Dr. Ewing Marsh Goodson, II

Dr. Ewing Marsh Goodson, II, age 85, passed away Friday, December 11, 2020 at Saint Thomas Rutherford in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Marsh was born on August 15, 1935 in Chickamauga, Georgia to the late Robert Jerome Goodson and Lois Boyles Goodson. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Bobbie Jean Goodson Scott Hennessey. In 1953, he graduated from Tyner High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee where he was co-captain of the football team, a multi-sport star, and a scholar. He then attended Centre College in Danville, Kentucky on a football scholarship, and he was a member of Centre's undefeated 1955 football team - one of the country's most outstanding college football squads that year, and only the second sports team ever inducted into Centre's Hall of Fame. Marsh was a two-sport letterman at Centre, playing football and baseball. In 1957, desiring to attend a Christian institution, he transferred from Centre to Harding College (now Harding University) in Searcy, Arkansas where he obtained his undergraduate degree in education. The following fall, he became the head football coach at Harding Academy in Searcy. During the early and mid 1960s, he held various coaching positions across Tennessee and Georgia, including track coach at David Lipscomb College in Nashville, Tennessee, head football coach at Rockwood High School in Rockwood, Tennessee, and head football coach at Griffin High School in Griffin, Georgia. In 1967, he was offered the opportunity to be a member of the inaugural faculty at Jackson State Community College in Jackson, Tennessee. He was Jackson State's first athletic director, its first baseball and basketball coach, and was instrumental in charting a course for the school’s future athletic success. In 1968, recognizing the need to unite Tennessee’s community colleges into their own independent athletic conference, he assisted in founding the Tennessee Junior and Community College Athletic Association (the “TJCCAA”), now the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association. He served as the TJCCAA's President for its second and third years. He obtained his master’s degree in physical education from George Peabody College, now a part of Vanderbilt University. In 1975, he obtained his doctorate of physical education from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He then returned to Jackson State to work in campus administration for nearly two decades. As an administrator, he instituted Jackson State’s night school program, managed the school catalog, and coordinated graduation. In 1994, he retired as Jackson State’s Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs. In 2013, in appreciation of his contributions to Jackson State athletics, and to Tennessee collegiate sports generally, he was inducted as a member of the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame. He and his family enjoyed many wonderful and rewarding years residing in Jackson, Tennessee, where they shared a great love for friends, neighbors, and especially for their fellow members of the Central Church of Christ/Campbell Street Church of Christ. Upon retirement from Jackson State in 1994, he resided happily for the rest of his life in McMinnville, where he was a faithful member of the Central Church of Christ. Marsh was truly passionate about spending time with his family, and together they shared countless trips to the beaches of Florida, the mountains of Tennessee, and memorable destinations all over the country. He was an uncompromising Christian, a straight-talking gentleman, a devoted husband, a proud father and grandfather, and a loyal and witty friend to many. Marsh is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Katharine Pearsall Goodson; his daughter, Marsha Kaye (John) Dennison of Springfield, Tennessee; his son, Jeffrey Todd (Crystal) Goodson of Clarksville, Tennessee; and four granddaughters, Katharine Jean Dennison, Lillian Grace Dennison, Everly Kate Goodson, and Collins Rose Goodson. A graveside service for Marsh’s family and friends will be held on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Philadelphia Cemetery in Grundy County, Tennessee. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either GBN Network, the Philadelphia Cemetery Fund, or a charity of your choice. Arrangements are entrusted to High Funeral Home, Inc., 101 College Street, McMinnville, Tennessee. Online condolences may be made at www.highfuneralhome.com.