Coach Paul Webber was a longtime coach for both Jackson and Poplar Bluff football. He was inducted into the Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. Ten years later, he was inducted into the Missouri Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Missouri Wrestling Association Hall of Fame.
Each year, the rivalry between Jackson and Poplar Bluff is put aside to raise funds for the Coach Webber Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund. A hat gets passed through the stands of both Jackson and Poplar Bluff supporters.
This year, Poplar Bluff's Tehya Williams was awarded the Coach Webber Memorial Scholarship.
"I was very surprised, actually. I didn't even know they were thinking about me for it. But I am very appreciative for it because we actually need it a lot.
was shocked to learn," said Williams, who is going to Lindenwood-Belleville University. "I truly thought it was a gift from God and I am truly thankful to him and for this."
Doug Osborn, co-pastor of The Bluff Church, recently received a phone call from coach Webber's daughter Julie. She knew he was on the Poplar Bluff team that went unbeaten and untied in the regular season in 1990, which was coached by Webber, and wanted Osborn's ideas on who would make a good recipient for the scholarship.
"(The criteria was) a person of character, a person of integrity, someone who is a leader. Some of the same attributes that coach Weber had. He was a man who was greatly respected," Osborn said. "When began to talk about it with coach Sievers, Tehya was obviously someone who came to mind who fit that criteria.
"She just had an infectious attitude. Just a sweet, sweet, heart of a girl who just really loved being around people ... When you talk about Tehya, people around her talk about what an awesome young lady she is."
Added Williams, "As they've told me, he's very respected and I strive to be that way, too. I'm glad they picked me for this award for such a respected man."
Poplar Bluff football coach David Sievers was also on that 1990 team and was involved in the selection process with Osborn.
"I was always just very much in awe of coach Weber. He was literally and figuratively larger than life," Sievers said, adding that Webber always stressed faith, family and football, in that order. "When I interviewed for the (Poplar Bluff head football coach) job this time, I told them coach Weber was my standard as far as coaches go, and if I can be half the coach he was, I will feel like I have done a good job."
Sievers was reminded of a story during his senior year where Poplar Bluff was on the road against Charleston.
The Mules got to Charleston to find a bunch of dead flowers in their locker room and a note that read, "You guys don't even deserve flowers for your own funeral."
It turns out, Webber's wife drove to Charleston earlier in the day and put the flowers there as a motivational tactic.
"It worked for awhile. We were ahead at halftime and just ran out of steam," Sievers aaid. "We couldn't keep up with them, they were a lot better than us that year."
Williams intends to major in sports management with a minor in marketing.
"I knew I wanted to be around sports but I didn't want to play them because I am kind of clumsy," Williams said.
At Poplar Bluff, Williams was an All-American dancer for three years, was a member of the state championship track team, and also played volleyball and basketball.