Robert Holcomb Rutledge

Son of the late O. H. and Lois Rutledge of Live Oak, FL, Bob was born in Tupelo, MS. He graduated from Millsaps College in 1964, where he played football and baseball and obtained his B.S. in Biology. In 1966, he graduated from Florida State University with a Master's degree in Education. By that time, Bob had met Martha, whom he married in 1965. After attending Florida State University, Bob and Martha returned to Mississippi where he became Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at St. Andrews Episcopal School in Jackson. In 1973, Coach Bob was hired as Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at St. Paul's Episcopal School for the 1973/1974 academic year, which saw St. Paul's first graduating class of Seniors. From that fledging start, the St. Paul's athletic program grew and succeeded under Bob's leadership as coach and Athletic Director to become one of the premier athletic programs in the state. In 1984, Bob became Assistant Headmaster at St. Paul's. In 1990, Bob returned to the football sidelines as Head Football Coach (as well as maintaining his position as Assistant Headmaster) and led the Saints to the State Championship game in 1993. Also in 1993, Bob became Headmaster of St. Paul's School, a position he held until his retirement in 2006. All told, Bob devoted his life to students, athletes and family for over 35 years, and in doing so, touched and positively influenced countless young men and women, and helped in making St. Paul's an outstanding academic college preparatory school, which is admired and respected on all levels of achievement.

Bob is survived by his wife, Martha; his son, Brett; two daughters, Kellie Jones and Dorie (Billy) Courtney; and seven grandchildren, Skylar Laurence Rutledge, Abigail Leigh Rutledge, Griffin Drew Jones, Beth Ann Holcomb Jones, Dorie McKenzie Courtney, William Edward Courtney, Jr., and Michael Robert Courtney.

Bob's enthusiasm for life, his joy in helping others, particularly young people, will always provide those who knew him with a sense of gratitude and fond memories.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held from St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Monday, April 18, 2011, at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in his memory be made to the Bob Rutledge Santa Project, which will provide Christmas gifts for needy children. Donations may be made at any BankTrust location.

Condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com.

MOBILE, Ala. -- Robert “Bob” Rutledge, a longtime headmaster and coach at St. Paul’s Episcopal School, died late Thursday at his home, surrounded by family, according to his son, Brett Rutledge.

“He was the heart of the school for more than 30 years,” said St. Paul’s current headmaster, Marty Lester. “He touched the lives of generations of students, and he cared about every child he came in contact with.”

Rutledge, 68, had battled lung and brain cancer. He spent 33 years at St. Paul’s, serving as a football coach, science teacher, administrator and headmaster before retiring in 2006.

Rutledge was instrumental in establishing the school’s community service programs, Lester said. Additionally, “he was particularly proud of our fine arts program. He made it better than a lot of college fine arts programs.”

Athletes who played for him referred to themselves as “Bob’s Boys,” Lester said.

“They were loyal to him because he really believed in them. And those boys are now doctors and lawyers and accountants and teachers. They are doing wonderful things in part because he believed in them.”

Charlie Potts, a Mobile attorney and early St. Paul’s graduate, was among the first of Rutledge’s players.

“Bob had this charisma about him that made you want to play and win for him,” said Potts. “What I took away from Bob was the ability to try to lead by example, to listen to others honestly and sincerely.

“Bob followed the golden rule. He treated us like he would have wanted to be treated.”

Although Brett Rutledge grew up in his “dad’s hip pocket,” walking the sidelines at football games as a water boy, he never played for his father. When Brett Rutledge joined the team, Bob Rutledge stopped coaching and joined the administrative staff.

“He didn’t want anybody to think it was nepotism,” Brett Rutledge said.

Still, father and son watched hours of game film at home. “He used my bedroom door as a projector screen,” Brett Rutledge said.

His father’s love for St. Paul’s rubbed off. Today, Brett Rutledge cares for the ballfields as a greens manager. “I take care of the fields that he built,” he said.

In addition to his son, Bob Rutledge is survived by his wife, Martha Rutledge, his daughters Kellie Jones and Dorie Courtney, and seven grandchildren.

Martha Rutledge said she met her future husband in 1965 as a student at Suwannee High School in Live Oak, Fla. She was a student. He was her physics teacher.

Fresh out of college, Rutledge had intended the job to be a stepping stone on his way to dentist school, Martha Rutledge said. Instead, he fell in love with education and teaching youngsters. He also fell in love with her. They married five months after she graduated, she said.

Rutledge planned his own funeral. Attendees are asked to wear bright spring colors.

“It is not a time for sorrow, according to him,” said Dorie Courtney. “He was always pretty specific about telling us that life goes on.”

He’s asked that his flower arrangement include live oak trees, which will be planted on the St. Paul’s campus.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Old Shell Road.

“Tell them to look for the oak trees,” said his wife.

Lester said the school will close Monday in remembrance of Rutledge. Classes will resume Tuesday, he said.

The family requests that donations in his memory be made to the Bob Rutledge Santa Project at any BankTrust location.