Ed Bruce, who coached football at Gardendale High for eight years and then went on to become principal at Corner School, died Wednesday of an apparent heart attack at age 68.

Bruce coached the Rockets from 1975 to 1982, guiding the team to four seasons with 10 or more wins, including an undefeated regular season in 1982. He was a member of the Alabama High School Hal of Fame, and coached several players who went on to the National Fotball League, including four who played in one game. Among his NFL players were Jeff Parks, Joe Mickles, and Curt Jarvis. His overall record with Gardendale was 67-20-1.

Before Gardendale, Bruce coached at the now-closed Phillips and Jones Valley high schools.

Bruce left coaching after that undefeated regular season, finishing his educational career as principal at Corner, from which he retired in 2001. Her served in the Jefferson County, Birmingham and Bessemer school systems over the course of his 38-year career.

Visitation will be 4-6 p.m. Friday and 1-2 p.m. Saturday, with services following at 2 p.m., at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home in Trussville. The online obituary for Bruce can be found here.

The full story is in Saturday’s edition of The North Jefferson News.