Candlelight vigil held for Adcock

OAKWOOD - Friends, family and co-workers gathered at dusk for a candlelight vigil in memory of Johnson High School assistant principal Mike Adcock, who died Wednesday at his Flowery Branch home.

Adcock died nearly a year after he was seriously injured in a traffic accident last August shortly after the start of the 2008-2009 school year.

The vigil took place beginning at 9:00 in the Johnson High parking lot at the flagpole in front of the school.

JHS Principal Damon Gibbs said, “Mike was a vital part of our staff and will be greatly missed. He was a leader, a mentor, but most importantly, a dear friend.”
U.S. History teacher Tana Over said Coach Adcock was all about Johnson pride, caring for the students, and being a friend to teachers.

“He promoted school pride and made the students more proud of the school,” Johnson High student Mary Katherine Johnson said.

Adcock began his 27-year career in education as a physical education teacher and basketball coach at Turner County High School in 1982. He came to Hall County in August 1989 to assume the head boys basketball position at West Hall High School. He remained at the school as basketball coach and physical education instructor until August 1998 when he accepted a similar position at Rabun County High School. He returned to the Hall County School System in August 2002 when he was hired as the first head boys’ basketball coach at Flowery Branch High School. Adcock resigned his coaching and teaching position in 2006 to become graduation coach at the school. His final career move occurred in August 2007 when he was named assistant principal at Johnson High.

Hall County Athletic Director Gordon Higgins reflected, “I will always carry the image of Coach Adcock standing during a game, grimacing, gyrating, and laughing as the game unfolded before him on the court. Behind him would be the team bench always filled with up to twenty players, who seemed to truly cherish being a part of Coach Adcock’s team. He definitely had a knack for inspiring and leading young men. Coaching and working with youth was his true calling.”

Adcock was on his way to work August 8, 2008, traveling on Poplar Springs Road when he lost control of his car and it struck a tree. He had a long recovery involving several surgeries and many months of physical therapy. This spring his doctors cleared him to return to his duties as assistant principal at Johnson High School.

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday at 11:00 at Blackshear Place Baptist Church.