Ted Lars Law, 90, of Rabun Gap, died Saturday, March 31, 2018 in Clayton.
Born Aug. 1, 1927, in Hillsborough County, Fla., he was the son of the late Clyde T. and Lassie Taylor Law. At the age of 1, he moved with his parents back to where they had first met in Mountain City and was a resident of Rabun County for the next 89 years.
He attended Mountain City Elementary School and graduated from Rabun County High School in 1945. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Air Corps training program at Clemson College. When World War II ended and the program discontinued, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps.
Following basic training at Parris Island, S.C., he served in Hawaii and Washington, D.C., where he taught basic math to enlisted Marines stationed in the nation’s capital city. After mustering out of the Marine Corps, he enrolled in Piedmont College where he played basketball and baseball.
After receiving his degree, he was a teacher and coach at Demorest High School for one year and then left the teaching profession for the next two decades. He was a row crop farmer for several years in the 1950s with he and his partners specializing in growing and harvesting green beans
He augmented his income during those years working part-time for the state Department of Transportation, refereeing high school basketball games, working some winters in the automobile industry in Detroit, Mich., and cutting pulp wood.
In 1958, he went to work for James Lees and Sons at their Rabun Gap carpet-making plant. It was during this time that he became deeply involved in the youth recreation leagues in Rabun County coaching Mountain City teams in baseball, basketball and football throughout the 1960s. By the end of the decade he was a primary catalyst of the youth sports program in Rabun County responsible for equipment purchase, scheduling and even concessions. His Mountain City teams won county championships in baseball and basketball during this period. He received the Clayton Rotary Club’s WHEEL Award in recognition of his community involvement with youth league athletics
In 1971, he resigned his position at James Lees and Sons to rejoin the teaching and coaching profession as head boys and girls basketball coach at Rabun County High School. He later added head baseball coach at RCHS to his resume. He coached basketball for 10 seasons at RCHS before stepping aside and becoming a teacher at South Rabun Elementary. For a short time in the 1980s, he coached the RCHS eighth grade basketball team.
He was an avid golfer and strong supporter of University of Georgia athletic teams and passed both of those passions to his children and grandchildren. He attended and was active in Blue Heights Baptist Church, Clayton Baptist Church and Clayton Methodist Church. For many years, he taught the boys Sunday school class in the junior department of Clayton Baptist.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Evelyn Law Thomas; and brother, James ‘Jimmy’ Law.
He is survived by his wife, Gail, of the home; children Carol Law Turner of Clayton, Keith Law (Charlene) of Pendergrass, Tom Law (Karen) of Toccoa, Cody J. Coleman of Clayton, Keri Cannon (Johnathan) of Clayton, Kami English (Brandon) of Tiger; grandchildren, Casey T. Law of Atlanta, Maj. Nicholas B. Law, Ph.D. of Honolulu, Hawaii, Scott Law of Anderson, S.C., Kerri Scott Ivie of Gainesville, Scout and Colter Cannon of Clayton, Kaitlyn Maddox English of Tiger; siblings, Albert Law (Eleanor) of Clayton, Sarah L. Walch (Bobby) of Arlington, Texas, Wayne Law (Joan) of Birmingham, Ala.; and sister-in-law, Flossie Law of Mountain City.
Visitation will be held Friday, April 6, from 4-6 p.m. at Beck Funeral Home in Clayton. A memorial service will immediately follow visitation in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Mike Campbell and the Rev. Jeremy Lawson officiating. Former players – from youth league to high school – will serve as honorary pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, donations or memorials may be made in Coach Law’s honor to the Rabun County Recreation Department to help pay registration fees for children who need assistance (please designate Coach Ted Law Scholarship Fund), 400 Rabun Park Drive, Tiger, Ga., 30576. Donations or memorials in his honor can also be made to the Rabun County High School Athletic Booster Club.
Beck Funeral Home in Clayton is in charge of arrangements.
