Editor, The Herald:

I am writing this letter today on behalf of Mr. James Scott and Mr. Marvin Meadows. I have known Coach James Scott and Coach Marvin Meadows for eighteen years. I was fortunate enough to be a student athlete at P.E.C.H.S from 1992-1996. During that time I got to know both Coach Scott and Coach Meadows quite well in classes, on the basketball and volleyball court, as well as in the community. I consider myself honored to have been guided by both of these gentlemen during my time at P.E.C.H.S.

I am writing this letter to request both support and advocacy on behalf of honoring Coaches Scott and Meadows. I am hoping that a special tribute be granted to each gentleman in honor of each one's unparalleled coaching accomplishments at P.E.C.H.S.

During his thirty-plus year tenure at P.E.C.H.S, Coach James Scott has garnered over 410 wins as the high school boys' basketball coach. He has received numerous district and regional tournament victories and has taken the boys' high school basketball team to the state tournament on at least two occasions. On one occasion, Coach Scott coached the boys' basketball team to the coveted “Final Four” state basketball tournament. Coach Scott is markedly one of the winningest coaches in the state of Virginia in his respective category of boy's high school basketball coaches. In addition, he has consistently labored to promote not only the prestige of the school, but also its students, staff, and facilities. Moreover, he has worked diligently to foster the character of his student athletes.

I would like to formally propose a special honor be bestowed upon Coach Scott-one that I believe is fitting of his exemplary coaching achievements and reflective of the legacy he has established at P.E.C.H.S. I would like to propose that the gymnasium at the Prince Edward County Middle School be named in honor of Coach Scott, and that it officially designated, “Scott Court”.

Quite similarly, after coaching for over twenty years at P.E.C.H.S, Coach Marvin Meadows led the girls' high school volleyball team to over 242 wins. Coach Meadows brought P.E.C.H.S. fourteen girls' high school volleyball district titles, fifteen district tournament championships, fifteen regional tournament appearances, and two state tournament appearances. Coach Meadows was bestowed twelve times with the honor of district coach of the year in three different districts. He was voted regional coach of the year on two separate occasions. Furthermore, Coach Meadows has coached at least eight all-district players, seven district players of the year, three all region 1st team players, and two 1st team all state players. What is more, during his time as volleyball coach, Mr. Meadows invested an immeasurable effort into promoting the safety, well-being, integrity and all around success of his players. I consider myself fortunate to have experienced his selfless leadership first-hand.

I would also like to formally propose that Coach Marvin Meadows be bestowed the honor of having the P.E.C.H.S high school gymnasium named in his honor. Officially designating the high school gymnasium, “Meadows Court” would be a fitting formal recognition of the athletic accolades and accomplishments Coach Meadows has brought to high school girls volleyball program as well as his legacy at P.E.C.H.S.

Throughout the years, the Virginia High School League periodically sends out record books to Virginia public schools. Both Coach Meadows and Coach Scott would fall within these record books as the top ten winningest coaches in their respective sports based on their victories achieved at P.E.C.H.S throughout the years. A well-established practice of venerated high schools in Virginia, and across the country, is to honor the legacy of their winningest coaches by naming gymnasiums, fields, or courts where they have coached during their tenure, in honor of them.

I believe it would be a great gesture to bestow both of these celebrated coaches and dedicated stewards with the tribute of having these two gymnasiums respectively named in their honor. Indubitably this gesture would pay homage to the winning character of P.E.C.H.S, these two remarkable and dedicated coaches, the students whose lives these coaches have helped shape, and the triumphant spirit that dwells between the hallowed walls of our esteemed institution.

I hope that the Prince Edward County School Board will sincerely consider bringing to fruition this opportunity to commemorate the unrivaled achievements these two men have brought our beloved school.

I would be delighted to speak with any Prince Edward County Public School ambassador(s) regarding my formal recommendations. I may be contacted by phone at (303)-330-7970 and by email at hollyhigginswilcher@gmail.com.

Holly Higgins Wilcher, M.S.

P.E.C.H.S Class of 1996