Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Former Southside coach DeWayne Kellum took his place among the greatest high school football coaches in North Carolina recently when he was granted honorary lifetime membership in the state football coaches association.

Kellum accepted the award and the plaque that went with it at a ceremony during the winter coaches clinic in Greensboro over the weekend.

“It was awesome to be recognized by my peers, actually better than I thought it was going to be,” Kellum said. “I was excited when they told me about it last month and I’m excited now. It’s a tremendous honor to be part of an amazing group of coaches in this state.”

Kellum, whose family moved to Chocowinity from Morehead City when he was in first grade, played quarterback at Chocowinity High School, then later led Southside to consecutive East championships in the early 2000’s.

“I had a lot of fun coaching and I had great people around me,” Kellum said. “It was great to see a lot of those people last weekend. The hardest part was remembering to thank all of them who helped me along the way and I know I left some of them out.”

Kellum led the Seahawks to the 2002 East championship, but lost to Elkin in the state championship game, then returned in 2004 after a 32-0 rout of Bing Mitchell’s Northside squad in the East final, but fell to Swain County, 16-14.

“Bing Mitchell took an interest in me early and let me hang around,” Kellum said. Harold Robinson was a huge influence and it was great that Raymond Cobb, who I matched wits with for many years came to ceremony. It was also wonderful to see Keith Boyd and the Northside guys and of course, Jeff Carrow and his staff from Southside. It was a great night and I’m very honored to be among such a great group of men.”