Former Cleveland High School state wrestling champion Jeff Howard passed away Friday night Dec. 7 due to injuries suffered in a car accident following the Cleveland alumni wrestlers’ dinner at the high school.
A celebration of his life will be held at 7 p.m. on Tues, Dec. 11 at Grissom Funeral Home in Cleveland with Pastor Jim Gibson and former Cleveland wrestling coach Duane Schriver officiating.
Howard’s family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home prior to the service.
Howard was a four-time state qualifier, state champ in 1976 as a junior and state runner-up in 1975 and 1977. He was the state tournament outstanding wrestler in 1976 and was a high school All-American.
He also wrestled for coach Jim Morgan at UTC and won the Southern Open.
"Jeff was the toughest wrestler I ever faced in high school," said former East Ridge state champion Danny Gilbert who beat Howard in the 1975 state finals in the 105-pound class.
Howard's brother, Hank Howard, was also a state champion for Cleveland in 1982.
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net