by Lee Pierre
“The Coach Gaither Story”: Strong Faith and Tough Love in the Star City” co-authored by Ted Edlich and Barry Brown and edited by Dave Russo, is a sports biography about the coaching career and spiritual journey of a youth basketball coach.
At the book signing held Sunday (8/21) at Shiloh Baptist Church, Salem, over 200 people showed up to purchase books showing their appreciation and respect for the man of the hour, Joe Gaither. The crowd waited patiently for the opportunity to have their book(s) personally signed.
Coach Gaither is highly recognized as being an inspiring mentor to hundreds of inner-city children, enabling them to travel to distant cities for the first time in their lives, compete and win on the national level, and find a way to a college education that would have otherwise been out of reach.
“Coach Gaither and my husband, Ronald, grew up together and joined the military at the same time,” Gloria Manns spoke on how her husband and Gaither stayed friends and were only separated during the Vietnam War and “when they returned from the war, they continued their friendship.” She also mentioned that when her son started playing sports, the first person who came to mind was Coach Gaither, who “coached my son during his high school years and while he was in AAU.”
Through hard work and effort, Gaither built a network of coaches, volunteers, donors, and non-profit organizations to improve the lives of his players as well as their families.
“Coach Gaither has always been about helping young people; making them strive to the best of their ability,” Gary Bannister said. “I can definitely say that Joe is a guy who is good for Roanoke.”
Brown, a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Army, is an enthusiastic sports fan. He coaches his son, Hayden, in various sports, and as a student at Staunton River High School, he lettered in basketball, football, and track. After hearing so many similarly amazing stories about Gaither’s years of coaching, Brown saw a story he wanted to be brought to life and told Gaither that people needed to know his story, so he approached Gaither suggesting that a book be written about his life. Brown had gathered information about Gaither’s career as well as spoken to former athletes who had been coached by Gaither.
“I told Barry I would have to pray on it and get back with him,” Gaither modestly remarked. “Barry called several days after that asking me ‘What did the Lord say?’”
Brown’s relentless determination was not to be put aside. He joined forces with Edlich who agreed that the story needed to be written. Together the two of them persuaded Gaither that the idea would be a success. Edlich used Brown’s ideas and drafts to develop a story regarding Gaither’s life.
Edlich, former President and CEO of TAP (Total Action for Progress) in SW Virginia for 40 years, and a Licensed Professional Counselor in the Commonwealth of Virginia credit Barry Brown for getting the collaboration started.
“Barry had about two years of research and we worked together creating the book. Then we sought the help of Dave Russo to edit it so that it would be a good read,” Edlich explained.
Russo, an independent writer, and editor was the consulting editor for “The Coach Gaither Story.” He is also the author of the Summer Music Festival at Natural Chimneys Park, a small handmade book with a poem and sketches about the Red Wing Music Festival in Mount Solon, VA.
As the crowd waned, Gaither remained modest and thoroughly impressed by all who had come out for the book signing stating: “I never thought it would be like this.”
