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By Gillian Stawiszynski

gillian@jessaminejournal.com

In a room lined with portraits of Guy Strong and the teams he has coached, the family, friends, players, and community of the late Coach Strong gathered at Leon Place Memorial Chapel in Winchester to remember his life and his impact.

Tony Cecil came to know Coach Strong and his late wife, Aleen, at Central Baptist Church in Winchester when he was the youth pastor from 1994-2001. In 2016, he was asked by Strong to lead Aleen’s funeral. Now, it was Cecil’s turn to lead Coach Strong’s funeral. 

“I sort of understand why he would want me to speak today. I mean he never ticked me off. He never told me, ‘hell son, you look like a Shetland pony at a stud horse race,’” Cecil joked- referring to Coach Strong’s wittingly strict nature on the court that led to so many wins, including at George Rogers Clark High School. “A eulogy for Strong could go on for hours.” Cecil said. “We could be here for days.”

The room was filled with sniffles, even though the occasional giggle came upon the crowd while Cecil recalled specific stories.

Strong left the Earth as a beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. But Cecil first recalled Strong’s early life– as a son and a student-athlete. 

“Strong excelled in the classroom and on the football, basketball, and baseball teams. It just wasn’t a one man team,” Cecil said.

Strong, a native of Estill County, attended Irvine High School. After graduation, he attended the University of Kentucky, where he played basketball from 1948 to 1951 under coach Adolph Rupp. He later played and coached for Eastern Kentucky University.

He also served in the Korean War.

 “He was a soldier, a veteran, and a husband- a very proud husband. Aleen was his high school sweetheart. He and Miss Aleen were married before he left to [serve] in Korea,” Cecil said.

Strong was a Christian, Cecil said, “I had the privilege to take his bible home and read through his notes. His penmanship was tremendous and he wrote this one statement: life without God is like an unsharpened pencil, it has no point.”  

Strong is best known as a coach, but his role as an educator was integral to his life. Cecil said he taught his players how to play basketball and, just like his mother did for him, he taught them how to be prepared for life. 

Cecil recalls Strong’s actions during the first years of integration. 

“The volatile environment that our country was facing politically in terms of integration, that was a hot bed in the south,” Cecil said.

While traveling with his Kentucky Wesleyan University Basketball Team, some restaurants and shops would not serve Strong’s students based on them being African American. “Coach would always take his meal with the kids,” Cecil said. “He was there in the midst of that shameful social battle, and he was doing what was right.” 

As if the atmosphere was grieving along with those who knew Strong, the day the service was held was a stormy one. Two television screens showed the same slideshow of Strong with his beloved wife, daughters, grandchildren, dog, and friends. 

“The only Guy Strong I knew was a very kind and gracious man. He would treat you like he had always treated you– like he was your best friend,” Cecil said.