Ron Riddle, who died earlier this month, will be honored with a celebration of life at 4 p.m. at Clay High Stadium, home to the track that bears his name. Clay High's athletics department is hosting the memorial.

Riddle made history in 1966 as the first Black educator to integrate schools in the Clay County school district. He went on to serve students for 37 years as a teacher, coach, mentor and leader.

In a statement, the school district called Riddle "a trailblazer" and said his role extended well beyond athletics and the classroom.

"He was a mentor who profoundly shaped the lives of generations of students on and off the field," the district said. "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his family, his loved ones, and the countless individuals he inspired through his leadership and unwavering commitment to this community."

The district closed its statement with a nod to the school's identity: "Once a Blue Devil, always a Blue Devil."

The county athletics department remembered Riddle as "a legendary coach, an incredible mentor, and an even better human being," describing him as someone with "the gentlest soul, the kindest heart, and a remarkable ability to make everyone around him feel valued."

"He didn't just coach athletes; he mentored young people, shaped lives, built character, and helped mold countless individuals into better people," the department said. "His legacy cannot be measured in wins, championships, or years of service. It lives in the countless lives he touched."

Clay High's athletics department said Riddle was "a true servant, a godly man, a pioneer and someone with the biggest heart for everyone he encountered." Staff recalled his presence at games, his laugh and his familiar expressions.

"We will miss seeing him at our games, hearing his amazing laugh, and, of course, his classic Coach Riddle expressions that always brought a smile to our faces," the department said. "His presence was one of a kind and the legacy he leaves behind is one that can never be replaced."

Saturday's service offers the wider community a chance to pay respects to a figure whose influence stretched across generations of Clay County families — from the students he taught in the years after integration to the athletes he coached and the neighbors who knew him simply as Coach Riddle.

"Clay County has lost a true legend, but his influence will never fade," the county athletics department said. "Rest in peace, Coach Riddle. You were deeply loved, you will be greatly missed, and you will never be forgotten."