He graduated from East Carolina University in 1957 and he came to Roanoke Rapids.
Curtis coached football, track and basketball. The Jackets won two conference championships in basketball under his direction. Curtis worked at Roanoke Rapids High School from 1957 to 1995.
He was honored at halftime this past Friday night as an inaugural member of the Roanoke Rapids Athletic Hall of Fame.
Coach Curtis took the field beside his wife and children with many former players surrounding him to honor a man they all admired and respected. Larry Rooker who played football under coach Curtis leaned over and said, “I’d like to put a uniform on right now and go out and play for you.”
Curtis responded, “I think you can still play, you might last for five minutes.” Curtis was famous for those one-liners.
In 1980 during a Jacket football game the opposing team ran the ball around the end scoring. The defense came off the field and Coach Curtis asked the cornerback what he was doing, “What are you doing back there, reading a comic book?”
Curtis was also known as a teacher who would listen. He was genuinely concerned about each student. In health he covered the most simplistic things such as the proper way to wash and dry off after a bath to avoid health problems.
He even talked to the students about eating habits. He knew what kids liked, cheeseburgers, pizza, and fries. He talked about adding the veggies to the burger and drinking milk but on a bad day at practice or an off night in a game he would pop up and say, “Maybe you need to try a Pepsi-Cola.” During P.E. class Curtis was often heard shouting out the score in a volleyball game. The score would be 7-6 and the next thing Curtis would say, “Seven up and a moon pie.”
The kids would all get a kick out of it. While Curtis could make learning fun, he also taught students that life has many struggles but no matter who you are or where you came from if you worked hard and you were dedicated you would succeed.
As the halftime ceremonies ended, Curtis walked to the south end of the field with his wife and family and he looked back one more time at the place he called home for 38 years. His former students applauded and cheered saying, there goes a coach, teacher and true mentor.
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