By Ralphine Major
Gene Allen Cantley, the only sophomore on Bob Dagley’s 1965 Gibbs Eagles’ team, served in the United States Army, E-5, and was stationed in Germany. It was in Frankfurt, Germany, that his first child was born. Jason Allen Cantley was born with a dual citizenship in Germany and the United States. Little Jason was born two months premature and had several health issues. He only lived to be three and a half years old.
Today, Cantley still lives in the Gibbs Community, not far from the school where he played ball. He has three adult children. Jennifer Cantley Graves is a Gibbs graduate and was a cheerleader for the Eagles. She is married to Tim Graves, a Gibbs graduate who played football for the Eagles. They are parents to Kaylee, who attends Gibbs High School, and Kennedy, who is a student at Gibbs Primary School.
Richard and Ryan Cantley graduated from Bearden High School where Richard was on the track team and Ryan played football. Richard is a graduate of East Tennessee State University and is married to Erin Cantley, a nurse. Ryan will graduate from The University of Tennessee in May.
Gene is retired from Cemax after twenty-three years and is a member of House Mountain Baptist Church. These days, he enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren and even has time to call the Coach now and then. Being together and capturing special moments is important to the Cantley family as shown in this picture below taken by Jennifer’s husband, Tim Graves. (This is No. 43 in the series.)