA of America Life Member

Official Website: http://www.greenwoodpga.net/
Official Blog: https://greenwoodpga.wordpress.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/greenwoodpga

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The Season of Giving

From Bobby Greenwood, PGA:

“I am so proud of my wife, Elma, and the relief work that she has done with DonorSee and WAND (Water, Agro-forestry, Nutrition and Development) Foundation.

If you wish, this is a grand opportunity for you to give where all your monies will go directly to the needy projects as she has done for the last 9 years.

Please check her projects at:
https://donorsee.com/giveto/1276

Thank you. Merry Christmas! – BG.”

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Change lives this giving season.

Make your end-of-year gift today and you’ll receive video updates showing the difference it made and the joy you created.

Your gift is 100% tax-deductible.

Please check our projects at: https://donorsee.com/giveto/1276

Merry Christmas!

Yours truly,

Elma Gacho Greenwood, International Program Manager
WAND (Water, Agro-forestry, Nutrition and Development) Foundation
Balangiga Without Borders (BWB) – Disaster Relief Volunteers Worldwide
Follow Elma at: https://donorsee.com/way2meg

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BOBBY GREENWOOD, PGA
Former PGA Tour Player
Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame
PGA of America Life Member

Official Website: http://www.greenwoodpga.net/
Official Blog: https://greenwoodpga.wordpress.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/greenwoodpga

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Bobby Greenwood, American Legion Award Recipient for Assisting fellow Veterans

In the last seven years, Bobby Greenwood has helped several different Veterans in their time of need and is still currently helping on a daily basis.

Bobby received this award from American Legion Post 46 at the Veterans Building during their monthly meeting on November 7, 2022.

THANK YOU Bobby and TO ALL THE VETERANS for your selfless service!

Photo caption:
Ray Gould, Legion Post 46 Vice Commander and Bobby Greenwood, PGA

NOTE:

*Bobby Greenwood, Former PGA Tour Player, served in the United States Army and Air Force from 1964 to 1969. He is a proud member of the American Legion.

BOBBY GREENWOOD, PGA
Former PGA Tour Player
Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame
PGA of America Life Member

Official Website: http://www.greenwoodpga.net/
Official Blog: https://greenwoodpga.wordpress.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/greenwoodpga

Backsliders Class History – First United Methodist Church Sunday School (60th Anniversary)

I started attending the Backsliders Class with my father, Bob Greenwood. I was a young boy at the time, and it must have been about 1949 or 1950. I remember that I was the only young person to be in the Backsliders Class but my dad took me with him so I thought it must be OK.

The first thing that impressed me was the President of the class. He was always such a smart, polished gentleman. And, you could tell that he truly loved the Lord. No doubt, in my mind, he must be the sharpest man in town! I also remember thinking that I could never be good enough to serve as President of the Backsliders Class.

The second thing that made an impression on me as a young boy was Jeff Wall. A master of music with deep voice that surely sounded like the voice of God… Or so I thought. In addition, his wife Vera Wall was a wonderful pianist. Together, their music was instrumental in leading me to accepting Jesus as my Savior and Lord of my life.

Jeff and Vera’s son, Don, who lived and worked in Florida, would visit the Backsliders Class when he was in town visiting and would dazzle everyone with his great talent of singing and playing the piano. In addition, their other son, Estel, was my father’s boyhood friend.

I will always love the Jeff Wall family and, more importantly for what their music ministry did for me.

Well, in 2006 to 2007, the Backsliders Class elected me to serve as President. Some of the past presidents were out in the audience and the entire class encouraged me and loved me through it all. Although I never felt good enough… It was a growing experience for me, and I am thankful for the opportunity to serve.

By: Bobby Greenwood
2006-2007 Backsliders Class President

BOBBY GREENWOOD, PGA
Former PGA Tour Player
Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame
PGA of America Life Member

Official Website: http://www.greenwoodpga.net/
Official Blog: https://greenwoodpga.wordpress.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/greenwoodpga