Former Baldwin County High School football coach Lyle Underwood was honored in a ceremony held in Fairhope on June 21.

Underwood's 31-year career was recognized in a ceremony celebrating his accomplishments as a coach, teacher and principal. Among those in attendance, including friends, family and former players and students, Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan gifted Underwood a key to the city.

"I was privileged to present a key to the city to Coach Lyle Underwood, a former outstanding member of Baldwin County's education community," Mayor Sullivan said on social media. "Coach Underwood's career encompasses multiple coaching roles throughout Baldwin County and serving as principal of Fairhope Middle School from 1980 to 1991. He was my principal during my time at Fairhope Middle School, and his wife was my high school English teacher. Both Coach Underwood and his wife selflessly devoted their lives to nurturing the youth in our community."

Underwood was the head coach at Baldwin County High School from 1966 to 1980, where he accumulated a 102-38-3 record and seven county championships during his tenure. In his time as head coach, his teams were ranked in the top 10 in the state eight out of 14 years. Following his time as a coach, he became the principal at Fairhope Middle School before retiring in 1991. The school's home stadium, Lyle B. Underwood Stadium, is named in his honor.

Underwood is a member the Baldwin County High School Hall of Fame, along with being a member of the halls of fame for Foley High School, East Mississippi Community College, Baldwin County Coaches and the Alabama High School Sports.