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University of South Florida University of Tennessee

Jack Staples Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Aug. 6, 2024.

Roswell - Sidney Jack Staples, of Roswell, Georgia, formerly of Naples, Florida, passed away on Friday, August 2, 2024, at the age of 75. He was born on March 15, 1949, in Great Bend, Kansas. Jack graduated from Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, Tennessee in 1967 and from the University of Tennessee in 1971. He was a proud member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. He received his Specialist Degree in Education from the University of South Florida. Jack worked in both Collier County Schools and Charlotte County Schools as a teacher and as an administrator. While with Collier County Schools he also worked at the county jail to help inmates learn life skills and get their GED for a better life after their release. He is best known as being a very successful wrestling coach at Naples High School. There is a wrestling tournament in his name each year. Jack was an avid golfer and loved being on the course. He had two holes-in-one in his time playing and plenty of bogies! He is preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Lois Staples, and by one sister, Christine Marie. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, April Richardson Staples, his three children, Erin Davis (Jack), Robert, and Keith (Susan) and by a brother, George "Woody" Staples. He has five wonderful grandchildren. The family would like to thank Gentiva Hospice for the care and compassion they showed Jack in his final days. A Celebration of Life is planned for a later date in Naples. In lieu of flowers, donations to Naples High School Wrestling Program, 1100 Golden Eagle Circle, Naples, FL 34102. Condolences: www.nationalcremation.com

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Recent Activity

March 9, 2025

Bill Dooley posted to the memorial.

August 12, 2024

Mickey LaBute posted to the memorial.

August 11, 2024

Patrick Bray posted to the memorial.

6 Entries

Bill Dooley

March 9, 2025

Missed by all!

Mickey LaBute

August 12, 2024

I have so many wonderful memories of times shared with Jack (and April) in our Naples High School years. So many parties, such special friends, and so much fun! I don´t think we realized then how special those times shared were, but I sure do now. I can still see Jack´s great smile and will always remember the birth of their beautiful children. Even though I haven´t seen you in years, I miss you Jack!
Love to you, April.
Mickey (Lugo) LaBute

Patrick Bray

August 11, 2024

Jack and I were teammates on the BGA wrestling team. I was a year ahead of him, a head taller, but only one weight class heavier. Thankfully I did not have to compete with him for a starting spot on the line-up. Although wrestling is an individaul sport, our team comraderie was outstanding and Jack was cetainly a big contributor to helping everyone on the team improve. I am sure that our teammate, Grantland O'Neal (see his post above), wholeheartedly agrees. So, no wonder Jack became a great coach. Of course. we had a excellent role model in Coach Jimmy Gentry (If you google him, you will find out why).

In 1966 four of us from BGA including Jack and I qualified for the Tennessee State Wrestling Tournament. The night before we were crammed into a small motel room when a loud banging arose from our door around midnight. As I opend the door, a man who appeard to be drunk fell on me. "I am just here to wish you boys good luck!' he yelled in a slurred voice. Turned out it was Jack's dad playing a joke to "'loosen us up." Among Jack's many fine characteristics were his sense of humor and his ever present big smile. Reckon the apple didn't fall too far from the tree.

In short, Jack was one of those really good guys one fondly remembers from high school. His subsequent success in life's journey was totally predictable even way back then.

Patrick Bray

Grantland O'Neal

August 9, 2024

In high school at Battle Ground Academy, Jack and I roomed together one year, wrestled together for three years, and shared our budding athletic dreams. The summer of 1966 before our senior year at BGA, we took a trip to a wrestling camp at Iowa State, then the reigning NCAA champions. After a long bus ride from Jackson, TN to Ames, IA we got two very full days of coaching, work on moves, and training tips. We also got beaten to a pulp by their top wrestlers as they demonstrated proper techniques on us. The big takeaway for both of us was an understanding of how these elite level wrestlers got to be that good. Fast forward years later to Jack's coaching career at Naples High School where Jack was a hall of fame level high school wrestling coach. He has left behind an amazing legacy of service, success and a lot of wrestlers who discovered how good they could be with his dedicated help - a worthy achievement by any measure and in any lifetime. Fittingly, there is now an annual championship meet held in Naples every year in his name, and his record of dual meet success stands at an incredible 148-25. Well done, my old friend.

To April, the family, kids and grandkids, my prayers and condolences.

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Jim Meistrell

August 7, 2024

Back.in 1980 or so, Jack talked me into wrestling one of his giants, Freddy Bulger, for a pep rally! Freddy picked me up.and dropped me on my head! I guess he didn't get the memo that I.was to beat him up! My neck still hurts!

Bill Dooley

August 7, 2024

Rest in Peace my friend. Your students appreciated you tremendously!

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