January 11, 2011

Hall of Famer Bill Dupes passes; Services Wednesday in Sweetwater

Former Golden Eagle football player and coach Bill Dupes, a member of both the Tennessee Tech and Tennessee Sports Halls of Fame, died Saturday at the age of 81. Services will be Wednesday in Sweetwater.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Former Tennessee Tech football coach and player Bill Dupes, a member of both the Tennessee Tech and Tennessee Sports Halls of Fame, died Saturday at the age of 81. He is survived by his wife, Peggy, and four children.

Visitation will be on Wednesday beginning at noon at Sweetwater First United Methodist Church (501 Church Street), with the service beginning at 2 p.m.

Dupes was among 11 people inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

As a standout high school player at Sweetwater High School and Tennessee Military Academy, Bill Dupes was offered a scholarship to attend Tennessee Tech University where the three-year starter was elected team captain his senior year, was named All-Ohio Valley Conference and Honorable Mention Little All-American.

Dupes began his coaching career at Tech serving as an assistant helping the Eagles to a Tangerine Bowl victory and winning two Ohio Valley Championships.

In 1963 he took over an Austin Peay program that had not had a winning season for more than a decade. In his second season at the helm he led the Governors to an 8-1-1 record earning unanimous selection as OVC Coach of the Year.

He returned to high school coaching in 1976, first at TMI and later his prep alma mater, Sweetwater where he led his team to a state title in 1993. He retired from coaching in 1998 ending a 44-year career.

He was inducted into the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 1979.

View Bill Dupes' complete obituary

Visitation with the family will be from 12 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. From 1:45 until 2 p.m. will be family only time. The service will begin at 2 p.m.

DIRECTIONS: Exit 1-75 onto highway 68 and follow it into Sweetwater (about three miles) to the intersection with highway 11. Turn left and go through town. Watch for a gazebo and turn left. Watch for Church Street, near the hospital and the Presbyterian Church.