The Buckingham County School Board should name the football field in honor of retiring Head Football Coach Craig Gill.

Signs marking “The Craig Gill Field” meeting the faces of high school football players, their families, friends and the others Gill has touched and influenced would be a most appropriate and fitting honor for the 20-year Buckingham coach.

Gill has done more than call plays and organize locker room huddles over the past two decades in Buckingham — he’s molded boys into gentlemen, made followers into leaders, taught and demonstrated respect and has made Buckingham a better place for its residents and all who come here.

Gill, who has been battling cancer for three years now, has announced his retirement.

Though he’ll be absent from the sidelines in person, his legacy will be with the fans, players and all of Buckingham under the Friday night lights forever.

Naming the field after Gill would strengthen that legacy for generations to come.

If you read Sports Editor Titus Mohler’s Friday, June 3, story on Gill, you’ll agree.

Gill led the Knights to a 131-83 record during his tenure, a run that included six James River District championships and a state championship game appearance in 2002.

Buckingham has been 10-0 at home in playoff games under Gill; it has made the playoffs each of the last seven years, and it went 10-2 in 2015.

“I love Friday nights in Buckingham,” Gill told Mohler. “We’re the only show in town. There’s nothing like small high school football, especially when you’re the only school in the county.”

Buckingham County owes Gill a great deal of thanks and respect for what he has done for the county’s youth, the school division and the community.

Jordan Miles is managing editor of The Farmville Herald. His email address is jordan.miles@farmvilleherald.com.