Most men live ordinary lives. A few men impact those around them in a way which resonates for generations. Richard Allen Sutherland, Sr. was one of the latter. He was a man of deep faith, unwavering loyalty, and an unshakable sense of purpose. A husband, father, grandfather, Marine, coach, teacher, and pastor—he lived many roles, but whether it was faith, family, football, or friendship, he lived and served with a fierce and steady loyalty which shaped everything and everyone around him.

Richard was born on July 3, 1948, in Greensburg, PA, into a family with eight siblings, three brothers and five sisters. Into a family where duty and service weren't just values—they were a way of life. His father, a WWII veteran, and his grandfather, a WWI veteran, had already carved out a path of service, and Richard walked it willingly through the military and then into the ministry.

After graduating high school in 1966, he headed south to Bob Jones University, where he played soccer and softball with his college society, Basilean. This is where he picked up his signature whistle—the one which would become a Sutherland trademark, passed down to kids, grandkids, and the countless students who would hear it over the next 40+ years. But the most important thing he found in college wasn't on the field—it was in a life-altering introduction. A close friend had a sister. This wasn't just a girl—she was the girl, the one who would hold his heart for 54 years of marriage.

Richard and Linda married on July 31, 1970, in Mentor, Ohio. Not long after, God called him to his first field of service, the military. Richard was drafted into the Vietnam War and became a United States Marine—one of the proudest honors of his life. At Parris Island, he earned his Dress Blues by being named Honor Man of his platoon, setting the tone for the seven years he spent in the Corps, rising to Staff Sergeant in six short years. In the Marine Corps, his service as a policeman and criminal investigator embodied the kind of excellence, loyalty, and determination to do the right thing which would define the rest of his life.

In 1972, Richard and Linda were transferred to Camp LeJeune and put down roots in Jacksonville, North Carolina. From that moment on, their life became about serving others in the Onslow County area. In 1978, God called him to his second field of service, and he joined Grace Baptist Church and Christian school, where he spent over two decades coaching, teaching, mentoring, and leading as principal and Assistant Pastor. However, Richard never cared about titles—he was living out a calling. His calling was to lead, to shape, and to serve. For over two decades, students, players, and families found in him a mentor, a man who didn't just talk about faith and family but lived it out, every day. When God called him to take a giant step of faith, he did—founding Fellowship Baptist Church and Christian Academy in 1999, a place where he would shepherd a congregation and school for 21 years before passing the torch to his son-in-law, Rob Wiedell.

Through it all, Richard deeply loved being a coach. He wasn't "Coach" just on the field—he was Coach in every sense of the word. He coached football, basketball, and volleyball, winning six state football championships, but more importantly, he shaped young men and women into people of character and conviction. His signature whistle wasn't just a call to assemble—it was a call to excellence, to discipline, to doing what is right and giving it your very best. Whether on the field or in the pulpit, his message was always the same: Honor God. Serve others. Do what is right. (And, of course, "Leave the place cleaner than you found it.")

His greatest pride wasn't in titles or trophies—it was in his family: blood, Eagles, and Lions. For 54 years, he and Linda walked through life together, building a legacy of faith, family, and love. He was the father of five—Amy, Rick, Heidi, Drew, and Joe—and the grandfather of eighteen: "nine boys, nine girls," as he loved to tell you. Every one of them carries the most important part of his legacy: he taught them to love Jesus.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Ruth, and by two of his siblings. He leaves behind his beloved Linda, their children and grandchildren, and a lifetime of stories written on the hearts of and displayed in the lives of the thousands who knew him.

Marine. Pastor. Coach. Teacher. Husband. Father. A legend who spent his life pouring into others. His work here is finished, but his impact lives on. This is what happens when a man truly gives his life to excelling in the places where God has called him.

So, family, church, Lions, Eagles: Soar like eagles; run and don't get weary; be strong; be courageous: the Lord your God goes with you.