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2020 SESSION
WHEREAS, William Riley Yoast, a legend in Virginia sports whose achievements were immortalized in the feature film Remember the Titans, died on May 23, 2019; and
WHEREAS, a native of Florence, Alabama, William “Bill” Yoast graduated from Coffee High School and served his country during World War II as a member of the United States Army Air Corps; and
WHEREAS, Bill Yoast continued his education at Georgia Military College, Mercer University, and Peabody College of Education and Human Development and pursued a long and fulfilling career as a high school teacher and coach; and
WHEREAS, Bill Yoast relocated to Virginia from Georgia in 1960 and led the Francis C. Hammond High School Admirals to a regional championship in 1969 as head coach of the football team; and
WHEREAS, in 1971, Bill Yoast joined T.C. Williams High School, which had recently consolidated white and black students from two other Alexandria schools, as defensive coordinator of the football team; he helped lead the Titans to nine shutouts in 13 games, including a 27–0 state championship victory over Andrew Lewis High School of Salem; and
WHEREAS, during a time of intense racial strife, Bill Yoast and the T.C. Williams Titans served as a unifying force for the City of Alexandria and the Commonwealth, and after the premiere of Remember the Titans in 2000, he became a football icon throughout the nation; and
WHEREAS, Bill Yoast continued to coach track and field and teach physical education and driver education until 1990, and he coached football until 1996; he enjoyed retirement in Bethany Beach, Delaware, where he was an active member of the community and relished opportunities to teach his grandchildren the art of fishing; and
WHEREAS, in 2014, Bill Yoast returned to the Commonwealth to be closer to his family and resided in Northern Virginia; he remained in close contact with his former students, serving as a trusted mentor until the time of his passing; and
WHEREAS, predeceased by two daughters, Sheryl and Bonnie, Bill Yoast will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his daughters, Susan, Angie, and Dee Dee, and their families; his former wife, Betty; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of William Riley Yoast; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of William Riley Yoast as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.