Fort Valley State (and Mississippi Valley State and Grambling) mourns the loss of another legend, Doug Porter
The most coverage of Central Georgia and state colleges in Central Georgia is The Central Georgia Sports Report. Look around and see for yourself.
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
It was four and half years ago that FVSU’s other football coaching legend, Stan Lomax, died at the age of 95.
Another Fort Valley State coaching legend was lost Wednesday with the death of Doug Porter in Grambling, La. at the age of 94.
FVSU hosts the annual Lomax-Porter Charity Golf Tournament, held each summer. This year’s is scheduled for June 15 at Southern Hills Golf and Country Club in Hawkinsville.
Born on Aug. 15, 1929 in Memphis, Tenn., Porter played quarterback at Xavier in New Orleans, beginning his coaching career at a Tennessee high school after serving in the U.S. Army.
He returned to his college alma mater as a backfield assistant, and then became head coach in 1961 at Mississippi Vocational Valley State, leaving in 1966 to become an assistant under legend Eddie Robinson at Grambling.
He became head coach at Howard in Washington D.C., from 1974-78, then moving south for the first of two stints leading FVSU, from 1979-1985 and 1987-1996.
Porter, who also has a Master’s from Indiana, had a heart attack during the 1985 season, after nine games, and Gerald T. Walker took over for the rest of that season and for 1986. The Wildcats lost in the first round of the 1985 NCAA Division II playoffs while Porter recuperated.
The four-time SIAC champion coach went 155-110-5 overall, 104-70-3 at FVSU, and 0-1 in the NCAA Division II playoffs. He was the SIAC’s top coach seven times.
Porter also served as FVSU’s athletics director for nearly 20 years, after serving in that same role at Mississippi Valley for a few years.
Porter was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008, FVSU’s Hall in 2009. He returned to Grambling in the late 1990s as an advisor, also working toward a museum in honor of Robinson.
His wife of 64 years, Dr. Wilma Jean Porter, died in 2017. They were the parents of three children, living in Baltimore and New York.
Services are not complete as of Thursday evening.
From FVSU Sports Information:
“Coach Porter had a reputable playing and coaching career. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Porter served as the quarterback at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. After serving our country in the United States Army and reaching the rank of first lieutenant, he was appointed athletic director at Mississippi Valley State University. After serving at Mississippi Valley, he served at Howard University from 1974 to 1978 before landing in Fort Valley.
“Porter served as head football coach at Fort Valley State University from 1979 to 1985 and again from 1987 to 1996, compiling a head coaching record at FVSU of 112-66-3. Porter was a seven-time SIAC Coach of the Year and served as Athletic Director for 16 years while acting as the chairman of the Division II Football Committee and as president of the National Athletic Steering Committee. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and the FVSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.
“He left a lasting impact on not only his players, but all students, faculty, staff, and alumni," states Jeffery Parlor '85, and former player under Coach Porter. The Lomax-Porter Charity Golf Tournament, which is held annually, is named in honor of Porter and former football and basketball coach Stan Lomax '43 (1923-2018).”