By Sports Editor Brian Hoffman
One of the all time great athletes hailing from the Roanoke Valley passed away a couple of
weeks ago and, unless you’re a big football fan or you’re old, you may not have even realized it.
Former William Byrd football coach Don Oakes was 86 when he passed at his home in Roanoke
on March 29.
Don was a 1956 graduate of Andrew Lewis High School in Salem, where he played
football for coach Hal Johnston. He was a terrific two-way lineman who went on to play for
Virginia Tech, where he also wrestled. Don was inducted into the Virginia Tech Hall of Fame in
2001, something he was extremely proud of.
Oakes was drafted in the third round by the defending NFL champion Philadelphia
Eagles in 1961, when I was eight years old growing up in southeast Pennsylvania and growing a
love for the team. Others who were drafted the same year as Don were legends like Mike Ditka,
Bob Lilly, Herb Adderley, Fran Tarkenton and Billy Kilmer. Don was drafted before Ben
Davidson, Ernie Ladd and Ron McDole, to name a few you long time football fans may
remember.
When I decided to make my home here, after graduating from Roanoke College, I loved
talking to Don about his days with the Eagles. He played in Philadelphia with the likes of Chuck
Bednarek and Sonny Jurgenson for two seasons before moving on to the American Football
League to play for the Boston Patriots. When the Eagles played the Patriots in 2005 he told me
he was torn between the two but had to root for the Patriots since he played there for more
seasons.
Don played for the Patriots, who later changed their name to “New England,” before and
after the NFL merger in 1966, earning All-Pro recognition with the Pats on the offensive line.
After his professional career he returned to the valley and was the head coach at William Byrd
High School from 1972 to 1980. The Terriers were 45-44-2 during his time with a 10-1 record
and a playoff appearance in 1973 when it was very difficult to make the playoffs. Vinton’s
Anthony Conner, who graduated from Byrd in 1979, played for Oakes in high school.
“He was kind of a gentle giant,” said Conner. “Everyone respected him and wanted to do
well. He was an outstanding person.”
A couple summers ago Anthony invited the old team to his house and about 20 players
showed up along with Don and assistants Paul Barnard and Wallace Thompson and they relived
some of the good old days at Byrd.
After leaving the Terriers, Don served as an assistant at Cave Spring, then came back to
coach with Jeff Highfill at Byrd for a season in the late ‘90s.
“He was a really good guy,” said Highfill. “He helped coach both sides of the line and he
had that NFL intensity level. He loved being around kids and he was still substitute teaching at
Byrd up until a few years ago.”
Don Oakes was truly a great in the Roanoke Valley with roots in the Roanoke Valley, the
heart of a Hokie and the love and respect of many. He’ll truly be missed.
