Buck Carney… teacher , coach …dead at 64
He won his students hearts and minds
By Frank Bradley Sentinel writer

Students, teachers, coaches and friends of Elda "Buck" Carney, Jr. will pay tribute to him this Saturday, April 12, at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Hayesville. Carney, 64, died on March 27 at his residence after a long illness.

A teacher an coach at Hayesville High School for 20 years, Carney was loved and respected by his students and peers. He was voted Teacher of the Year by the high school faculty for 2006-2007.

Matt Rogers, principal at Hayesville High School, said while he had not really known Carney personally because he was out sick when Rogers came to the high school. " But I've heard a lot about him over the years," Rogers said. "I know the kids thought the world of him, and you can't get that kind of respect without being a good teacher and coach. We've heard back from several former students and runners, they are still torn-up about his passing and they will miss him," Rogers said.

Gail Criss, who was the high said.

Gail Criss, who was the high school principal at Hayesville for 15 years during which time Carney taught and coached. She called him, "a marvelous teacher."

"He taught Science, mostly Biology, Earth Science and Physical Science," Criss said. "He was an expert in his subject field. Also, he was a very caring teacher and coach. If a student was having trouble, needed a boost, Buck was the one they went to. He was a go-to-guy. He cared so much for the kids. If a kid didn't have a lot going on for him, Buck would encourage him or her to try out of track or cross country. He's get one of them to throw the discus or to run. Something to get them to believe in themselves. That's what he cared about. It was the kids, about their winning, believing in themselves. It wasn't about his winning."

Buck Carney was without a doubt the most successful high school track and crosscountry coach in western North Carolina. He was voted Smoky Mountain Conference Coach of the Year 20 times. His cross-country teams won 15 conferences, seven regional and six state championships. His Track teams won five conference titles, three regional titles and two state championships. The Hayesville track has been named in his honor.

Carney was a native of Charleston, West Virginia. He had lived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida before moving to Hayesville in 1987. He was the son of the late Elda Homer and Wilma Inez Bennett Carney. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War, serving in the United States Army as a Sergeant Ranger Air Borne. Buck was a recipient of the Purple Heart. He had received a master's degree in biology and was a teacher for Hayesville High School since 1987, where he coached track and cross-country and loved his kids he coached.

Surviving are a son, Jim Carney of Hayesville; a sister, Eleanor Owen of Hayesville, two aunts, an uncle and two nephews.

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