Last Friday, friends, past students and former players honored the late Raymond I. Fulcher. The former Long County teacher and coach died Feb. 26.

During Long County’s home baseball game against Pierce County, community members lined the field named for Fulcher and remembered the well-known coach. Two of Fulcher’s former players, Mike McGowan and Tommy Wingate Jr., threw out and caught the game’s opening pitch.

Fulcher began teaching in Long County in 1954 and remained for 31 years. After retiring, he became an adjunct college professor at Central Texas College on Fort Stewart, where he taught for an additional 16 years. His career spanned 47 years. Fulcher also served as chairman for the Long County Board of Education.

He coached the high school girls basketball team for 12 years and the boys baseball team for 25 years. Fulcher led the baseball team to the region championship eight times, made the state tournament Final 4 four times and went to the state championship title game twice. In 1969 and 1971, his baseball teams were runners-up for the state title.

Though Fulcher was a teacher and a coach, his legendary kindness stretches beyond the realm of education. He was known throughout the community as a trusted friend, adviser and mentor.

Fulcher was honored in 2005 with the establishment of the Raymond I. Fulcher Annual Scholarship Fund and when the Blue Tide baseball team named their field "Raymond I. Fulcher Field."