Delmar Eugene Good, 89 of Hurricane, passed away May 17, 2013, after a short illness.

Born January 24, 1924, in Guthrie, Delmar moved to Dunbar with his family when he was seven years old. Belmar grew up in the Third Ward of Dunbar and attended Third Ward Elementary School, which became Ford Elementary. It was at Third Ward Elementary that he met his lifelong friend and future coaching partner, Bill Young.

Delmar graduated from Dunbar High School in 1944 after an outstanding career in football and basketball. He was coached by Shorty Fields as a ninth grader and Nelson Bragg in his tenth and eleventh grade seasons. As a junior, Delmar earned all Kanawha Valley Conference honors in basketball. Delmar also participated in football at Dunbar and earned the name "Plenty" Good for his outstanding achievements. Delmar scored 16 touchdowns during his junior season. One of his fondest memories was scoring the first time he touched the ball in a varsity game as a ninth grader for the Bulldogs. During his high school career, Delmar led his squads to records of 8-1-1, 5-5 and 8-1-1.

Delmar was only able to participate in athletics at Dunbar High School during his ninth through eleventh-grade school years. Like many young men of that time, his high school career was cut short by his service in the U.S. Army during World War II.

On June 6, 1944, Delmar was on the front lines in the storming of Utah Beach during D-Day Allied Invasion operations in Normandy, France. While serving his country during the war, Delmar was primarily assigned to the transportation corps in Cherbourg, France. When the Americans and Allied troops defeated the Germans in France, a ceremony was held in Cherbourg, where Delmar took the American flag down and handed the flag over to the French delegation, which raised the French flag in celebration of taking the country back. In 2003 Delmar was honored by the French ambassador, who came to Charleston, for his heroic efforts with the presentation of French Croix do Guerre Medal. In addition, Delmar was honored by the French government for his heroic efforts with the presentation of the Liberate Medal. Other medals include the WWII Army Occupation Medal, WWII Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal, good Conduct Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and Expert Marksman. After his three years of service, Delmar returned to West Virginia.

Upon returning from the war, Delmar and friend, Bill Young, initially tried out for the varsity football team at West Virginia University. They both became homesick and decided to leave Morgantown and return home. The pair then headed for the much-closer Marshall University located in Huntington. They both made the Marshall varsity football team but they became homesick again, deciding to leave Marshall and return closer to home to be with family after being away for several years in the war. Subsequent to leaving Huntington, Marshall head football coach, Cam Henderson, attempted to talk both into returning and enrolling at Marshall. However, Delmar decided to remain in the Charleston area and enrolled at Morris Harvey College, now the University of Charleston. Delmar played football for four seasons at Morris Harvey and still holds the record for the longest punt of 79 yards. Delmar participated in intramurals and made 49 of 50 foul shots, winning the basketball challenge at Morris Harvey. Delmar received his undergraduate degree from Morris Harvey in 1950. Delmar also received a graduate degree from West Virginia University in 1961.

Delmar's first teaching and coaching experience came at Hurricane High School, where he served with Nelson Bragg, who had been his high school coach at Dunbar. This was followed by three years a head football coach at buffalo Putnam High School.

In 1954 Delmar returned home to Dunbar as the head coach in football and track at Dunbar Junior High School. Two years later he moved up to Dunbar High School as an assistant coach in football and track and head basketball coach. That spring, Dunbar High School won the first of three consecutive state track championships. When head coach Stanley Romanoski moved on to West Virginia University in 1957, Delmar became head coach in football and track as well as athletic director.

Under Coach Good's leadership Dunbar High School won two additional state track championships, had an undefeated football team in 1964 and was state football runner-up in 1965. Delmar retired from Dunbar High School with lifelong friend, Bill Young, in 1985 after winning the state AA basketball championship. Additionally, after 29 seasons as head football coach, Delmar retired with 132 wins, the second most in Kanawha county history at the time.

Delmar was instrumental in the creation and organization of the Gazette Relays.

Delmar was an avid golfer and a long-time member of the sleepy Hollow Golf Club in Teays Valley. Delmar won the Kanawha Valley Open for his age group.

Delmar was known for his sense of humor and joke telling. He would always greet people with a French greeting whenever he would encounter someone new. Delmar loved to watch the western channel for entertainment. His favorite cowboy movie stars were John Wayne and Gene Autry.

Delmar is now reunited with his wife of 55 years, Wanda; brothers, Charles and Darrell; sister, Phyllis; and son Michael.

He is survived by his brother, Frank Good of Kernersville, N.C.; daughters, Deena Good-Pittman and Jill Good; sons, Jeffrey and wife, "Gale" and Steven Good; and five grandchildren, Justin, Lindsay, Victoria, Madissen and Ian Faris.

A wake will be held at Keller Funeral Home from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 24. The funeral service will be held Saturday, May 25, at First Baptist Church of Dunbar. A viewing will be held at 11 a.m. and the service will begin at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Phillip Shields officiating. A reception will be held at the First Baptist Church of Dunbar following the burial ceremony at Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens, Cross Lanes.