A scholarship fund and special memorial service are planned for longtime Loudon County football coach William Bert “Chig” Ratledge, who died at his home Monday, June 3.
A graveside service will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 6, in New Steekee Cemetery with the Rev. Chad Oody officiating. A service to honor and remember Coach Ratledge will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 23, in the Loudon High School Auditorium. The family requests everyone wear red in his honor. The family will greet friends following the service in the main hall of the school.
Contributions may be made to the Chig Ratledge Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 301, Loudon, TN 37774.
Coach Ratledge was a member of First Baptist Church, Loudon, according to his obituary. He served his country as a member of the U.S. Air Force. He was an educator and football coach in Loudon County for 38 years.
As head football coach for the Loudon High School Redskins he mentored many young men and coached three state championship teams: 1969, 1974 and 1975. He was inducted into the TSSAA Hall of Fame in 2000. The Loudon High School stadium is named in his honor.