Father of Unicoi County football player among Impact Plastics employee deaths

Johnny Peterson, the father of Unicoi County High School football sophomore Gunner Peterson, is among the Impact Plastics employees who died Sept. 30 in the widespread flooding from Hurricane Helene .

Robert Ledford Funeral Homes in Erwin posted Peterson’s obituary on its website. Unicoi County Director of Schools John English confirmed Peterson is Gunner’s father. Impact Plastics spokesperson Tony Treadway confirmed Peterson was a company employee.

Peterson was 55. He is one of three confirmed Impact Plastics employee who died after a group of workers at the Erwin facility went missing during the Nolichucky River flooding. Some employees have said managers compelled them to stay even as the threat of flooding increased, a charge denied by the company.

Bertha Mendoza , 56, is another Impact Plastics employee who died in the flooding. Mendoza’s son Guillermo confirmed her death to Knox News. One of Mendoza’s sons, Esteban, was a former kicker for Unicoi County who graduated in 2023 and played one season at East Tennessee State University.

More: TBI investigating Impact Plastics in Erwin after multiple employees died in flooding

More: Factory employees clung desperately to a truck before Helene floodwaters swept them away

Unicoi County continuing TSSAA football season after Hurricane Helene

Unicoi County has canceled classes through next week, English said. The football team decided to continue its season, uninterrupted, after the school discussed whether playing was the right decision. English, who is a neighbor of the Petersons, also spoke with the family.

The undefeated Blue Devils (4-0) are ranked No. 8 in Class 3A in the USA TODAY Tennessee Network statewide poll and will travel to Gatlinburg-Pittman on Friday.

More: Want to help East Tennessee flood victims? 17 places to donate or provide supplies

“With our kids, as many as can have it, we want them to have normalcy,” English said. “We wanted to be sensitive. But ultimately, we weighed everything out and decided (continuing football) was the right thing. We’re going to move forward and let our kids do what they do, and hopefully, two or two and a half hours, people can have something to enjoy.”

Gunner Peterson is the Blue Devils backup quarterback. He has appeared in one game this season.

“We let Gunner know what was happening,” English said. “He can be part of that or not be part of that, whatever is most comfortable for him. He knows how much his dad loved football and watching him play.”

Unicoi County High School has been used as a shelter and a hub for supply donations this week. The middle school is a command center for emergency services.

“It’s been devastating,” English said. “One of the beautiful things about Unicoi County is we’re all connected - there are strong friendships and families. So to have this happen to multiple people we love and care about, it’s been an added burden on our hearts.”

Unicoi County coach Drew Rice, a 2008 graduate of the school, said he is giving players as much time as they need to recover.

"Something of this magnitude, football gets put on the back burner," Rice said.

Reach sports writer Tyler Palmateer at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, formerly Twitter, @tpalmateer83.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Father of Unicoi County football player among Impact Plastics employee deaths