The Graceville – Marianna Connection

9/18/08
By: Clint Cox

As Graceville and Marianna squared off on the football field last Friday night, Yesteryear takes a look back at some of the Graceville – Marianna connections that have occurred over the years. The most recent and obvious connection would be that of current Marianna Head Coach Rob Armstrong. Coach Armstrong played his high school football at Graceville, graduating in 1988. He then returned to Graceville in 1992 as an assistant coach and remained an assistant coach until 1996. He was an assistant coach on the 1993 Tigers team that captured a State Championship. In 1997 Armstrong stepped up to assume the Head Coaching job for the Tigers. After leaving Graceville and coaching in other locations for several years Armstrong returned to Jackson County in 2007 to take the Head Coaching job at Marianna. His 2007 Bulldogs finished 7-4 and made the FHSAA playoffs.
There are several other current coaches and administrators at both schools that have the Graceville – Marianna connections. Current Bulldog assistant coach Steve DeWitt played football at Marianna and later served as an assistant coach at Graceville. Current Bulldog assistant coach Bryan Collins played football with Armstrong at Graceville and was also an assistant coach on the 1993 State Championship team. Current Bulldog assistant coaches Alex Broxton and Cornelius Wesley played on that 1993 State Championship team for Armstrong and Collins. Current Bulldog assistant coach Randy McKinnie played football at Graceville for Armstrong during the 1997 season.
Other connections include current Marianna High School Principal Randy Ward, who previously taught and coached at Graceville. Clarence Bellamy, current assistant principal at Marianna, served as Principal at Graceville in the late 1990’s. One of the assistant coaches on the Tiger’s 1993 team was Al Hayes, a 1977 graduate of Marianna. Hayes is now teaching and coaching in Dothan. Current Graceville Tiger Head Coach Todd Wertenberger coached at Marianna for two seasons prior to accepting the job at Graceville. Current Graceville High alumni and Principal Chris Franklin taught at Marianna prior to going to Graceville High.
And any mention of the Graceville – Marianna connection would not be complete without the mention of Harry Howell. He played football at Graceville and graduated in the mid 1940’s. After playing football and graduating from Troy Teacher’s College (Troy University) he returned to Jackson County in 1950 to serve as an assistant coach at Marianna under Grey Wilson. In 1951 he assumed the Head Coaching duties and remained Head Coach for the next 8 seasons. During his tenure he amassed a record of 54-19-4, which included a record of 34-5-1 during a four year span (1954-57). The Graceville native later served as Principal at Marianna High from 1960 – 1965.