Longtime area football coach for Centralia and Onaga the late Jerry Bainum not only a coach but mentor to many passed away earlier this year in January and now will be remember with a celebration ceremony will this Saturday (May 23rd) in Centralia at Riggins Field. There will be a tailgate style meal served at 11:00am and the ceremony will start on the field at 1:00pm.

Bainum spent his life teaching and mentoring many as a teacher and football coach with several stops including Centralia and Onaga, impacting multiple lives. The late coach helped resurrect the Centralia football program, instilling a winning mentality on the field and off the field in the players he coached and kids he mentored as a teacher. His coaching career spanned over 40 years and included a 122-53 record at Centralia, as he retired in 2005 only to return to the sideline in 2009 at Onaga, coaching for four more years and in his last season posted a 6-4 record with the Buffalos, making the playoffs. During his 17 seasons at Centralia he made one State appearance in 1997, while winning Sub-state once, Regionals six-times, Bi-District six-times, League nine-times and District 10-times.

(Click here to see a tribute video to Coach Bainum) -- (full obituary)