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Tribute Prepared by Kay Hudson and Ken Sanders
 James Dudley "Butch" Sanders was born in Gleason, Tennessee, on June 11, 1927. He was the only son of Rokey and Lucy Sanders. He started to school at Parks one room school house. He walked over a mile to school each day and then back home to help his parents farm. Being a straight A student all through elementary school earned him the right to play football as a seventh grader, prompting his parents to move to town for him to be closer to practice. Mr. Sanders graduated from Gleason in 1944 and entered the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where he played center on the Volunteers football team. In 1945 he was drafted into the navy and served eleven months and eighteen days at San Diego, California. He then continued his education at the University of Tennessee at Martin playing football and ended his educational career at Murray State where he played baseball. He graduated from Murray State on May 30, 1950.
On July 5, 1950, he married Martha Steele and started his teaching and coaching career at Gleason. Since he had not served a full year in the navy, he was again drafted during the Korean conflict in 1951. This service was with the army. He served in several instructional capacities in the war effort thus developing his techniques of hard work, strong discipline, and intestinal fortitude. He served at Fort Jackson, SC, until May of 1953. After service to his country was completed, he returned home with Martha and new son, Ken, and once again to the classroom in 1953.
Mr. Sanders resumed his football coaching duties thus filling his life with some of the happiest and most fulfilling moments. In fact, Martha had to get him off the football field to go to the hospital for the birth of their daughter Kay on August 28, 1958. Many stories have been told about Mr. Sanders, his coaching and teaching styles, and his special way of motivation to take students and players to levels of achievement they never dreamed of. The story is told of Mr. Sanders spending the whole night in the locker room reliving and evaluating the performance of both himself and his players. Oh yes, his expectations of his players were great, but no more than he expected of himself. His love for young people was evident in the many programs he initiated and directed. His more than 20 years of work with the Gleason summer Rotary Park program, his involvement with church youth recreational programs, and community projects exemplify his love for and interest in Gleason and the people far and near who have ever called Gleason "home."
One of his most memorable accomplishments was coaching the 1969 Lady Bulldogs. His team was North Side Christmas tournament champs, regular season champs, both county and district champions, placed 3rd in the region, and made the first ever state tournament appearance. The love and admiration his players express for him to this day is a lasting tribute to his influence and guidance. Mr. Sanders retired from the teaching profession in 1979, and he then devoted all his time to his family’s sweet potato business and to his grandchildren.
Mr. Sanders was active in the Gleason First United Methodist Church and was a member of the Gleason Masonic Lodge and American Legion Post #166. As an active Rotary member for years, he was honored with its highest recognition as his selection as a Paul Harris fellow.
Mr. Sanders was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1986 and received experimental treatments until his death in 1990. Not only did Mr. Sanders give us an example of how to live, but he also showed us how to die. His positive attitude was a model for all as he continued to teach his Sunday School class and participate in all activities at church and in his community as his health would allow. Being a highly intelligent business man, a devoted family man, and a trusted friend, Mr. Sanders left a legacy in the town he loved so much. At the dedication of the Gleason gymnasium, these words were spoken by his past players and exemplify the character of Dudley Sanders…"Mr. Sanders met every challenge with relentless determination regardless of the odds, whether it is a sporting event or a challenge of life. He whole-heartedly believed that being from Gleason will always give you a slight edge. Mr. Sanders never gave up on anything or anybody in coaching or in life. Because of this and so many reasons, he is and will always be one of the most influential men in my life. We have lost a legend because no one could do it or say it better than Mr. Sanders could. I don’t know of any other person that I have ever known or met that held the love and respect of the entire town like Mr. Sanders; rich or poor, old or young, in every walk of life….this man was loved." Tribute Prepared by Kay Hudson and Ken Sanders
Click Here for Dudley Sanders Retirement Article
Click Here for Articles on The Dudley Sanders Memorial Gymnasium
Woody "Pat" Dewberry, Bartlett, Tennessee
One thing about Coach Sanders that his children might not reveal out of modesty is Coach Sander's personal integrity and business ethics. One year a sweet potato fungus was found in the potato beds that Steele Plant Company used to grow their potato plants, and potatoes. This particular fungus can't be eradicated without literally destroying the beds, rebuilding them and starting over from scratch. Some "less than scrupulous growers" had been known in the past to ship fungus damaged potatoes to other unsuspecting growers hoping they wouldn't be found out but, not Coach Sanders. He contacted his customers to tell them that he wouldn't be able to fill their orders because of the fungus found in his "growing beds." To those who had received plants, or potatoes, from Steele Plant Company before the fungus was found and verified by the TN Agriculture Department and the US Department of Agriculture, Coach Sanders contacted each of them and revealed the truth about the fungus that was found. I feel sure he made restitution. A few years ago at the Tater Town parade I saw Ms. Martha and was telling her and son, Ken, about hearing about the unfortunate situation and how much I admired Coach Sander's honesty for revealing the truth. She said "that's the way Butch did business" and said they lost the whole crop of potatoes that year at a cost of over $400,000. She said it was a financial loss that really hurt them and an economic loss for the Gleason community due to the number of people they were unable to employ during the growing season. That one instance speaks volumes about the character of the man!
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