John Edward Millbourne

John E. Milbourne was a gentleman and scholar. Simply put, as one of his former players put it he was a “renaissance man.” Educator and coach John E. Milbourne transitioned to a better place Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 12:45 p.m. at DePaul Hospital in Norfolk, VA. He is survived by his sister Madeline Hall (Earl) sister and a brother William Marks (Sandra), nieces, nephews and two super supportive friends to the end Odell Dillard and Maurice Wilson.

Milbourne attended Booker. T. Washington High School in Norfolk, VA. He played football and basketball. An avid amateur tennis player, he graduated from West Virginia State University in 1957. He was inducted into his alma mater’s sports hall of fame in 2007. Milbourne loved sports and competition. He played basketball at West Virginia State for two years before joining the Army in 1952 to serve during the Korean War. He returned to West Virginia State in 1955 and played two more seasons before returning to Norfolk to revised the basketball program at his beloved BTW.

The 1951 Yellowjackets basketball team he played on was runners-up in 1951. He was a member of the 1952 CIAA regular season or “visitation” championship team. After military service he returned to finish college and played in 1956 and 1957. He was co- captain those years. When he returned to Norfolk he literally set about putting Norfolk on the country’s basketball map. BTW basketball games were often moved to Norfolk State or the Norfolk Arena to accommodate crowds. He amassed a 301-99 record in the VIA and VHSL. As a basketball coach, he was a proponent of the fastbreak on offense and man-to-man defense. Discipline and sportsmanship on his teams were tantamount. He led the Bookers basketball program for 17 years.

After leaving Norfolk Public Schools after a career in education that spanned over 35 years, he joined the basketball staff at Hampton University. He joined Malcolm “Zeke” Avery, his former assistant and who replaced him as coach at Booker T. as an assistant coach for six. They won the 1991 CIAA title. Milbourne then coached three years at Elizabeth City (N.C.) State University helping the Vikings to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight with another former BTW coach Barry Hamler, before finally retiring from coaching.

Milbourne will be remembered for molding young men. A life-long learner and education advocate, he coached and taught hundreds of students influencing many whether they were athletes or not all. John interest went beyond sports. He loved poems and enjoyed writing them as much as he enjoyed reciting them. Culturally astute, John loved the arts. He was considered one of the best dress men in Hampton Roads by several periodicals. After he retired from coaching he continued to stay active with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and the Hampton Roads Chapter of the West Virginia State Alumni Association.

His family thanks all of his former players, colleagues and friends for their condolences.