GREENVILLE — Jim Stout recalled a summer practice for Riverheads football back in the early 1970s when Tony DeMacio had just started coaching the team.
The Gladiators were having two-a-day practices, one in the morning and another later that day after a break. In between the two, during lunch break, all the players left and DeMacio asked Stout, the school’s athletic director, where they were.
Stout told him to get in the car and they’d take a ride to Mint Spring. When they arrived, Stout said they were greeted by a couple of horses, some sheep and goats, and maybe two dogs. There was even a baby pig.
Once past all the animals, Stout and DeMacio saw the missing players—all of them in Dr. H. Lynn Moore’s swimming pool. And Moore’s wife, Eloise, was preparing lunch for the team.
“The players would come back, well-fed and ready to practice in the afternoon,” Stout said Saturday afternoon as he spoke at Moore’s memorial service.
Stout said Lynn and Eloise Moore “ran the show” at Riverheads.
Moore passed away April 22, two weeks after his 89th birthday. He was the longtime team doctor for the Riverheads football team, working with the school since it opened in 1962. He also worked with other sports teams at the school, giving free physicals to all the athletes.
Football was his true love though, so it was appropriate to hold the memorial service on the football field — his family was seated on the home sideline where Moore stood so many Friday nights over the years.
Riverheads principal Matt Stevens said it has been an emotional week at the school and in the Riverheads community following Moore’s death.
Close to 300 people attended the ceremony Saturday, some sitting in the football bleachers, others bringing lawn chairs and lining the track around the field. Approximately 30 members of the football team were at the service, decked out in their red jerseys.
In addition to his work with the varsity team, Moore was also one of the founders of the Augusta County Quarterback Club, a youth football organization.
Moore was born in Blacksburg in 1933 and attended Virginia Tech, where he ran track and was a member of the Highty-Tighties, the Corps of Cadets’ regimental band.
I have graduated from the Medical College of Virginia and practiced medicine for 60 years. His son-in-law of him, Joe Williams, said Moore lost count of how many house calls he did over the years, not caring if he had to go out in the middle of the night or during a snowstorm. Williams said if the weather was too bad, Moore would just walk to the house of someone who needed him.
“When they say they broke the mold, it’s true in Dr. Moore’s case,” said Riverheads athletic director Tim Morris. “There will never be another like him.”
One bit of information some in attendance may have learned Saturday was that Moore’s nickname was Honey. That originated with his wife from him, then spread to his son from him Doug and eventually to other family members and friends.
It took time for Williams to get used to calling him Honey — Dr. Moore sounded more respectful — but eventually he joined in with the rest of the family.
Williams said Moore would not have wanted a public memorial service, believing too much was being made of him.
“But everybody decided it was selfish on our behalf not to,” Williams said. “Because he helped everybody. Everybody knew him. He’s the kindest soul I’ve ever met in my life.”
I have spent a lot of his later years caring for Eloise, who had dementia. Williams said she wasn’t comfortable unless Moore was there.
“So I stayed with her all the time,” Williams said. “That, as much as anything, just blows me away. That meant more to him than Riverheads.”
Stout ended his speech by saying everyone was gathered to remember a great American.
Then Stout added one more line.
“Red Pride forever.”
Indeed.
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Patrick Hite is The News Leader’s education reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he / him / his de ella) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. yessubscribe to us at newsleader.com.
