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Coy Bacon: Ironton’s Legendary Pass Rusher
By Jim Ridgeway
"Coy loved his football years
and his accomplishments. But most of all, Coy was proud that he was a
Christian and that he was doing his part to make a difference in the
lives of the youth in the city of Ironton. Coy Bacon was truly an asset
to this community and will be missed by all."
-
Katrina Keith
| Ironton lost an important and
beloved member of its community with the recent passing of Coy Bacon.
While Coy Bacon was known for giving NFL quarterbacks headaches on the
gridiron, the residents of his hometown appreciated his warm-hearted
compassion off the field. |
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Located on the northern bank of the Ohio River and surrounded by the
foothills of Appalachia, Ironton was a hard-working, blue-collar city
during Coy Bacon’s youth. The region was so heavily industrialized that
locals sometimes referred to it as America’s Ruhr Valley.
Ironton is a football-loving town with a rich gridiron history.
The Ironton Tanks left its mark
on the annuals of professional football. In 1930, the city bathed in the
glory of the Ironton Tanks victories over the NFL’s Chicago Bears and
New York Giants on a neutral field in Cincinnati. Unfortunately, the
Great Depression ended the town’s ambitious professional football plans
following that memorable 1930 campaign by the Tanks.
Ironton High School, the city’s only public high school, has produced
some outstanding football talent over the years. Before Coy Bacon’s
playing days at the high school,
George McAfee, a Pro Football Hall of Fame member, suited-up for the
Fighting Tigers of Ironton High. Bacon’s high school teammate,
Danny Pride, played linebacker for the Chicago Bears. Many
Ironton High athletes such as Ken Fritz (All-American offensive
guard at Ohio State) have distinguished themselves on the
collegiate gridiron. To this day, college football programs
continue to recruit players from Ironton High School |
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Despite a plethora of outstanding athletes that have walked the halls
of dear old Ironton High, it would be difficult to name a Fighting Tiger
that could match the blend of size, speed, power and agility displayed
by Coy Bacon.
Carl White, a former Eastern Kentucky University football player, was
on the 1960 Ironton High School coaching staff when Coy Bacon was a
freshman. White served as offensive-back/ defensive-back coach for
former Ironton head coach Charlie Kautz.
Nearly five decades later, White still recalls taking over the helm
of the Ironton football program and determining Coy Bacon’s natural
position on the gridiron:
"Coy played a tackle for Charlie (Kautz). When Charlie left and went
to Marshall (University), I took over the next year.
Coy had a lot of athletic ability. He could move, he could run, and
he could catch a football. I put him on offensive end and defensive end.
He started for us when he was a sophomore. I put him on
offensive end to have somebody to throw to.I figured he would be
a pretty good-sized target. |
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| Coy's Warm Smile
Reflected His Big Heart |
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