Soul of 78- Ray Tidwell

The former athlete and coach helped shape generations of players and the landscape of Walker County athletics.

Words by Nick Morris| Image by Justin Hunter

Ray Tidwell says he was never the strongest, fastest, or most athletic kid. But that never stopped him from swinging for the fences.

At just 13 years old, Ray joined the Walker County Men’s League, as most county schools didn’t have their own teams in the early 1960s. Though regularly outmatched by older, more experienced players, he held his own, and he believes the experience made him a better ballplayer.

“It prepared me to face better pitching,” Ray says. “Better competition in general.”

That competition quickly became a passion. By the time he graduated from Curry High School in 1966, Ray had built a respected reputation around the county for his achievements in football, baseball, and basketball. He earned All-Area, All-Region, and Birmingham Post Herald All-State honors in basketball.

After high school, Ray went on to play basketball for legendary Walker College coach Glen Clem. He earned a scholarship in just his second semester.

“I was never a prolific scorer,” Ray says humbly. “But I got the ball to those who were, and I ran the show offensively and kept everyone straight on defense.”

As a point guard, Ray became an undeniable presence on the court, particularly known for his defensive prowess. One of his proudest moments came when Coach Clem called him “one of the most aggressive defensive players to ever play at Walker College.”

After helping lead Walker College to a State of Alabama Junior College Championship and a Dixie Conference Championship, Ray returned to the baseball diamond. Though he received a minor league contract offer from the St. Louis Cardinals, he instead chose to play for Paul Nix and the Auburn Tigers.

“My wife has been an Auburn fan since birth,” Ray says. “And being one of their baseball players helped me impress her.”

He met his wife, Coneta, while attending one of her softball games. That meeting sparked a partnership that would span decades and countless games of its own.

Ray lettered at Auburn, but injuries prevented him from pursuing a professional baseball career. Instead, he turned to coaching. In 1972, he accepted a position at Oakman High School as head football and baseball coach. Three years later, he returned home to Curry High School, where he coached football and baseball for four more years.

After coaching, Ray transitioned into administration, serving in various local schools for the next 25 years.

Still, he never stopped playing. For nearly three decades, Coneta packed up the family and traveled across the Southeast to watch Ray compete in recreational softball tournaments. Along the way, he made hundreds of friends and just as many memories. His team even won the Alabama State Slow-Pitch Championship in the Over-40 Division. Since retiring from competitive sports, Ray has been inducted into the Walker County, the Northwest Alabama Softball and the the Central Alabama Softball Halls of Fame.

Today, Ray and Coneta enjoy a quieter life in their Pineywoods home, spending time with their ever-growing family and reflecting on years well spent. But his love of sports remains just astrong, especially when tailgating and attending Auburn football and baseball games as he and his family have for the past forty years.

“Sports was my childhood, my job, my passion, and how I met my wife,” Ray says, smiling. “I owe sports a great deal.”

And in return, sports — and the countless lives he touched through playing and coaching — owe a great deal to Ray Tidwell.