In Paintsville, there was no second guessing Walter Brugh
...sooner or later, the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can
Walter D. Wintle, "The Victor," 1905
Walter Brugh was a lifelong resident of Paintsville, Kentucky who played collegiately at The Citadel, served in the Philippines during World War II, and returned home to coach the Tigers from 1951 (first as an assistant to Jim Wheeler) until stepping down in 1994. Brugh was elevated to head football coach in 1956 and amassed 280-wins, 136-losses, and five ties retiring as the KHSAA’s All-time wins leader. Brugh averaged a smidgen more than seven (7) wins a season for 39-seasons, had a winning rate of 66.5%, and made two finals appearances (1978, 1985). This man was mountain football for a long, long time. What a legend.
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
Coach Bruh back row, first person on the left
Paintsville, KY: Walter Brugh will be remembered as a lot of things. For some, he was the guy who showed up at camp to drill his 1956 inaugural squad with 12-large rolls of bologna, two cooks, and various commodities. To others he bore a striking resemblance to the cartoon character, “Quincy (Mr.) Magoo.”
Citadel
As far as the bologna, the boys ate bologna and gravy for breakfast, cold bologna sandwiches for lunch, and fried bologna for supper. Now that’s eating, if you’re a fan of bologna.
I like bologna. The ’56 Paintsville Tigers must have too.
The team finished 11-1. That bologna sure did “hit the spot.”
To others, he will be remembered as the guy for whom the stadium at Paintsville is named. Brugh was a college football player (The Citadel), a former Army veteran with combat experience (World War II), a coach who retired with the all-time wins lead in the KHSAA, and even the coach of the 1958 KHSAA championship golf team. Brugh may well be remembered for any of those things or some collective thereof.
For anyone who really knew Walter Brugh or was, otherwise, impacted by the man or his legacy, Brugh will always be known as “The Big Blue Legend.” If you don’t believe us go ask any of the Big Blue Legion of Paintsville Tigers who live all across the eastern end of the commonwealth.
Speaking of legions, the Brugh family could lay such a claim. Brugh was one of 11-children born to Frank and Margaret Brugh on July 7, 1926. Looks like the Brugh family may have been starting its own football team.
Brugh played four seasons of college football at the Citadel
Obituary of Walter Brugh
Brugh attended Paintsville High through his junior year before enlisting in the U.S. Army to serve his country during World War II. Brugh served in the South Pacific during the war, and upon completion of his tour, Brugh returned to complete his senior year. Brugh was 21-years old at the time.
Brugh graduated in 1947 from Paintsville High and enrolled at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. Brugh played football, all four years, in college and returned home to Paintsville and accepted a job on Jim Wheeler’s staff coaching football among other sports (like golf).
After five (5) years on Wheeler’s staff, Brugh became the head football coach in 1956. From this point forward, there was no looking back for Paintsville High. This is a post Brugh would fill until retiring in 1994 as Kentucky’s all-time winningest football coach.
It is rumored Coach Brugh passed on several opportunities to coach college ball to stay home and round Johnson County boys into men. Before every game, Brugh would take a knee with his players, assistants, and managers and recite two things, “The Lord’s Prayer,” and Water D. Wintle’s “The Victor.”
Wintle’s “The Victor” was written in 1905 and is often misattributed to C.W. Longenecker. It goes like this:
If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don’t If you like to win but think you can’t, It’s almost certain you won’t. If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost. For out in the world we find Success begins with a fellow’s will It’s all in the state of mind. If you think you are outclassed, you are. You’ve got to think high to rise. You’ve got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win the prize. Life’s battles don’t always go To the stronger or faster man. But sooner or later, the man who wins Is the man who thinks he can.
Brugh had a way of motivating players to work hard and play their best. It began in the locker room and carried out onto the field of play.
Brugh made two trips to the finals with legitimate shots to win titles. In 1978, Brugh’s PaintsvilleTigers would meet Marshall Patterson‘s Fort Campbell Falcons. It is really uncanny how many times these Hall of Fame types intersect.
Patterson won the ’78 title by way of a third quarter field goal which struck the right upright and bounced through for the decisive points. Clearly the ball could have taken an in-fortuitous bounce as easily as it took the fortunate one. Clearly this game could have gone either way.
In 1985, Brugh’s Tigers were staked to a 6-0 lead over Crittenden. After getting staked to the earlier lead, the Tigers drew every flag conceivable (no comment here). From that point forward, the Tigers struggled to get anything going and dropped the ’85 title game, 14-6.
Who was the coach for Crittenden in ’85? It was KHSAA Hall of Famer, Pat Gates. Like we said, incredible how many times the Hall of Famers meet each other in title games.
Walter Brugh was once asked why he never moved on to college ball or even a high school with a larger enrollment. Brugh told Mike Fields with the Lexington Herald-Leader, “I never ever wanted to go anywhere else…I wanted to stay with the people I knew, the place I grew up, the community and school I love. No, sir, there’s no other place in the United States where I feel I could do more to help boys on this level.”
That’s why the stadium is named for him. That’s why he is the school’s all-time wins leader. That is why he’s in the KHSAA Hall of Fame. That’s why we’re remembering him right now, today.
Walter Brugh was without question the undisputed King of Paintsville and its “Big Blue Legend.” Yessir, that name seems to fit Brugh just fine! One might even say it fits like a Big Blue glove.
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball and KPI Newspaper Group, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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