Our community mourns the loss of a great man, Dr. James Tenery who was not only a great dentist, but also a man who revived football in our town.
Maysville’s last taste of football before Dr. Tenery arrived in the early 60’s was in 1942 and it was six-man football. Eleven-man football had been eliminated a few years before that. Dr. Tenery had played linebacker for Furman University and he had coached high-school football in South Carolina. When he came to our town, he could not believe that football did not exist. He immediately started the groundwork for football in Maysville.
He contacted some businessmen in Maysville, and they were all aboard for funding football. His staff included Tom Duncan, who by the way is still coaching, Mac Racel, Howard Wilson and Dr. William Savage. Dr. Tenery started out with small fry football and then the Tom Browning Boys Club Blue Devils were formed. Since Dr. Tenery had to see patients until five, most of their practices they had to use lights from automobiles to finish practice. One of the unique things about the Blue Devils was that the players were from Maysville, Mason County, Augusta, Tollesboro, St. Patrick and Ripley, Ohio High Schools.
The 1966 season was special as the Walton family provided the land for Walton Field even with lights as the Blue Devils who were still considered a club football team beat Felicity, Ohio. The ‘66 team played a high school schedule and they had a 5-2 record and even received recognition by the Courier-Journal.
In 1967, Maysville High School reinstated football as Dr. James Tenery saw his dream come true as Maysville had high school football back. We lost a great man who had a vision and he and his staff carried it out. If you look at that Blue Devil roster you can see the names and you know that Dr. Tenery not only molded football players but great men who have helped shape our area. He left a legacy as the next time you are at a Mason County football game, just take time to reflect on the hard work that Dr. Tenery did to bring football back.
RIP Coach.
