Friends, family and an entire Nashville sports community remembered the great Ed Temple, former Tennessee State University Women's Track and Field Coach.
The lights on several buildings and landmarks will also honor Temple by turning blue for TSU.
The legendary track coach died Thursday night after battling a longtime illness, his daughter said.
In the hours since his passing, Mayor Barry said the KVB Bridge and other public buildings will be lit blue in his honor.
TSU Associate Athletics Director Valencia Jordan first met Temple when she joined the school in 1989.
“Track and Field doesn’t get the coverage that your football or basketball would get but if it did he would be on the big screens and his story would be one that marked the relationships, it would mark a man who really stood for social concerns who made sure the young women, the girls who entered into his program would go on to be very successful women,” she said.
Many people including city and state officials took time to remember what kind of impact Temple had on the city.
Mayor Megan Barry:
“Coach Ed Temple was a legendary leader who brought the women of Tennessee State University’s track and field program to the world stage, breaking down gender and racial barriers in the process. He was also passionate about a lot of other things besides athletics: All 40 of the Olympians from his TSU program graduated with a college degree. Coach Temple was in a league of his own as a coach and teacher, and Nashville will miss him dearly.”
U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper:
“Ed Temple was one of the greatest coaches of any sport in history. His TSU Tigerbelles, including the legendary Wilma Rudolph, set the standard for track and field. Coach Temple broke barriers and made history from Nashville to the Olympics. What an amazing life, what an amazing man.”
Titans President Steve Underwood
“I am saddened to hear the news of Coach Temple’s passing. I knew him for close to two decades from his time with the Sports Authority, where he provided important input through the years. His significant contributions to so many different groups are legendary. I always enjoyed my conversations with him and admired his sense of humor. He had such a great way about him, I could see how he was able to connect with his athletes and help them reach the heights that they did. We also feel for Tennessee State University for the loss of such an iconic figure. As an organization, our thoughts are with Coach Temple’s family and all of those who he touched through a lifetime of success.”
Senator Thelma Harper also commented on Temple's passing saying we need to, "reminisce on all the good things he had done through the years."
The Tigerbelles brought home 24 national titles under Temple's leadership. He coached at TSU from 1953 to 1994.
