Terry Goodson remembers friend, Coach Todd Horne

Jon Johnson
/ Media General News Service
Published: July 30, 2008

“I love you boy,” Terry Goodson told his best friend.

“I hope he heard me,” Goodson said.

“I love you boy,” Terry Goodson told his best friend.

“I hope he heard me,” Goodson said.

Goodson was able to spend a few minutes with his best friend, Todd Horne, late Tuesday afternoon before Horne was transported from Dale Medical Center to Flowers Hospital in Dothan.

The longtime friends were more “like brothers” as Goodson put it.

Horne, the head football coach at Dale County High School, had been seriously injured in a car crash earlier in the day. Four other Dale County coaches were in the car with him.

Goodson believed things were on the upswing when he left Horne’s side.

“I came home and told my wife the good news that Todd was going to make it,” Goodson said.

Goodson then left for Flowers Hospital and received some stunning news that things were not going well at all.

Horne died shortly thereafter, stunning Goodson and the Wiregrass sports community.

“It’s awful,” an emotional Goodson said. “Me and him have been best friends forever.”

When Goodson got a job as head boys basketball coach at G.W. Long early in his career, he helped Horne get a job with him at the Skipperville school.

While Goodson coached the boys, Horne coached the girls basketball team. They both worked together as football assistants.

Goodson later left for Dothan High School for a stint as head basketball coach, and Horne became the head football coach at Dale County three seasons ago.

Goodson recently took the head basketball coaching job at Ariton, and the two remained close, close friends.

“The best thing about Todd is he was so good-willed,” Goodson said. “He did anything to help you.”

Horne was a good family man, leaving behind a wife and two children. He was known to have such a pleasant personality, but at the same time was serious on the playing field.

“Oh, I’ve seen him get mad,” Goodson said, letting a little chuckle out.

“When we were together, he was a great, great role model,” Goodson added. “A super person.”