yesterday.

Donald James Dennis, 77, passed away last Wednesday and was buried at Tamworth Lawn Cemetery after a funeral service at Mary Help of Christians Church.

Born in 1928, Don, nick-named Screw, was a talented player in his younger days and tried out in Sydney before returning to Tamworth where he began teaching at Tamworth High School in 1955.

He helped start a THS tradition in rugby league which won the school 14 University Shields, the symbol of schoolboy supremacy in state schools.

Dennis coached five of those winning sides.

Barry McGregor was a teacher at THS at the time and also at one time a coach of the THS open rugby league side.

He described Dennis as a gifted teacher and a person who radiated goodness.

"He was a rare teacher who made the students love him," McGregor said.

He also regarded Dennis as the man who created a rugby league tradition at Tamworth High School, which along with the 14 University Shields, won numerous State knockouts and even beat the Queensland State CHS Schoolboy side.

Mick Ross, who later played for Balmain, played in the 1962-63-64 sides under Dennis and was the team captain in 1964.

"We won the State Knockouts in all three years," Ross recalled yesterday.

"We won the Uni Shield in 1964 and also beat Queensland that year.

"That was a great day. About 4500 people at No. 1 Oval on a Wednesday to watch us.

"Don certainly kept you on your toes. He was the original psychologist, had it all worked out."

Ross later played first grade for Balmain and said Dennis's management of people was far superior to the likes of renowned Sydney coaches Harry Bath, Leo Nosworthy and Keith Barnes.

Armidale's Kel Bastock remembered an inspiring teacher and coach.

"He taught me maths, had a big influence on me teaching –  he did that with a lot of people.

"He was a great teacher, a real people person – you only have to look at all the people who came back today."

Bastock played in THS sides under Dennis in 1967-68-69.

"We drew the 1968 Uni Shield Final against Orange twice, 5-all and 16-all, and then beat them by a point in 1969, 13-12 at Redfern."

Harvey Goodman, who captained the 1969 side, summed up Dennis's effect on students, players and whoever.

"He was a lifestyle coach," Goodman said. "Although we didn't know it at the time."

Gary Hinkelbein played under Dennis in 1968-69-70 and recalls a great motivator.

"He was the first coach I had to ever get into psychology, he was big on that," Hinkelbein said. "You hated to disappoint him."

Trevor Rowlands, who played in two winning University Shield teams, recalled watching the Tamworth High School side play and beat Queensland at No. 1 Oval in 1964.

"I was a Year 7 kid and all I wanted to do was play in one of those jumpers," he said.

"He inspired you."

– GEOFF NEWLING