Science Hill High School

Herb Greenlee

Herb Greenlee 1972

Herb Greenlee grew up following in the footsteps of Carver Recreation director Charles Moncrief and Langston High School coach Paul Christman, and they're surely somewhere smiling at how he's filled their shoes.

Greenlee must be one of Johnson City's most selfless men. He started the Melvin Stevens Scholarship fund, which includes an alumni basketball game.

The game brings the players back together from Science Hill's state championship teams, who are coached by George Pitts.

The other team, the Carver All-Stars, is mostly former 'Toppers. ETSU players such as Tim Smith, Dimeco Childress and Titus Shelton have played in the events.

Greenlee coaches the Carver team. Then, when all of the players and fans have dispersed, you can see him cleaning up the gym by himself.

"Herb Greenlee is a saint," said basketball official Dennis Whitson, who has voluntarily officiated Stevens Classic games. "I don't know if you can find anyone who does more for kids."

Greenlee is credited, and rightfully so, with cleaning up the old Carver Rec, which had become as much of a place for dope as a place for hope at some point in the '80s. He also played no small role in the new rec's arrival.

"There's no doubt that Carver Rec had a lot to do with the success of Science Hill athletics, and the way Herb has run the Rec has been a big part of that," Pitts said. "If you needed to be kicked out of the (Carver) Rec, he'd kick you out for two weeks. He won't be walked on.

"Starting that Melvin Stevens Scholarship was a great thing. I don't know that you'll find anyone who does more for kids than Herb Greenlee. He flat-out cares about kids."

Greenlee, who played football, wrestled and threw the shot put and discus at Science Hill in the early '70s, doesn't look at his life as one of sacrifices. He sees it as one of rewards.

"If you grew up around Coach Christman and Mr. Mon (Moncrief)," Greenlee said, "you'd want to carry on their tradition too. They were tremendous men."

Greenlee was also inspired Boys Club leaders like the late Paul Taylor and Herb Lawson. Taylor worked at the Jackie Robinson Boys Club, the Red Shield Boys Club, worked at Carver and taught at Stratton.

"Those type of guys really helped me," Greenlee said. "I guess it's just natural for me to feel a calling to help others."

Science Hill Hall of Famer Jeff Forney fondly remembers playing softball for Greenlee's infamous Kenny's A's softball teams.

"Herb was one of my better influences," Forney said. "He always pushed me and helped me out. He introduced me to (travel baseball coach) Pappy Crowe because he thought it'd increase my opportunities.

"Herb has passion and compassion. What he's done is a calling, not a job. God touched his heart and Herb has spread that love, and he's kept a lot of kids in the projects out of trouble."