BY DANIEL SCHMIDT
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LANETT — Dan Washburn’s name has been on Lanett High School’s football stadium for two decades. On Friday night, he stood beneath the press box and called the honor the end of “a long journey.”
A bronze marker was unveiled Oct. 23 at Morgan-Washburn Stadium, marking 20 years since the stadium took the names of Washburn and the late Mal Morgan.
The plaque on the back of the press box also lists the first 100 members of the Lanett Legends Club. The field is named for former coach Clifford Story, who won state titles in 2017 and 2019.
Brothers Kyle and Skip McCoy spoke at the unveiling along with Story and Washburn. Later that night, Reeltown High School beat the Panthers 50-6 to claim the Class 2A Region 4 championship.
“It’s just been a long journey,” Washburn said during an afterparty following the ceremony. “That long journey was shared by my wife, Charlene, who couldn’t be here tonight. She’s not doing well. But the day after tomorrow, we will have been married for 68 years.”
Washburn graduated from the University of Chattanooga and began his career in 1962 at Valley High School under Doug Lockridge, whom he called his mentor. Washburn moved to Lanett in 1967 as head football coach and athletic director.
After one season at Autauga County High School in 1973, he returned to Lanett. He said the move taught him “the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.” His Panthers went 109-45-4 over 15 seasons.
Washburn also taught history and physical education. He credited school leaders John Tom Green and W.O. Lance as well as Lanier High School’s James Hardy for keeping academics ahead of athletics.
“It wasn’t the tail wagging the dog,” Washburn said. “They all believed the same thing: academics first, and then athletics.”
He said his teams were built on discipline and hard work, often with undersized players.
“We had a bunch of little guys, and they bought in,” Washburn said. “They finally buy in, and it becomes a way of life for them. Their parents turned them over to me, and I appreciated that so much.”
He credited Skip McCoy, Kyle McCoy and Randall Lakin with starting the effort to name the stadium for Morgan and himself.
Morgan coached Lanett from 1947 to 1958.
“It’s good to have those three names,” Washburn said of Morgan, Story and himself.
In 1984, Washburn became superintendent of Lanett City Schools, then in 1991 he became executive director of the Alabama High School Athletic Association. He held the job for 17 years before retiring in 2007.
Under his leadership, the AHSAA launched the Super 6 football championships and made the STAR Sportsmanship initiative an eligibility requirement. He was also president of the National Federation of State High School Associations in 2005-06 and entered the National High School Hall of Fame in 2011.
Washburn now lives close to Lanett again and has attended two Panther games this season. He said he supports current head coach R.J. McDonald, who is “building his own culture now” according to Washburn.
“I love to come back and see them play, and I still know the people. They take me in and still remember my name,” Washburn said. “That means a lot to an old guy.”
His former players remember him too. Between 30 and 35 of them meet with Washburn at the Cracker Barrel in Opelika on the first Tuesday of each month to talk about old times.
“I have so many guys who have been ultra-successful,” Washburn said. “They all come back and say that discipline had a part in what they did.”
Washburn also said the night’s recognition belonged to many people.
“Any coach who puts his heart and soul into good hard work and discipline, and wants to do things right, you get rewarded later in life,” Washburn said. “I’m rewarded now.”
