By Justin Sokeland

WBIW.com

BEDFORD – Everything has changed drastically since 1970.

Bellbottom pants were the fashion rage. The average home cost was $23,000, new cars stickered for $3,400, the average income was only $8,700. Cigarette ads were banned on television. The nation held its breath as the damaged Apollo 13 spacecraft staggered back to Earth. The Beatles broke up, and John Wayne won an Oscar for True Grit.

The constant since that long-ago time and history lesson? J.R. Holmes has coached basketball.

Starting at Tunnelton (one of the Lawrence County schools swallowed by consolidation), as a brash 24-year old with a wide white tie, after migrating to Mitchell for a decade, Holmes has been a fixture at Bloomington South, setting the state record for career wins with 930 during

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