John A. Snowden Jr., 88, retired Versailles High School football coach and teacher, husband of Mary Hart Snowden, died Thursday, September 22 in Whitley City where he had resided since June. He was a member and Deacon at Versailles Baptist Church, a member of the Mens Sunday School class, and was a former Sunday School teacher. Johns 1962 winning state championship football team propelled him to Coach of the Year with both the Courier Journal and the Herald Leader. Survivors, in addition to his wife of 64 years include a daughter, Monica (Terry) Lawson of Whitley City, a son, John A. (Paula) Snowden of Dayton, a brother Dr. William E. (Peggy) Snowden of Winchester, five grandchildren, Brianna Lawson, John A. Snowden IV, Amanda Snowden, Colby (Hannah) Lawson, Zachary (Holly) Snowden, and one great grandchild, Cooper Lawson. He was preceded in death by a sister, Mable Clark and a brother, Ray Snowden. Visitation is 1:00 to 4:00 pm, Sunday, September 25 at Blackburn & Ward Funeral Home. Services will be 4:00 pm, Sunday with Rev. Michael Cabell and Rev. John Brandon officiating. Interment will follow later at Camp Nelson National Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers are the 1962 Versailles High School Football team members and the members of the Mens Sunday School class of Versailles Baptist Church. Memorials are suggested to the Versailles Baptist Church, 126 E. Green St., Versailles, KY 40383 or Hospice of Lake Cumberland, 100 Parkway Drive, Somerset, KY 42503.

Coach Snowden's Woodford County football team was the state champs in 1962
and then he moved to Lafayette where he replaced Roy Walton. Things seemed
to be going good until the debacle at Caldwell County in 1963 , the day
President John Kennedy was assasinated and on a flooded field where no one
should have played, Lafayette lost. It was impossible for a visiting team
to see the sidelines, know where you were and splash through the pouring
rain with limited visibility.

This is one of those events that shapes your life and taught those on the
football team about expectations and disappointments. In reality. a season
of 11-1 stood for many years as the best winning season for Lafayette;
however the disappointment lingered.

Coach Snowden and his wife Mary came to our 50th reunion (Class of '66)and thoroughly
enjoyed themselves. It was so good to see him happy and he really loved
seeing us all. He was a true gentleman and a great coach. He has been
nominated to the KHSAA hall of fame.