an article in our local paper about the passing of my dad..
Local sports scene loses icon in Pendleton Published Saturday, July 4 2009 - (0) Comments The local sports scene paused over the weekend to shed a tear.
Longtime constable Jim Pendleton’s death created a void, especially for high school basketball fans.
For many years, Pendleton was a fixture at games. Unless there happened to be a spectator overflow, he’d usually be sitting inside the gymnasium near the entrance.
Over the last 30 years he had focused primarily on the programs at Lynn View, Sullivan North and Sullivan South. However, when there was a big game being played anywhere between Knoxville and Clintwood, it wouldn’t be uncommon to see Pendleton there.
Pendleton’s love for basketball began in Scott County, Va., where he played forward/center for Midway High School on an outdoor court. This passion for the game was carried over to his days in military service when he got to participate in indoor facilities while serving his country in World War II and the Korean Conflict.
His purpose in attending games was two-fold.
He was officially a security officer for immediate-area events where game action didn’t get all of his attention. You could see his head turning and eyes rolling throughout as he watched for rowdiness in the crowd.
Pendleton devoted his full attention to the enjoyment of the game action at out-of-town events. School officials throughout Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia expressed their appreciation when he walked through the door in uniform because it provided extra security, free of charge.
Despite a difference of some 20 years in their ages, Pendleton and sidekick Charlie Bill Phillips traveled countless miles in search of quality teams. Both were Eastman Chemical Co. retirees.
Unless Pendleton had a scheduling conflict, they went together sharing expenses — with Phillips doing the driving. It wasn’t unusual to see them at tournaments in any of 20 states taking in the action.
Their favorite stop for a pregame meal was the Golden Corral Buffet & Grill in Kingsport. It became a ritual, the two sitting down for a powwow about the forthcoming game while warming up with some nourishment.
Pendleton and Phillips each carried a list of the games they’d seen in a particular season and always posted the final scores. There was a friendly contest ongoing between them to determine which had been attending the most games.
Pendleton often hinted that Phillips must have been counting Boys Club and other developmental-league games. Phillips, chuckling at the notion, insisted that Pendleton had to be including drive-by competition that was in progress along the route he was taking to the night’s destination.
Phillips died several years ago of a massive heart attack and Pendleton had to cut back on the number of games he attended. He spent most of his time watching Sullivan South, where his son Mark is head coach.
Mark played at King College and it was there that the elder Pendleton acquired a taste for small college basketball. He continued to follow the Blue Tornado.
Hunter Wright Stadium was another place the constable frequented. He sat inside the corridor, highly visible, offering security and analyzing the young professional baseball talent.
Pendleton was an amateur baseball coach who spent much of his spare time helping youngsters learn fundamentals and develop their skills. He had a big heart and truly enjoyed being around young people.
Tall and strong, he was a stern law-enforcement officer who was regarded as a public servant of the entire Kingsport community. That stemmed from his days as a military policeman in the U.S. Army.
“Jim was a good fellow,’’ said James Keesling, retired Kingsport police chief. “He sure helped our department out a lot.’’
A testament to his popularity was the fact he repeatedly got re-elected to the 12th Civil District constable’s post in Sullivan County.
Hundreds of mourners — among them police officers, coaches, school administrators and others who considered him a friend — filed into Higher Ground Baptist Church Saturday for his viewing and funeral service.
Jim Pendleton, 84, loomed large in life and will be sorely missed.
