It’s a remarkable story of never forgetting where you came from. In his acceptance speech this summer, Coach George Glymph shared that having the Eau Claire High School Arena named after him was an honor and an experience “that he hasn’t yet found the words to describe.”

And, in an afternoon awards ceremony attended by hundreds, Coach Glymph did what few people accepting awards dare to do, he called names.

He humbly accepted the honor bestowed upon him, while chronologically mentioning all the elements of his success: his parents, his siblings, his wife, his family, his time spent at Booker T. Washington High School, Benedict College, the University of South Carolina, and Eau Claire High School.

He could have shared more about his time coaching in the NBA. He could have lauded the crowd with stories of his achievements and successes since leaving Eau Claire in 1996. He could have said that indeed his latter days have been his best days. But he didn’t.

What he did do was remind everyone that he was a native son - one in whom they could be tremendously proud. His continued ties to the community were poignantly felt by everyone in attendance. Childhood friends, classmates, former students, players and co-workers all came to show their support and appreciation for his commitment to education, to his students and to his players. It was a tremendous turnout for a tremendous occasion.

George Glymph coached the Eau Claire Shamrocks from 1974 to 1996, winning five state titles and compiling a record of 471 wins and 135 losses.

But he did more than that for the Eau Claire community — he gave them pride. “When Eau Claire (High School) won, the entire community won,” said Ernest Robinson, co-host of Sports Hotline on ESPN Radio 93.1 FM. “It was something special to be on that basketball team.”

Glymph invented the Rock Pit, a raucous, stifling gymnasium in North Columbia where, during halftime, Glymph would sneak away from the locker room and turn the thermostat past 90 degrees.

“ If anyone on the opposing team had some kind of game, Coach Glymph was sure to smoke it right out of you,” said Felicia Jenkins, a former Eau Claire basketball player and now coach of the Benedict College women’s team.

The sense of pride he instilled and the sense of community he emoted in hundreds of players and thousands of students were fondly remembered during the dedication ceremony.

“ He wanted the best for us. Sometimes players get lost in the system because coaches care about the player and not the person,” said Jermaine O’Neal, Glymph’s most famous student athlete.

Jermaine O’Neal may be Glymph’s most famous athlete, but what is even more infamous is the countless number of athletes who Glymph influenced. As Felicia Jenkins paid tribute to Coach Glymph, she too mentioned many names. She called the names of dozens of male athletes still working in the Eau Claire community, still coaching and trying to instill in another generation what Coach George Glymph instilled in them - pride.

So, although he has countless honors, some of which include induction into the SC Black Hall of Fame (1995); selection as an Olympic Torch bearer for the 1996 Summer Olympics (1996); induction into the SC Athletic Hall of Fame (1999); named to the Beach Ball Classic Hall of Fame (2000); being honored with the George Glymph Room in the USC Colonial Center (2001); induction into the SC Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2002); induction into the Benedict College Athletic Hall of Fame (2005); and induction into the Richland School District One Hall of Fame (2006)… it is only fitting that Eau Claire High School would name its new 2,000-seat arena after the man whose name is synonymous with South Carolina basketball.

Glymph was named Coach of the Year 25 times for basketball, track and field and cross country. But it was his devotion to his players that established his legacy.

Coach George Glymph has supported HOOP-OLOGY since its inception in 2002. Regardless of where he was traveling during the summer, he always made time to speak at or attend the HOOP-OLOGy 101 Basketball Camps held at Eau Claire High School. He has been a tremendous asset to the organization.