Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

“He changed my life.”
That phrase was uttered countless times Friday as family and friends gathered to honor and pay tribute to Hugh Fountain.
Fountain, who died on March 24, was honored with a special public service on the football field of W.S. Neal High School in East Brewton — his final coaching position in a nearly 40 year coaching career.
As former players, coaches and family members shared their memories of the coach, a nearly full home stand listened to the stories shared.
“I am grateful for the person he has helped me to become – not just as an athlete, but as a person,” Ewing said. “He didn’t just build teams, he built character. He didn’t just build athletes, he built men.”
Before the memorial service was held, the visitation took place in the school’s field house. Different rooms were dedicated to his coaching stints.
Fountain coached at Flomaton as an assistant in 1987; and had head coaching stints at Evergreen, WSN, Charles Henderson and Escambia Academy. He came back to WSN in 2022 as the Blue Eagles’ head football coach.
Family and friends spoke about Fountain during the memorial service.
“Our hearts are broken, tears are falling over our eyes,” The Rev. Danny Benjamin said. “It’s a bitter cup of sorrow.”
Benjamin told the crowd, which took up approximately 80 percent of the home field stands, the Lord knows the pain they feel.
“God is able to comfort, to reassure us that He knows the hurt we feel,” he said. “We come here to celebrate a true child of God; my friend and brother, coach Fountain.”
Benjamin said Fountain touched many lives throughout his days on earth.
“Coach Fountain’s house was in order,” he said. “He gave much, he reached out to those children who need a father figure.
“He was a mentor to many,” he said. “He touched so many lives. Hugh will not be forgotten.”
Fountain was a family man, loved ones said.
“That’s who he is, he built a tight-knit family,” Scott, Fountain’s brother, said. “I have so many memories on the field with Hugh.
“This was our place, our home,” he said. “He loved the smell of grass on Friday nights.”
Scott said the setting for Friday’s memorial was a perfect ending for his brother.
“What a beautiful place for a funeral,” Scott said. “W.S. Neal Stadium, 7 p.m. kick-off.”
Scott said Fountain was so proud of his children – Hannah, H.T. and Troy.
Scott added that Fountain loved every person present.
“Coaching wasn’t just a job for him, it was a calling,” he said. “He cared about people; he wanted you to know Christ the way he did.”
Hannah said her father is still and will always be a guiding light, adding that they grew up in a house filled with the Lord and laughter.
“Dad made it clear how important family was,” Hannah said. “Dad was a great husband, and he always put momma (Susan) first. He had an unwavering commitment to others.”
Hannah said anyone who played for Fountain was their extended family. She recalled memories of being with her father on the sidelines, filling up water bottles and running plays.
“My dad’s legacy goes far beyond him being my father,” she said. “I can’t even express how I’m feeling having lost a wonderful father.
“He was kind, and he made ripple effects in the community,” she said. “I’ll strive every day to continue in his spirit.”
H.T. thanked those gathered for their prayers and support.
“He was my superhero,” H.T. said. “He was such a Godly man and husband.”
H.T. said Fountain raised them the right way, and he led thousands closer to the Lord.
He said it was a blessing to have coached alongside his father for one season at WSN.
“He was the only coach to be the winning-est coach at three different high schools,”
H.T. said. “EA was Hugh Fountain.”
H.T. said his father coached 38 years, and had 30 winning seasons. He won two state championships – 2014 and 2017 – at EA.
“It was never about the wins and losses,” he said. “It was about the amount of lives he touched.”
H.T. said it meant so much to them that so many were impacted by their father.
“We loved our father so much, and we loved sharing him with y’all,” he said.
For Troy, the youngest, this past week has been the toughest.
“We were lucky and blessed to have had a father like him,” Troy said.
Troy recalled memories of being able to get breakfast in the cafeteria and being late to school on certain days.
“He loved letting us tag along, picking up players,” he said. “He took us to camps in Andalusia.”
Troy said Fountain would make it a point to throw the football with them after church on Sundays.
“I’ll always miss H.T. and myself going in EA’s concession stand, and grabbing chips and a drink,” he said. “Dad would always give us a look. We’d give him a Reese’s cup. He always loved those Reese’s cups.”
Troy said Fountain was a simple man who loved Jesus Christ and family.
“On March 24, our lives changed forever,” he said.
Troy even mentioned the love Fountain held for both the people at Charles Henderson High School in Troy and W.S. Neal.
“I’m living proof of how much he loved them,” Troy said. “My name is Troy Neal.”
A private burial for Fountain was held on Saturday. For the full obituary, see page 3 of today’s edition.