A local legendary basketball coach and teacher has passed away. Seventy-seven year old Richard Pickell of Harriman died yesterday.

Richard was a 1959 graduate of Lenoir City High School and member of the 1958 state championship basketball team.

Richard served as basketball coach and taught at Oliver Springs High School from 1964 to 1971. He also coached basketball at Harriman High School from 1971 to 1995 winning the 1995 TSSAA Boys State Basketball Championship in AA.

Richard continued to teach through 1999 and served as assistant principal and athletic director for 4 years.

He was inducted into the Lenoir City Sports Hall of Fame, TSSAA Hall of Fame and Tennessee Weslyan College Sports Hall of Fame.

The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, August 3, 2018 in the Richard D. Pickell Gymnasium at Harriman High School. A Celebration of Richard’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 4, at New Midway Baptist Church in Kingston. Graveside services will follow in the church cemetery. Following the graveside service, refreshments will be served in the church fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation or New Midway Baptist Church. Click Funeral Home, 109 Walnut Street, Lenoir City is in charge of arrangements.