Bulls mourn the passing of a much loved coach
Sam Thomas Timer, 83, of Pinehurst, North Carolina, passed away in his home on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010, with his family beside him. He was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1926, son of the late Lawrence Dillon and Ken-neth Thomas Timer. Sam attended Union High School, Union, New Jersey, and Panzer College, in Montclair, New Jersey, where he met his wife Ethel Joyce Pasvolsky Timer. They married in Bergenfield, New Jersey, in 1948, and raised four children. Sam served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a Sea Bee and fought in the invasion of Okinawa. He received his Master’s degree in Administration at Calvin Coolidge College.
Sam was a career football coach. During his long, varied, and successful career, Sam coached at North Plainfield High School, University of Virginia, Clark High School, Wake Forest University, Virginia Military Institute, Cornell University, Duke University, Allegheny College, and Boston College. He retired to Pinehurst, North Carolina in 1989. He came out of retirement in 1990 to coach the Birmingham Bulls here in Birmingham, England, where they won the national championship. He won numerous other championships during his career and coached in the Cotton Bowl and Hall of Fame Bowl.
Sam was a member of the Allegheny College and Montclair State Halls of Fame. He was a motivational football coach and served as a mentor and as an inspiration to many people including numerous football players. Sam’s offensive football strategies are included in football books, including American Football Strategies, by the American Football Coaches Association. He was recognized by the Massachusetts State College Football Foundation for his contributions to high school and college football. He believed, foremost, in a good education and always pushed everyone to do their best on and off the field. Sam was a member of the American Football Coach’s Association, the Elks Club, and the First Baptist Church of Southern Pines, where he was a Deacon and an active member of the congregation and Sunday school classes.
During his time at the Bulls Sam was a huge influence on many of the players he worked with, and a was great mentor to the other coaches on the staff. Many of the former Bulls players and staff have been giving tribute to Coach Timer. Steve Moon said "Coach Timer was one of the finest men I have had the honour to meet. He was a fine teacher of football and a fine teacher of how to be a good person and how to live life as it should be led". Former players Ron Gifford said "Coach timer has touched so many lives over the years and I would like to thank him for the short time that he spent with us at the Birmingham Bulls".
He is survived by his four children, Lawrence Timer and Caryl Browner of Cary, North Carolina, Richard Timer of North East, Pennsylvania, and Katherine Moralez of Apex, North Carolina, as well as nine grandchildren: Kim, Casey, and Kalen Timer, Sam and Gary Timer, Lauren and Joshua Browner, and Joseph and Elise Moralez, as well as three great grandchildren, one daughter-in-law, Jody Timer, and two sons-in-laws, Robert Browner and Ricky Moralez.
The funeral services is to be held at the First Baptist Church in Southern Pines at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday February 16th. Interment will be at the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake, North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Southern Pines, the American Cancer Society, or the FirstHealth Hospice and Palliative Care of Pinehurst.
Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com
Photo by Gary Mayell