Vergil H. Fletcher

My name is Bill Adams. I was JUST out of college and took a chance and drove 300 miles to visit Coach Fletcher. I knocked on his door and told him who I was and what I had done. He graciously invited me in. We spent that whole Saturday talking basketball. I told him how much I wanted to learn from him and he invited me back, and back, and back. Finally He offered to mentor me. I worked with Coach Fletcher off and on for a few years on completely understanding all the details of The Ball Press...

Our deepest sympathy for your loss of a very special man.

I'd like to think you remember me, Jeri (Hoffman)Dennis. I was Marlene's roommate in college. I remember the wonderful times I had visiting at your home in Collinsville and attending games in Champaign. I was so proud to know "The Coach"! Even people from north of Chicago knew Coach Fletcher. A fun memory was one evening during the games in Champaign Marlene and I went to the motel room in which her parents were...

My sincere sympathies to Coach Fletcher's family, and to his many friends and colleagues.

We moved to Collinsville a few months after Collinsville won the 1965 state championship. I was a nerd kid, book smart, socially lost, athletically inept, absolutely incapable of making a basket. Yet the friendly kids in my neighborhood, under Coach Fletcher's pervasive influence, played a lot of sports, especially basketball, so I did too. By the time school started things I'd improved. ...

My deepest sympathies to the entire Harris Family. I have many fond "Harris Family" memories while hanging out with Brenda and the boys. Back in the day, Mrs. Harris was like my second Mom. Actually, she was like a second Mom to many of the neighborhood kids. Not a day would go by without 20 or so kids in her front yard/street. She always enjoyed having us around. She will be missed by many and my thoughts and prayers go out to her wonderful family. Love to all, Diane (Gerst) Kleinhoffer

Please accept my deepest sympathies.

Gos, Bless Mr. Flecher and Colliansbil

Mays the Lord bless you All ways

I called Coach Fletcher periodically after I graduated and though he never coached me or taught me directly, he remembered me and everyone of my brothers and sisters by their first names. His coaching genius was part of his overall genius of elevating all people he knew.

I played aginst one of coach fletchers teams in the carbondale holiday tournament when I was at Herrin high and he was a great man and you could tell how much he cared for the boys on his team. HE will be missed.
Rick Greenlee