| Sources |
- [S74] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume IV, 1987-1999, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 8 Apr 1994.
Evelyn Ruth Robertson Abbott obituary
- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 26 Oct 2010.
Hazel Lou Maples obituary
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 29 Aug 2011.
Upland Chronicles: ‘Chief’ Robertson had a big impact on many here
by GARY R. WADE
Bill “Chief” Robertson’s high school yearbook picture.
Bill Robertson, who died this year, is remembered as a friend to all and a man of character and integrity.
In all my years, I never met a man easier to love (or more worthy of admiration) than Bill Robertson – the man who became known in these parts as “Chief.”
Bill, who died last April at the age of 68, had five remarkable qualities: he loved kids; he was an outstanding football player,perhaps the best ever at SCHS; he never said an unkind word about anyone; he never held a grudge; and, if he called you “Big Guy,” you had become his friend for life – and he had more friends than anybody I know.
Our relationship over the past 55 years can be condensed into six chapters:
1. The first time I ever saw Bill (about 55 years ago), he was sitting atop one of the stacks at the AJ King Lumber Company – about where the Sevierville Police Department is located today. “Where are you going, Big Guy?”, he asked flashing a broad smile that later became so, so familiar.
Because most kids never forget even the smallest of kindnesses shown by someone older, I never forgot our first meeting and, like pretty much everyone who knew him well, I believed Bill to be one of my best and most treasured friends.
As time went on, I began to see him regularly. There were lots of pick-up basketball games going on at the outdoor courts at Sevierville Elementary during the winter, if the weather permitted. Sometimes, on weekends or on snow days, we climbed through a broken window to play inside at the Memorial Gym at the old high school.
As great an athlete as he was, basketball was not a serious sport to Bill. But he always had fun and made sure everyone else did too, allowing even the youngest, the smallest, and the least accomplished a chance to play.
2. In high school, Bill found football – and he was really, really good! Principal Jack Ogle took a special interest. Ewell Loveday and Dan Blalock and other of our teachers made sure Bill took care of his studies. Julia Householder, his high school history teacher, and her husband, James, and their daughters, Elaine and Gail, offered Bill a second home – they became a part of his extended family, loving him as if he were one of their own.
Coach Terry Sweeney took him under his wing – and nicknamed him “Chief” – for reasons which today, looking back, may be a bit hard for the younger generation to understand. But the moniker stuck, and he was “The Chief” in the sense that he was the natural leader among his teammates and his classmates – easily the most popular guy in school by his senior year in 1962-63.
A running back, number 40, he led the Smoky Bears to league championships, made All Knoxville Interscholastic League, and All East Tennessee, All State, and All Southern, a first for SCHS. (Ironically, at the same time he was Sevier County High School’s top male athlete, Betty Maples, the woman he later married, was our top female athlete – the highscorer on the girls’ basketball team.)
Every major college in America wanted Bill to play for their school. When he was a senior, UT head coach Bowden Wyatt walked into our locker room to offer Bill the opportunity to play for the Vols. Even the legendary Bud Wilkinson of the national champion Oklahoma Sooners tried to recruit Bill.
He ultimately signed with Georgia, but chose instead to follow coach Sweeney, who had taken a coaching job at MTSU in Murfreesboro.
3. In the summer, Bill, David Williams (his great friend and teammate who gained notoriety as a quarterback by handing Bill the ball at every opportunity!), and some of their pals worked at Goldrush Junction, now called Dollywood. Bill played the role of outlaw Frank James, the lesser known brother of Jesse, but his character soon became the attraction – not only as the train robber, but as the star in the saloon show.
In 1968, I spent a summer as the worst singing cowboy in Goldrush Junction history, the emcee in the saloon show, and the butt of most of Bill’s jokes – for example, the script called for him to cry when I sang and played the guitar (he really didn’t have todo much acting there). He was so popular that at the end of each show people would line up for autographs and photographs.
Bill was indeed tall, dark, and handsome, but he never took himself or his performances seriously, traits which made him all the more admired.
4. Bill continued to excel as an athlete at MTSU and he made many new friends there, but most importantly he earned BS and master’s degrees, permitting him to become an administrator, a coach, and a teacher. In 1978, the year after I was elected mayor, he accepted a job as Sevierville’s recreation director – but spent only a few months with the city (he was way too popular and I was afraid he’d take my job if he didn’t get back to coaching!) before returning to coaching in Bradley County.
He found a home in Cleveland, Tenn., ultimately becoming principal at the alternative school – and accumulating there 33 of his 44 years as a career educator. And, of course, the kids in that county loved him!
Moreover, in his spare time, he served the people of his community as a city councilman – undefeated in elections and holding his office for 15 years until the date of his death. In short, Bill was just as popular there as he was back home.
