Longtime West Florence athletic director dies

[SF Band dad]

Longtime West Florence Athletic Director dies
Lou Bezjak | Morning News | SCNow.com

< Excerpts - full article at the headline link >

Files, the school’s athletic director, died Friday night after long battle with a variety of ailments. He was 62.

Files played on Greenwood’s 1968 state championship squad when it defeated Hartsville 41-13 and led the team with five interceptions. He also had 11 touchdowns that year. Files was inducted into the Greenwood Hall of Fame.

After high school, Files played defensive back at South Carolina and led the Gamecocks with four interceptions in 1972 in earning team defensive MVP honors. During the 1972 season, he earned Sports Illustrated’s Defensive Player of the Week honors when he picked off future NFL quarterback Gary Huff three times, recovered a fumble and had five tackles in the Gamecocks’ 24-21 upset win over Florida State.

[SF Band dad]

Funeral services set for West Florence's Files

The service will be held Feb. 15 at 3 p.m. in the the West Florence High School gymnasium. A visitation will be held after the funeral.

http://www.scnow.com/news/article_aa882 ... f6878.html

[SF Band dad]

Friends remember beloved former West Florence coach
Lou Bezjak | Morning News | SCNow.com

<Excerpt - full article at the headline link>

Files’ father, Horace, read a letter written by Files’ son, Brandon. The letter ended by asking the crowd for “one last standing ovation” for their father.

The Rev. Tommy Doolittle, a childhood friend of Files, gave the eulogy and also shared many memories of when the two grew up together in Greenwood. Doolittle talked about the two going to local store for a Coke and Honeybuns together, their days of riding bikes together all over the neighborhood and many hours spent in church together.

The two also were teammates on Greenwood’s 1968 state championship football team. A video of that championship season played after the service was over.

The service ended with touching moment as a video of Files’ granddaughter, Janelle, singing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” played. Files and his granddaughter had a special relationship and the two were seen together at many West Florence sporting events.

[pctiger81]

Nevelle was a great player while at Gwd. Remember him playing in the state game in 68 that was a great team.He was one of Pinky's boys as they are called now and all were better because of him!