In high school and college, he was known for lots of different things. Personality and physical size always stood out. And near the top of the list was his love of making big holes in defensive lines so his teammate running backs could blast into the secondary. He was good at it. He also loved the many aspects of being…
Scotty McGee, Percy Harvin, Bubba Jenkins and countless other South Hampton athletes all have one thing in common. “Pops.” Through nearly 60 years of coaching youth football, Sid Pearl had a way of bringing out the best in young men – both on and off the field. Most will tell you he was a father figure, especially the ones who…
(This tribute has been updated with information on visitation and funeral dates and times) Allan Rockwell grew up fishing and hunting. They were sports he excelled at and they molded him as a person. But an up-and-coming metamorphosis of bean-bag-toss became a central part of his being in the later years of his life. Nobody – OK, maybe a few…
Just when the tradition started is anybody’s guess. But when Fred Feller returned to port after taking people fishing, mates, deckhands, fuel dock attendants and just about everybody at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center knew it was time for a vodka with Five Alive, Fresca or orange juice. That was how Feller unwound after a day on the water. Earlier…
Sandra Scherman sat in silence at a table set up on the edge of an Eastern Shore patch of woods. Her husband, Mike Scherman, sat next to her. Behind them was a handful of close friends – waiting, watching for a deer to come into range of Mike’s rifle. Finally a big buck showed itself and Mike took a shot.…
Typing on a tear-soaked keyboard is becoming more of a regular thing than I’d like. But as my group of friends and myself get older, more and more of us are leaving this world. Writing about any of them passing has never been easy. This time around, though, is more difficult than most. Early this morning I heard the news…
If you knew Bruce Barefoot, you were lucky enough to know one of Virginia Beach’s true characters. After years of working at the grain elevators in Norfolk after graduating from Bayside High, he finally realized a lifelong dream and opened Footer’s Sports Pub. Over 30-some years, the business grew and along with it his reputation as a serious sports fan,…
