Auburn Magazine, the alumni publication of Auburn University, recently paid tribute to Covington County native Jack Powell, who passed away July 14, 2018.

“Growing up in Andalusia as one of 10 children of Bennie and Lilla Lawson Powell, basketball was a lifelong passion. Powell played in three state tournaments for Pleasant Home High School before coming to Auburn, where, as a two-year letterman, he was coached by Bob Evans, Ralph “Shug” Jordan and V.J. Edney.

“A career educatr, for 40 years Powell taught around Alabama, first at Lockhart and Eufaula high schools, then at Livingston University and later at Sparks State Technical college until his retirement in 1987.

“Nearly as long as his teaching career was Powell’s his coaching career. Under Powell, who implemented the “Auburn Shuffle” into his game plans, tiny Eufaula High School was transformed into a basketball powerhouse. Wining five district championships between 1951 and 1960, including the 1953 state championship, Eufaula capped off a 34-1 season that saw them beat much-larger schools from around the state.

“From 1966 to 1972, Powell coached at Livingston University (present-day University of West Alabama), where he won three consecutive Alabama Collegiate Conference titles.”

Powell was a member of the first Pleasant Home basketball team to go to the state tournament in 1940.

Other members of the team included Waitus Helms, Thagard Riley, Walker Jacobs, Eric Campbell and Lewis Palmer.