Hardly any name has appeared in the pages of this newspaper in years past—and always for a very good reason—than that of the late Coach J.P. Cain, one of the greatest men to ever call Hartselle home.

July 26, 1929 – J.P. Cain is born to Paul R. and Esther T. Cain.

Aug. 22, 1935 – Martha Paul and J.P. Cain of Somerville, Route 2, spent last week with little Mary Cecil Johnson.

July 26, 1937 – J.P. Cain celebrated his eighth birthday today.

Jan. 24, 1940 – J.P. Cain is visiting relatives on the Cain plantation.

Dec. 5, 1940 – Paul R. Cain, 46, member of a pioneer Morgan County family, died suddenly of a heart attack at 1 o’clock Sunday night at his home in Decatur. Mr. Cain’s survivors include the widow and a daughter, Miss Martha Paul Cain, and son, J.P. Cain.

Feb. 17, 1944 – Based on his outstanding academic performance, J.P. Cain has been selected for the MCHS Honor Roll of Students.

Dec. 23, 1948 – The premier sporting event of the season locally took place tonight—the annual all-star football game between Hartselle and Falkville at the MCHS athletic field. Outstanding performers were J.P. Cain, Joe Butler, Bush Gilchrist, Bobby Gilchrist, and Charles Johnson.

Nov. 16, 1950 – J.P. Cain is reported to be “making football history as an offensive center and linebacker” at Jax State. (He was a member of the undefeated 1947 team and captain of the 1950 team. He was selected as center on the Little All-American team.)

March 6, 1952 – Pvt. J.P. Cain is now receiving his basic military training as a member of the Eighth (Golden Arrow) Division.

Jan. 28, 1954 – J.P. Cain, recently honorably discharged from the Army, is now employed by the new Worthington Manufacturing Company.

Aug. 9, 1954 – MCHS football Coaches Tony Daniel and J.P. Cain are putting in long hours for what they hope will be a successful fall ’54 Tiger grid campaign.

May 12, 1955 – Coach Cain and Bobby White are both reported to have attempted to do the jitterbug at the recent MCHS junior-senior banquet.

Jan. 24, 1957 – J.P. Cain will direct the MCHS football Tigers in the 1957 campaign. (He served as head coach 1957-68.)

Jan. 16, 1958 – At the annual football banquet, Coach J.P. Cain singled out for recognition the three Tiger gridders who made the All-T.V.C. team—Tom Ed Roberts, Don Aldridge, and Jimmy Mayfield.

June 5, 1958 – MCHS Coach J.P. Cain has lined up some summer jobs for his team members. This will enable several to continue in school who otherwise would not have been able to.

Sept. 9, 1958 – The PTA had their annual ‘Get Acquainted Meeting” at the Riddle Auditorium tonight. A panel program patterned after “What’s My Line?” was given with students acting as teachers. Charles Howell was Coach Cain,

Sept. 11, 1958 – Just before his MCHS Tigers went on the field for the winning ball game against Falkville tonight, Coach Cain made this statement: “A man doesn’t have to put another person’s candle out to let his light shine.”

June 13, 1963 – Any person caught in the city swimming pool after normal operating hours will be subject to arrest, Coach J.P. Cain, manager of the pool, warns.

Jan. 30, 1969 – J.P. Cain will serve as principal of the new junior high school. (He served in this position until he became high school principal in 1981. He retired his career in education in 1988.)

Jan. 21, 1971 – J.P. Cain is the first winner of the Richard W. Grammar Memorial award.

March 19, 2000 – J.P. Cain, former Hartselle football coach and principal, was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame at a banquet in Montgomery tonight. (He was also the first Hartselle High Hall of Fame inductee, a member of the Morgan County Sports Hall of Fame, and received numerous other awards.

April 7, 2012 – J.P. Cain passes away at Decatur General Hospital following a courageous battle with cancer.