Ike Peel, Jr.

Mr. Ike Peel, Jr, 91, Dyersburg, TN died Sunday, June 13, 2010 at Dyersburg Regional Medical Center. He was a member of the Finley Methodist Church. Mr. Peel was a retired farmer, a Dyersburg High School 1935, 1936 & 1937 "Gold Football" recipient, member of the All-West Tennessee team and played on the prestigious West Tennessee All-Star Team his senior year, a notable University of Tennessee player highly recruited by the legendary Robert Reece Neyland and his fine 1939 Vol Team was undefeated and unscored on and played in the Sugar Bowl. In 1940, his Vol Team was undefeated and played in the 1941 Rose Bowl and in 1941 he received the Jacobs Award, given to the best blocker in the country. He served as the University of Tennessee backfield coach in 1942 and from 1943-1945 he bravely served as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Infantry being part of the first wave ashore at France on D-Day. After the war was over, Ike Peel returned to coach his beloved Vols as backfield coach in 1945, assistant backfield coach in 1946 and defensive backfield coach in 1947-1948. From 1943-1953, he expertly coached the freshman football team and scouted opponents and it was during this memorable period in "Big Orange" history that the 1950 Team beat the great University of Texas squad 20-14 in the Cotton Bowl and the 1951 Team won the National Championship. A very versatile athlete and coach, he also played baseball for three years in college, coached baseball for Tennessee for five years and was wrestling coach at the school when his team went undefeated in 1942. In 1953, he returned to Dyersburg, where he was very active in many community activities, serving with distinction as President of the High School Boosters Club, as President of the Finley Lions Club, a member of the County Planning Commission and as a member of the Dyersburg Country Club, the Moose Lodge and the American Legion. He enjoyed playing golf four or five times a week and served as President of the Senior Golf Association of West Tennessee. In 1992, he was chosen as a member of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, which is the greatest honor a Tennessee athletic figure can receive. Services will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 21, 2010 in the Chapel of Curry Funeral Home with Reverend Benny Hopper and Reverend Greg Jordan officiating. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery. Curry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. The Peel family will receive visitors Sunday, June 20, 2010 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm at the funeral home. Survivors include 1 daughter, Becky Peel Cupples of Clinton, TN, 1 son, Ike Peel, III and wife Vicky of Dyersburg, TN, 3 grandchildren, Mary Beth Perry, Mark Cupples and wife Kelly and Mitch Cupples and wife Karen and 5 great-grandchildren Hunter Perry, Addison Cupples, Campbell Cupples, Kaitlyn Cupples and Kristen Cupples. He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Judy Peel and his parents Ethel and Ike Peel, Sr. Pallbearers will be Hunter Perry, Mark Cupples, Mitch Cupples, Charles Hendrix, Marty Moody and David Minton. Honorary Pallbearers will be Bill Kelly, Woody Clifton, Grady Gentry, Jeff Jones and Johnny Majors. The family requests that memorials be directed to the Community Cancer Fund, PO Box 1002, Dyersburg, TN 38025-1002. Online condolences are available on our website- www.curryfuneral.com