Editor's note: An incorrect name and date wre first reported in this story. They have been corrected. We regret the errors.
Golf tournament honors Bob Loudermilk, benefits BHS football
By CHRIS LEPORE
For Brentwood Home Page
It was the 2002 state semifinal football game. Brentwood High School is on the road at Germantown. Winner goes to the championship. As the Brentwood broadcast crew looks to set up, they are told there is no room for them. Other than the Germantown parents' section.
The color commentary soon turned into a hostile, tense battlefield. Things like, “Germantown can’t stop us!” and “We are a much better coached team,” were shouted from the Brentwood broadcast, followed by a sea of, “The heck with you!” from the Germantown crowd. By the fourth quarter, police had to intervene and set up around the broadcast to avoid things getting any uglier.
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Charity golf tourneys
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Bob Loudermilk Memorial Golf Classic, July 25
This golf tournament at Brentwood Country Club is one of two major fundraisers by the BHS 12th Man Club for the Brentwood High football program. This year's format is different, with play starting at 8:30 a.m. to avoid the late afternoon heat and showers. A 19th-hole celebration (inside) will include BCC food, drinks, raffle prizes and cameo appearances by BHS coaches. Info: http://brentwoodtnfootball.vnsports.com or click here.
Harmony Golf Tournament, July 25
The 5th Annual event that offers a host of cash prizes and contests will be at 11 a.m., July 25, at Temple Hills Country Club. The two-person scramble, a fundraiser for TuneTown Show Chorus, is $89 a person – or $99 on the day of event. That covers green fees, range balls, cart and lunch. There are two hole-in-one contests: for a Beaman Toyota car and for $25,000 cash. Info: www.tunetownshowchorus.org, or call Sherry Clifton at 615-415-8089. TuneTown is a 501(c)(3) non-profit music education organization.
Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic, Aug. 22
The event takes place at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22, at Temple Hills Country Club, 6376 Temple Road, Franklin. Individuals and teams are encouraged to sign up. The entry fee includes greens fee, golf cart, lunch and awards ceremony reception. Registration available at: http://www.brentwood.org/.
Golf Fore GraceWorks 2011 Golf Challenge, Aug. 30
Players are asked to both raise money and spread the word about GraceWorks Ministries at the event at Nashville Golf and Athletic Club. Captains are also wanted to recruit players. Each four-player team is asked to raise $5,000, or $1,250 per player. Players must raise a minimum of $500 to play golf. Non-playing participants, who only raise money, are also welcome. Sponsorships for as low as $250 are available for businesses. A motorcycle is being offered at a hole-in-one spot by Harley-Davidson of Cool Springs. Info: Kristi Sylvester, 794-9055, Ext. 11, or ksylvester@graceworksministries.net.
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When the football game ended with Brentwood victorious, the games had not yet finished in the parents' section. Threats had been issued from the opposing crowd, and accepted eagerly with, “If you want to jack my jaw come do it right now!” from the Brentwood faithful. Luckily, no one was injured.
This outspoken voice was that of Robert “Bob” Loudermilk, Brentwood’s original color commentator. John Lillie, Bob’s play-by-play sidekick and long-time friend, shared this story and many others, embarking on the great legacy of the Brentwood legend.
The next week at the state championship game, Loudermilk and Lillie had to broadcast from the roof of the Murphy Center in freezing cold weather, but refused to wear anything other than the short-sleeve shirts and khaki pants they had worn the entire season due to superstition. Brentwood would go on to win the state championship.
Lillie said Bob brought a passion to everything he did. “His passions were God, family, golf and Brentwood football.”
Bob passed away in July of 2007 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In his memory, the Brentwood High 12th Man Club established the Bob Loudermilk Memorial Golf Classic, with all proceeds benefitting the BHS football program. This year's event will be held on Monday, July 25.
Bob had been doing the broadcast for a few years before Lillie joined him. With no previous experience, Bob gave him clear instructions: “It’s our job to make these kids sound like All-Americans, playing in the championship game.”
Every Friday night Bob’s loyalty and love for Brentwood football was on full display. Lillie said with a chuckle that Bob would constantly get on the refs during his broadcast, to the point where he got reprimanded by the TSSAA.
“He was opinionated. He was the consummate homer,” Lillie said.
Bob eventually made his way down from the broadcast booth and joined the coaching staff to work with the kickers.
His son, Robert Jr., was a kicker for the team and went on to play at the University of Tennessee.
Lillie said Bob’s legacy goes far beyond the broadcast booth. His love for Brentwood football and for the kids equated his standard-setting broadcast voice and outspoken style.
Lillie vividly remembers learning about Bob's death, or more to the p
oint, not learning about it until days later.
“I was out of town and everyone figured that someone else had called me. I made it back and got phone calls asking why I wasn’t at the funeral. I’ll carry that with me forever,” Lillie said.
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