Monty Joe Lovell

Mountjoy Joseph “Monty Joe” Lovell, 79, the husband of Belinda Elaine Van Winkle Lovell, passed away on July 30, 2025. He was born on November 15th, 1945 in Danville, Kentucky to Joseph Calvin and Dorothy Wilmot Mountjoy Lovell, both of whom preceded him in passing. He was also preceded in death by his father-in-law, Earl George Van Winkle, and brother-in-law, David Van Winkle. Monty Joe was a retired secondary school educator, coach and administrator with the Richmond City Schools (1968-84) and Grant County Schools (1986-2004).

As a high schooler, he was a four-year member and two-year starter for the Madison-Model football team (1960-63). He was a Little League All-Star in baseball, played golf, ran track, and was co-captain of Ray Vencill's basketball team as well. He attended Richmond City Schools from the 1st thru 12th grade and graduated in 1964 from Madison High School. In 1965, he began coaching Model Lab School’s junior high football team and won a league title in 1966. Upon graduation from EKU, he was hired as an assistant football coach and business teacher at Madison.

It was as head football coach at Madison where Lovell is best remembered. He built a Class A football power during an 11-year tenure. Lovell compiled a record of 77-48, including 7 seasons in which his teams won 7 or more games. Perhaps his best season came in 1972 when the Purples had an undefeated regular season before finishing 12-1. The lone loss was a 19-10 upset at the hands of eventual champion Trigg County in the semi-finals of the Class A state playoffs played at Hopkinsville. His 1975 team compiled an 11-1 record while his Class A state runner-up 1979 team went 10-3 (coming within one victory of a state title). In 1978, his Royal Purples fell to eventual state champion Ft. Campbell in the state-semi-finals 20-13 and finished 9-4. Over his tenure, Madison captured four KHSAA Class A District II championships in 1971, ‘72, ‘78 and ‘79 and three Region titles in 1972, ‘78 and ‘79. Following the ‘72 season, Lovell was voted Central Kentucky Conference Coach of the Year, and was voted the Louisville Courier-Journal Class A Coach of the Year in both 1972 and 1979. In 2023, he was inducted into the Madison County Sports Hall of Fame for his outstanding career leading the Madison High Royal Purples.

In 1986 he and his family moved to Grant County. In 1990 Monty Joe was tasked to start a high school football program at Grant County High School. He served in that capacity for 8 years (1990-1998). In 2018, the football stadium was named after him. He also served as a math teacher (1988-1999) and school administrator (1999-2004) at Grant County High School.

Monty Joe also served the communities in which he lived.. He was a dedicated member of the Richmond Jaycees and was selected as Richmond Jaycee of the Year in 1971. He served as the President for the EKU Alumni Association in the 1980s. In addition to his coaching career, he started a work vocational program at Madison (ICVE) in 1972 and placed several Madison High students in jobs during their junior and senior years at Madison. He was also elected Richmond City Commissioner in 1977 and served six years in that capacity. Monty Joe was a lifetime and active member of the First United Methodist Church in Richmond and since 1986, the Williamstown First United Methodist Church. He sang in the Williamstown First United Methodist Choir and served as the church board chairman for 23 years.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Belinda Elaine Van Winkle Lovell; his son Joseph Shawn Lovell (Jamie), his daughter Dawn Leigh Lovell Cochran (Cecil); three grandchildren, Cameron Lovell (Clint), Kennedy Lewis and Savannah Lewis (Spencer), Caitlynn Cochran ; a great granddaughter, Monty Jane; and three siblings, Susan Lovell Brigati (Eddie), Dorothy Ann Lovell, and John Lovell (Donna); Mother-in-Law, Helen Van Winkle and Sister in Law, Marlene Van Winkle Jones; foster brothers Wyatt and Bryan Miller; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The pallbearers will be Donnie Ballard, Hubert Broaddus, Ray Desloover, David Gay, Jim Lacey, Velmer Miller, Tod Williams.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time.  Once arrangements have been finalized, this webpage will be updated.