Billy Dean Rutledge

From - 6/4/14

If a person goes to Lawnwood Cemetery on highway 278 in Covington and wanders around you'll likely see a grave marker with a young basketball player on it. This is the resting place for one of the most outstanding players & fierce competitor that a coach could have. In the Porterdale Gym 56 years ago before an overflow group of mourners Billy Dean Rutledge's funeral was held. A blue and white bouquet of flowers with the words All Star and the number 13 was above the basketball goal.My wife Jan, with tears streaming down her cheeks whispered to me that she would never complain again about the time that I spent coaching young people.Out of respect for Billy Dean none of my players ever wore the number 13 during my coaching career in Georgia.