Mr. Fred Neil Pickard, age 83 of Dickson, TN formerly of Jacksonville, FL died at home on January 1, 2022, with family by his side.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on January 22, 2022 at Quinn-Shalz Family Funeral Home, Jacksonville Beach, FL. For those desiring, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Mr. Pickard was born August 1, 1938, in Columbia, TN. He was the last of seven children born to Luther Thomas Pickard and Floy Virginia Whiteside Pickard. He played football for the Florida State University where he was the leading rusher for three seasons (1957-59). Among his college accolades, was by scoring the first touchdown ever in the FSU vs Florida series in 1959. In 1982 he was inducted into the FSU Hall of Fame. After graduating from college, Fred continued to play football for a number of years in semi-pro leagues in both the U.S. and Canada. In 1961, he began a football coaching career that would extend over 40 years on both the high school and college platform. Fred had a personality that attracted people, and those fortunate to call him “coach”, held him in high regard. Because he not only taught skills for the game, but he also made them better people by developing core values of character and leadership skills. He prepared players to become men.
Perhaps an even greater accomplishment than he ever achieved on the football field was being awarded 60 years of marriage to his beautiful bride, Katharine L. Wilkinson Pickard. While in college, Fred met Katharine, a native Floridian. They married in 1961 and began a journey that would last a lifetime.
In addition to his wife, Katharine, Fred is survived by his children, Tracy Carter (David), and Thomas Clay Pickard; five grandchildren, Corey Staggs (Derek), Jake Carter (Leslie), Carley Neil Carter, Jax Carter, and Jett Carter; 4 great grandchildren, Dean Mumaw, Dustie Mumaw, Jovie Carter, and Ozzie Neil Carter; several nieces and nephews.