Sheridan Mourning Loss of Longtime Coach.
A man whose name has been synonymous with MVL football has passed away. Sheridan is mourning the loss of Paul Culver Junior.
His son and current Sheridan Head Football Coach Paul Culver III announced his father’s passing on Facebook saying, “The world seems a little less intense today. A little less determined. A little less Right. My dad, Paul Culver Jr, passed away last night peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by loved ones. I didn’t know Forces of Nature could come to an end until I saw the light gone from his eyes, the warmth from his hands, the thunder from his voice, and the fire from his heart. Even though we’ve had the last few months to prepare ourselves for this, it still caught my family off guard. Thank you to everyone for their love, prayers and support. God bless.”
Sheridan Athletic Director Lance Dupler and one of Culver’s former players released this statement, “I had the opportunity to play for Coach Culver for 4 years in high school at Sheridan. It was a great experience for me and I am appreciative of everything he taught me. He was a great man that demanded the best out of his players. I also had the opportunity to coach with Coach Culver. He was a very detailed man that put his players in the best position to win every Friday night. I will miss getting to talk with him every Friday night at the football games. He taught all of his players to live their lives with the Right Mental Attitude.”
Culver Junior coached the Generals for 33 of his 44 years as a head coach. At Sheridan he guided the Generals to 17 playoff appearances, 14 Muskingum Valley League Championships, two State Final Four trips and a State Runner-up finish in 1987. In 2014 he was inducted into the Ohio High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame. The football field at Sheridan bears his name.
Culver, the son of a coal miner once told a reporter upon deciding to retire that for 44 years he got to go and play.
Coach Culver Junior spent the last months of his life at home with his family. He couldn’t receive visitors so his family began The Legacy of Paul Culver Jr. Facebook page so his many former players and well wishers could leave messages for the coach. Now they are leaving their condolences.
Funeral arrangements for the Culver Jr. are pending. We’ll post them as soon as they become available.
SERVICES FOR PAUL CULVER JR.
Friday February 11th
Sheridan HS will honor the Legacy of The General by turning on the Friday Night Lights at Paul Culver Jr Stadium from 7pm to 10pm.
Sunday, February 13th: 12-4pm
Calling hours for the public held in the Sheridan MS Gymnasium
Monday February 14th
11am Private Funeral for close Friends and Family at Somerset Methodist Church. Graveside Service to follow at Thornville Reformed Lutheran Cemetery. Luncheon to follow at South Shore Ministries.
