Summerville in Dorchester County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Coach John McKissick and his wife, Joan
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 12, 2023
1. Coach John McKissick and his wife, Joan Marker
The Town of Summerville and the lives of Coach McKissick and Joan, his wife, are forever linked in history. Coach McKissick served as the Head Coach for the Summerville Green Wave football program for 63 seasons: 1952 2015. Joan, his loyal wife, was always at his side, supporting her husband and the Green Wave football program with passion and commitment. She attended virtually every single game throughout Coach's career.
Coach McKissick's teams achieved ten state championships and 621 wins during his 63-year tenure, securing a place in history as the winningest football coach at any level. Throughout his lifetime, he received many prestigious awards, including three-time National High School Football Coach of the Year and ten-time South Carolina High School Coach of the Year. He was also inducted into the National and South Carolina Football Halls of Fame and received citations from four United States Presidents, among other prominent accolades. Even with all this recognition, Coach and Joan were most proud of the lasting relationships that were forged with the many young men he coached and the community members who
this page online
Their legacy of leadership will forever endure, marked by their demonstration of how to find success not only in the game of football but also, most importantly, in the game of life.
Erected 2022.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Sports.
Location. 33° 0.616′ N, 80° 10.899′ W. Marker is in Summerville, South Carolina, in Dorchester County. It can be reached from the intersection of South Main Street (Alternate U.S. 17) and South Hampton Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker and sculpture are located on the west side of Summerville Memorial Stadium/John McKissick Field, about 100 yards east of South Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 815 South Main Street, Summerville SC 29483, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Lowcountry. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, and on the Eastern Seaboard.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 12, 2023
2. Coach John McKissick and his wife, Joan Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Summerville Memorial Stadium (here, next to this marker); Summerville High School / Coach John McKissick (1926-2019) (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Old Town Hall (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Axtell Dam at Sawmill Branch (approx. 0.4 miles away); Timrod Library (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Timrod Library (approx. half a mile away); Pine Forest Inn (approx. 0.6 miles away); Jewish Life (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Summerville.
Also see . . .
1. John McKissick.
He graduated from Kingstree Senior High School in Kingstree, South Carolina, then went to Presbyterian College for two years before being drafted into the Army(Submitted on June 2, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)(as a paratrooper). He returned to Presbyterian to graduate with a degree in economics in 1951. He then worked for his father for a while before finally getting the coaching job at Summerville High. Up until 2013, he had never missed a game in 62 years and was the longest serving high school football coach of all time.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 12, 20233. John McKissick and his wife Joan(sculpture beside marker)
2. Nation's winningest high school football coach dies at 93.
(Associated Press, 11/29/2019) John McKissick, whose 621 victories at South Carolinas Summerville High made him the nations winningest football coach at any level, has died at age 93. He won 10 South Carolina state championships, the last one coming in 1998. In 2003, McKissick became the first coach to reach 500 victories. He won his 600th game in 2012, when he was carried off the field by his players.(Submitted on June 2, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. Statue honoring Summervilles Coach McKissick, wife unveiled.
Region titles were almost commonplace at Summerville under McKissick. In 37 times in his 63 years with the Green Wave,(Submitted on June 2, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)the team won at least a share of the region championship. Only twice in 63 years, 1957 and 2001, did a Summerville team end the season with a record under .500. By comparison, there were five times when his team would finish the season without a loss. More state titles would come; 1969, back to back in 1978 and 79, then his most successful run with four titles in the 80′s including a three-peat from 1982-1984 and again in 1986. Once McKissick reached the 1990s, thats when the career milestones started to come. In 1993, he would win his 406th career game. Making him the all-time winningest head coach on any level of organized football. That win brought the coach and the school national recognition.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 12, 20234. Summerville Memorial Stadium/John McKissick Field(view from near marker)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 2, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 587 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 2, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
