Coach Pride Ratterree

Coach Pride Graham Ratterree, 90, of Columbia, died peacefully, Saturday, April 13, 2013. Born February 17, 1923 in Hickory, North Carolina, he was a son of the late Pride Graham Ratterree and Ruth Wicker Ratterree. Pride earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from Wake Forest University, where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, and his Master’s Degree from Appalachian State University. While at Wake Forest, he played on the football team, and appeared in the first ever Gator Bowl against The University of South Carolina. He went on to play professional football with the Chicago Cardinals. After his professional playing career, he coached at Staunton Military Academy, Lenoir-Rhyne, Wake Forest, Davidson, The Citadel, and USC. He also coached with the Birmingham Vulcans of the World Football League. He was a member of Gideon’s International, the American Football Coaches Association, the Wake Forest Deacon Club, and was an honorary member of the USC Lettermen’s Association. Coach Ratterree was a member and Elder Emeritus of First Presbyterian Church of Columbia. Survivors include his daughters, Ruth (Tom) Oates of Harrisonburg, VA, Mertha Ratterree of Columbia, Mary (Reid) Tribble of Columbia; grandchildren, John Thomas (Lisa) Oates, Anna Oates (Ben) Graber, William Oates, Elisabeth Oates (Tyler) Smith, Mary Ruth Tribble, Reid W. Tribble, Jr., William G. Tribble, Katherine R. Tribble, and Lillian G. Tribble; great-grandchildren, Madelyn and Adah Oates, and Peter Graber. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Edna Rowe Ratterree. The funeral service for Coach Ratterree will be held at 10 o’clock, Wednesday, April 17th, at First Presbyterian Church. Interment will follow at 2 o’clock in Mountain Rest Cemetery, Kings Mountain, North Carolina. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 o’clock, Tuesday evening at First Presbyterian Church, Jackson Hall. Invited to serve as honorary pallbearers are, past and present Elders of First Presbyterian Church and Coach Ratterree’s former players. Shives Funeral Home is assisting the family. As an expression of sympathy, memorials may be made to The First Presbyterian Church, 1324 Marion Street, Columbia, SC 29201, Gideon’s International, 5106 Two Notch Road, Columbia, SC 29204, or to The Pride Ratterree Football Scholarship, care of The Citadel Brigadier Foundation, Inc, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409.

Tributes

Coach Pride Ratterree

February 17, 1923 - April 13, 2013