MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The widow of Memphis State football coach Rex Dockery has filed a $182,000 lawsuit against the school and Coca-Cola for the unpaid portion of her husband's contractual commitments, but insisted the suit was 'nothing personal.'
Dockery, assistant coach Chris Faros, freshman player Charles Greenhill and pilot Glenn Jones died in the crash of a small airplane Dec. 12, 1983, while on a recruiting trip to Lawrenceburg.
Wallene Dockery filed suit Wednesday in Nashville's Davidson County Chancery Court seeking payment for the two years remaining on her husband's five-year contract as football coach and for radio and television appearances. Coca-Cola agreed to pay Dockery $40,000 per year for broadcast commentary on football games. His salary at the school was $50,000.
'It's nothing personal in nature ... and I want the university to understand that I'm still proud to be a Memphis State fan,' Mrs. Dockery said after a memorial service Wednesday marking the first anniversary of the crash.
Sylvia Greenhill, mother of the player, filed a $15 million suit Monday blaming the school for negligence and breach of contract. Her suit claims the university failed toproperly insure her 18-year-old son's life although she was told he would be covered by insurance throughout his athletic career.
University officials declined comment on either suit.
