Troy School Board Names CHHS Athletic Facility in Honor of Hugh Fountain 

Thanks to Josh Boutwell of the Troy Messanger for this article.

The athletic facility at Charles Henderson High School will now be known as the Hugh Fountain Athletic Facility. 

On Aug. 18, the Troy City Board of Education unanimously approved a request from CHHS Principal Lise Fayson to name the athletic facility in Fountain’s honor. Fountain, the longtime former CHHS head football coach, passed away in March after a battle with cancer. 

“He was here for 16 years and I had a son who played for him for two of those years,” Fayson said to the school board. “He not only touched our football players but he touched all of the kids. He made every one he came into contact with a better person. He spent years building young men, not only athletes, but young men.” 

Fountain served as head coach at CHHS from 1996 until 2011, leading the Trojans to 10 playoff appearances and a region championship in 2007. He also had two stints at his alma mater, WS Neal, along with winning two state championships at Escambia Academy and coaching one year at Evergreen. In all, his head coaching career spanned nearly four decades and 271 wins. 

“I wholeheartedly agree (with Fayson) because Coach Fountain made a lasting impact on lots of young people in the years that he was our football coach,” Troy City Schools Superintendent Cynthia Thomas said. “I concur with that request.” 

Fountain was instrumental in the construction of the athletic facility at CHHS during his tenure, which includes an indoor practice field, weight rooms and team meeting rooms. 

“I think this is a very thoughtful thing to do,” Troy City School Board President Jonathan Cellon said. “He’s certainly someone who made a lasting impact on our community and Coach Fountain recently passed away. So, this is an important tribute to make to him and his family.”

The school plans to hold a dedication with Fountain’s family during Charles Henderson’s homecoming this season on Oct. 17. 

“I was here when Hugh was here and I was in Sunday School with Hugh and I was in Men’s Bible Study with Hugh,” school board member James Sparrow said. “I wouldn’t say he wouldn’t want this but it’s just not the kind of person he was. He was very humble and he wouldn’t care if you put his name on it but I think it’s long overdue for someone of his character. 

“He was a better man than he was a football coach and he was a pretty good football coach. So, that tells you how good of a man he was. Having his name on that building – especially for his players – to see that go up will mean a lot.”