Thomas Farrell "Tommy" Long

Thomas Farrell "Tommy" Long, 91, passed away Sunday, April 19, 2026 at his home in Scottsville, KY, surrounded by his loving daughter and friends.  Tommy, the son of the late Duwood Long and Mary Lois Gilliam Long, was born September 30, 1934, in the Long home on Pitchford Ridge, Allen County, KY. Tommy was a 1954 graduate of Allen County High School where, as a Patriot, he excelled on the basketball court, scoring over 1000 career points, with 531 of these being made during his senior year.  He was a member of the first Allen County High Team (1953) to play in the Kentucky High School Boys Basketball State Tournament.  In 1953 and 1954 he was named the the All District and All Region tournament teams.  His senior year, he was South Central KY Player-of-the-Year, named to the Courier Journal All State 2nd team and to the KY All Star team. 

From 1954 through 1958 Tommy played his college basketball career at Western Kentucky State Teacher College in Bowling Green.  Two major highlights during this time were playing in Madison Square Gardens, New York, in the 1954 National Invitational Tournament (NIT), which was the premier tournament during this era, and on December 19, 1956, playing in the dedication game of Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY, where Western KY defeated San Franciso Dons 61-57.

After receiving his BS degree, Tommy taught at Allen County High School and Allen County-Scottsville High School and retired in 1989.  The classes he taught were Health and Physical Education, Driver's Education and Geography.  He was a high school multi-sport coach of football (assistant coach on Allen County's first football team), baseball and his first sport love, basketball.  His basketball coaching career spanned thirteen years with seven of those being assistant coach and becoming head coach of the Patriots in 1966.  From 1966 to 1972, Tommy's teams won the 4th Region Tournament in 1967 and 1970 and in both years, they advanced to the quarterfinals of the Kentucky High School Boys Basketball State Tournament.  In 2010, he was honored by being inducted into the Allen County-Scottsville High School Athletic Hall of Fame.  Tommy left his mark on Kentucky High School athletics by being a high-quality coach who impacted "his boys" lives and inspired and motivated them to be more than just basketball players.  His career in high school education and athletics was defined by his dedication to develop young people both on the court and in the classroom to help them evolve into the next generation of leaders.

Tommy served America in the U.S. Army during The Berlin Crisis Cold War conflict.

Tommy's vocational calling was teaching; but part of his heart was in farming and gardening which he pursued beginning in 1961 when he purchased his first 200 acres of land for raising beef cattle--Norwegian Red (first person in KY to own the breed) and Salers.  In 1979 he was presented with Green Farm Award at the Allen County Jaycee sponsored County Fair.  His love of the land and his servant's heart led Tommy to be active in many community organizations.  He served on the Allen County Soil and Water Conservation District Board for twenty-nine years and held the position of Vice-Chair and Chair.  He gave eight years of service to the Allen County Farmers Service Board and six years to the Local Phase 1 Agricultural Council Board.  He was a 20 year member of Allen County Cattleman's Association Board and during their fundraisers was often seen turning steaks on the grill!

He was a past member of Scottsville-Allen County Chamber of Commerce Board and in 2013 was honored by them as Hometown Hero for his "dedication to education and friend to agriculture".   In 1964 Tommy was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel.

Tommy was a 1965 Charter Member of White Plains Baptist Church where he served his church and the Lord as a Trustee, Deacon and Sunday School Teacher.

Tommy Long was a mentor, friend, confidant and leader; but, most of all he was a man who loved the Lord.

He is survived by 1 daughter: Julie Long Dinwiddie, Scottsville, KY;

1 sister: Mary Allen Young, FL;

2 step grandchildren: Chris Dinwiddie and Sean Dinwiddie and Families, all of Franklin, KY;

1 cousin: Tom Austin and wife, Lisa, Limestone, TN;

He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years: Nancy Bulock Long and a son-in-law: David Dinwiddie.

Funeral service will be 1:00 P.M. Saturday at White Plains Baptist Family Life Center with Dr. Phil Rogers, Bro. Gary Pierce, Bro. Danny Patrick and Bro. Cooper Guy officiating and burial in Allen County Memorial Gardens.  Visitation will be 3:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Thursday, 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. and 1:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Friday and 9:00 A.M. until funeral time Saturday at White Plains Baptist Family Life Center.  Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to White Plains Baptist Church - Tommy Long Youth Fund or Hospice of Southern Kentucky.

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