Wayne Rickman

Coach, as he was affectionately called by most, lived a long life that focused on giving to others. He was born in his home in Morris Chapel, Tennessee, on December 26, 1937, to Otis and Margie Rickman. He grew up working on his parents farm and was a four letterman, Harvest King, and voted “Best Dressed” at Adamsville High School in Tennessee. He went to college at Memphis State University and often told stories about he and Elvis Presley hanging out in a dorm room singing with a few other guys. He met Elvis at the Chisca Hotel in Memphis when he went to visit his D. J. friend, Dewey Phillips.

His college years were interrupted when he was drafted into the Army and served some time in Korea before returning to Memphis State to obtain his teaching degree. He moved to Orlando in 1963 to take a teaching and coaching position at Cherokee Junior High. The following year is when he met his wife of 56 years, Jean Thrasher, and they were married on July 12, 1964. He ended up coaching and teaching at the following (JV Basketball Coach); Oak Ridge High School 1972-1976; Boone High School 1976-1993. He finished his coaching career with 512 wins, 2 state champions titles, 3 other Final 4 appearances, and as a member of the FHSAA Hall of Fame and Boone Hall of Fame. The gymnasium at Boone High School was officially named Wayne Rickman Gymnasium in 1994 and the new gym that was recently built kept his name as well.

He is survived by his wife- Jean; children-Mark and Michele Rickman; grandchildren- Roger, Rachel, Ryan, and Rebekah; and his first great-grandchild- Henry James King.

He made a decision as a child, in a church service at a small Methodist church in Milledgeville, Tennessee, to ask Jesus to be his Lord and Savior. We take comfort knowing that his eternity is secure based on God’s Word. John 3:16 reads, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Wayne Rickman believed and therefore did not perish, but is experiencing eternal life with his Creator, Savior, and Lord.