Over time, we've gotten used to John McKissick being known as the winningest football coach in the country. Every year we see him out on the practice field, starting yet another high school football season in Summerville.

This, by the way, is his 56th.

Think about that for a moment. Truman was president when McKissick started coaching the Green Wave in 1952. He shook Winston Churchhill's hand. Studebakers were still big sellers.

With that kind of longevity, nobody is even close to his on-going record of 543 victories. He also has 10 state championships to his credit.

If you live around here, you've probably heard all this before. His story has been told and retold here in the Palmetto State. But if there's a way legends can become commonplace, it's the way McKissick has always been a low-key kind of guy around the Lowcountry.

Unassuming, pleasant and a pleasure to deal with, the 80-year-old coach simply goes about his business of coaching kids and trying to win football games. He's been coaching so long that many of his former players are now in their 70s. Most turned out OK. And most give some of the credit to their high school football coach, John McKissick.

Read it all.

Filed under: * Culture-Watch • Sports

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