By By Lowell McGill
Ron Middleton was saddened this past week with the passing of his father, Peter Thomas Middleton.
Ron, who played football for Escambia County High School, was coached by Buck Powell of Atmore.
Following a four-year career at Auburn University, he played 10 years in the National Football League. He began with the Atlanta Falcons and later played with the Cleveland Browns, the Los Angeles Rams, the San Diego Chargers and the Washington Redskins.
His coaching career included stops with Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Troy University, the University of Mississippi and the University of Alabama. He spent one year with Coach Nick Sabin at Alabama before accepting a position with the Duke Blue Devils. He re-joined David Cutcliffe, his former Mississippi coach who is now the head coach at Duke. Ron serves as the Blue Devils’ associate head coach and special teams coordinator.
Powell said Ron was not only a tremendous football player, but was a gentleman in every respect. Powell said he closely followed his career at Auburn, the NFL and his college coaching.
Powell stated Ron was not only our team leader, but was an off field leader as well. He was an inspiration to all of our players and coaches. Powell said he was saddened to learn of the death of Ron’s father.
Services for Peter Thomas Middleton were held Saturday, May 10 with burial in Pierce-Rabb Cemetery in Freemanville.