5. This past year, the Bradley community honored Bill and Betty with a night of fun – a “Tribute to the Chief” lasting almost five hours – sort of an extended “This Is Your Life” for those old enough to remember the TV show (the most impressive thing was that neither took a restroom break!). Former Sevierville City Administrator and Farm Bureau CEO Hulet Chaney and I drove to Cleveland together.
Longtime friend and high school teammate Bob Barker, Mrs. Householder and coach Sweeney represented Sevier County as speakers at the event – and about half of the Smoky Bears’ ’63 football team and some of his Blue Raider pals joined apacked crowd.
Bill called every man and boy in attendance “Big Guy” and gave hugs to the women present. His admirers once again relived Bill’s glory days as a player, as a coach, and, most importantly, as a friend.
6. In the last couple of years, and perhaps knowing of the seriousness of his illness, Bill formed what he called the “Letterman’s Club” here at home – usually made up of Smoky Bears footballers extending from the ’50s and the ’60s.
While encouraging his old friends to renew their friendships and support their alma mater, he downplayed the extent of his illness, maintained a positive demeanor, and made jokes of his hair loss from chemotherapy treatments. And, always more concerned about others, in January of this year, he organized a breakfast event honoring John Fox and Amos Marshall – who played on the undefeated 1931 team and are believed, to be the oldest of all the SCHS lettermen. Needless to say, John andAmos was thrilled with the attention from us “youngsters.”
Few had more humble beginnings or more genuine success in life than Bill Robertson. Fewer still were more loved and admired by friends and family. Abe Lincoln said, “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lived. Even better, I like to see a man live so that his place is proud of him.”
Bill “Chief” Robertson passed the Lincoln test with flying colors. He was a hero all of his life. And now, having passed into the ages, he has become a part of the rich history of this community – a shining example of a life lived well.
Friends of Bill have established a scholarship in his honor with the SCHS Foundation, P.O. Box 4124, Sevierville, TN 37864. The Foundation will make an award annually to a Sevier County student planning a career in education.
Gary Wade of Sevierville is a justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court. The Upland Chronicles series, celebrates the heritage and past of Sevier County. If you have suggestions for future topics, would like to submit a column, or have comments, contact Carroll McMahan at 453-6411 or email to cmcmahan@scoc.org; or Ron Rader at 604-9161 or email to ron@ronraderproperties.com.
- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 27 Apr 2011.
Bill ''Chief'' Robertson
July 22, 1942 - April 27, 2011
Resided In: Sevierville Tennessee USA
Visitation: April 30, 2011
Service: April 30, 2011
Cemetery: Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens
Bill “Chief” Robertson, age 68 of Sevierville, passed away on Wednesday, April 27, 2011.
Bill was a graduate of Sevier County High School and Middle Tennessee State University where he was a star football player. He was an avid golfer and an honored athlete. Bill was currently on staff at Bradley Central High School and was serving his 15th year on the Cleveland City Council. He was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church, Sevierville.
Bill’s life was dedicated to helping others and has impacted the lives of students in Tennessee for 44 years, with 33 of those years being in Bradley County. Bill has been a teacher, coach and administrator, but more than that, he has been a friend to everyone. The sounds of “AEEEE”, “Hey Big Guy” and “Atta baby” will resound in our ears and hearts forever.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Sally Robertson; sister, Evelyn Abbott; brother, Irwin Robertson; aunt and uncle, A.J. and Blanche Keeler; grandsons, Lucas and Connor Gill.
Bill is survived by his wife, Betty Robertson; daughter and son-in-law, Tommi and Jon Gill; grandchildren, Heath, Madison and Isabella Gill; sisters, Louise Loveday, Carolyn Huskey, and Wanda Ramsey; step-sons, Teddy and Charlie Lockerby; several cousins, nieces and nephews; special friends, Julia and James Householder, Elaine H. McIntosh and Gail H. Reeder.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bill Robertson Scholarship Fund, c/o SCHS Foundation, P.O. Box 4124, Sevierville, TN, 37864. Scholarships will benefit a student athlete and/or future educator from Sevier and Bradley Counties.
To honor Bill’s life there will be two services. The family will receive friends 3-6:30 PM Friday with funeral service to follow at 7 PM at North Cleveland Church of God in Cleveland, TN. Rev. Jim Gibson and Rev. Curtis Wells will officiate.
The family will also receive friends 12 noon-3:30 PM Saturday with funeral service to follow at 4 PM at First Baptist Church, 317 Parkway, Sevierville, TN. Rev. Curtis Wells will officiate. Family and friends will meet 2 PM Sunday at Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens, 220 Emert Street, Pigeon Forge, for entombment.
Serving as pallbearers will be David Williams, Bob Barker, Hulet Chaney, Bud Branam, Joe Parker, Ed White, Robert Allen and Jack Ogle. Honorary pallbearers will be coaches, teachers, administrators, friends and members of the Cleveland City Council, the SCHS Letterman’s Club and fellow players from MTSU. Arrangements by Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville. (www.atchleyfuneralhome.com)
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