Dr. James Purdue

Teacher, Coach and Speaker

Dr. James Purdue was a normal 19-year-old with expectation of playing professional baseball. With the attitude of being invincible, he attended Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, Tennessee on a baseball scholarship. After being in college for two weeks and playing one college game in the fall, unexpected tragedy came calling.

On September 11, 1983, James became a quadriplegic, dislocating three vertebrae in his neck, from playing a football game. The doctor said, “James, I’m sorry. You’ll never walk again and you might be paralyzed from your neck down.” Later, the doctor advised his family to place him in a nursing home; he would be too much of a burden for them to take care of.

Thank goodness his family and him were hardheaded. Dr. Purdue worked hard to achieve success as a teacher and coach. He has been awarded Fox 17 Top Teacher of the Week 2005, Teacher of the Year 2002, as well as Coach of the Year 2006 and 2000. He received the Jo Andrews Award 1995 and the Hal Ramer Award 1991 both for overcoming adversity.