Dan Allen Thweatt, 82, of Vero Beach, died Nov. 21 , 2013.
He was born on May 18, 1931, in Nashville, Tenn.
He moved to Eau Gallie in 1959 and has been a resident of Vero Beach since 1968.
He graduated from Isaac Litton High School in Nashville, Tenn., in 1950.
After playing football at the University of Wyoming for two years, he transferred to Middle Tennessee State University where he lettered in football and received both his B. S. and Master’s Degree in Education.
Thweatt served in the United States Army as a first lieutenant from 1955 to 1957.
He graduated from Ranger School in June 1955.
He spent eighteen months as an instructor for the U.S. Army School for Rangers training soldiers in mountain techniques in Dahlonega, Ga., until his enlistment was over on January 9, 1957.
Thweatt was a coach and educator for thirty years.
His first teaching job was at Madison High School in Tennessee.
In 1959 he came to Florida to teach and coach.
He was the first football coach at Southwest Junior High School, as well as basketball coach and athletic director.
In 1962, at the opening of Satellite High School, he was the first football coach and athletic director.
In 1967, his football team was in the State Championship playoffs, and he was named Cape Coast Conference Coach of the Year.
In 1968, Dan moved to Vero Beach becoming the Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at Vero Beach High School.
He was the first girls’ basketball coach and coached both boys’ and girls’ golf from 1971 to 1984.
He was the business manager at Vero Beach High School from 1971 until his retirement in 1984.
Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Paula Van Hooser; his two daughters and sons-in-law, Lynn and Ken Coonce, of Merritt Island and Susan Thweatt-Lee and Alan Lee; two brothers and their wives: Enoch and Jeannine Thweatt, Jr., of Nashville, TN and Mack and Sandra Thweatt, of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; four grandchildren, Derek Matthews, Dustin Matthews, Amy Coonce and Ben Coonce; one great-granddaughter Madison Matthews, daughter of Derek Matthews and Felisha Wallace.
He was preceded in death by his parents Enoch and Eloise Thweatt, Sr.
The family received friends on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013, at the First United Methodist Church in Vero Beach at 2:30 p.m., followed by a Service of Remembrance and Celebration at 3 pm.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Indian River County at 6230 77th St., Vero Beach, FL 32967 or the American Cancer Society (Please earmark checks: “Restrict for Research”), PO 22718, Oklahoma City, 73123-1718.
An online guestbook is available at www.lowtherfuneralhome.com
