John O. Stephens, 89, passed away Sunday, February 29, 2004, in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 3, 2004, at Sunset Memorial Park, Nacogdoches, Texas, with the Reverend Bruce Norman officiating.
Mr. Stephens was born January 25, 1915, in Westminster, Texas, to William Jess and Lora Hester Stephens. He graduated form Sherman High School. After receiving his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Austin College, Stephens began his coaching career in 1937 as head basketball coach and assistant football coach at Honey Grove High School. It was there that he met his wife, Ann. He served our country during World War II as a first lieutenant in the Navy Preflight Training Program. Following his high school coaching career, Stephens coached and taught at Austin State College in Sherman, Texas. In 1947 Stephens moved to Marshall to coach football and basketball and head the athletic department at East Texas Baptist College. There his basketball teams advanced to the second round of the NAIA tournament in 1951 and captured the first Big State Conference Basketball Championship in 1952. In 1952 Stephens came to Stephen F. Austin University where he served as head basketball coach from 1952 until 1959. There he compiled a record of 126-50 (.716), and coached a Lone Star Conference winning team to the NAIA Tournament. Stephens never had a losing season while coaching at SFA. From 1959 until 1960 Stephens served as athletic director at Stephen F. Austin University.
In 1975 Stephens was inducted into the Austin College Athletic Hall of Honor. He was inducted into the Stephen F. Austin State Athletic Hall of Honor in 1977 and the East Texas Baptist College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989. In 1999, the training facility at East Texas Baptist College was named in his honor.
After retiring from coaching, Stephens continued to teach political science at Stephen F. Austin University until his retirement in 1985. He was the author of two widely read books on basketball and was noted as an authority on basketball defenses.
Mr. Stephens was a member of Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society, Southwest Football Officials Association, and Southwest Social Science Association.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Anna Laura Stephens; and son, John David Stephens.
Survivors include son, Richard Stephens and wife Cindy of Fort Worth, Texas; daughter-in-law, Jean Stephens of Nacogdoches, Texas; brother, Billy Stephens of Temple, Texas; grandsons, Mark Stephens and wife, Julie, and Scott Stephens; granddaughters, Jennifer Stephens and Stephanie Stephens, all of Nacogdoches, Texas; along with several nieces and nephews.
Memorials in his honor can be made to the John O. Stephens Association Award, SFASU Alumni Association, P.O. Box 6096, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, Texas 75962-6096.
Visitation will be from 5 until 7 p.m. today.
Arrangements are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors, Nacogdoches, Texas.
___________________________________
Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 3, 2004, at Sunset Memorial Park, Nacogdoches, Texas, with the Reverend Bruce Norman officiating.
Mr. Stephens was born January 25, 1915, in Westminster, Texas, to William Jess and Lora Hester Stephens. He graduated form Sherman High School. After receiving his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Austin College, Stephens began his coaching career in 1937 as head basketball coach and assistant football coach at Honey Grove High School. It was there that he met his wife, Ann. He served our country during World War II as a first lieutenant in the Navy Preflight Training Program. Following his high school coaching career, Stephens coached and taught at Austin State College in Sherman, Texas. In 1947 Stephens moved to Marshall to coach football and basketball and head the athletic department at East Texas Baptist College. There his basketball teams advanced to the second round of the NAIA tournament in 1951 and captured the first Big State Conference Basketball Championship in 1952. In 1952 Stephens came to Stephen F. Austin University where he served as head basketball coach from 1952 until 1959. There he compiled a record of 126-50 (.716), and coached a Lone Star Conference winning team to the NAIA Tournament. Stephens never had a losing season while coaching at SFA. From 1959 until 1960 Stephens served as athletic director at Stephen F. Austin University.
In 1975 Stephens was inducted into the Austin College Athletic Hall of Honor. He was inducted into the Stephen F. Austin State Athletic Hall of Honor in 1977 and the East Texas Baptist College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989. In 1999, the training facility at East Texas Baptist College was named in his honor.
After retiring from coaching, Stephens continued to teach political science at Stephen F. Austin University until his retirement in 1985. He was the author of two widely read books on basketball and was noted as an authority on basketball defenses.
Mr. Stephens was a member of Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society, Southwest Football Officials Association, and Southwest Social Science Association.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Anna Laura Stephens; and son, John David Stephens.
Survivors include son, Richard Stephens and wife Cindy of Fort Worth, Texas; daughter-in-law, Jean Stephens of Nacogdoches, Texas; brother, Billy Stephens of Temple, Texas; grandsons, Mark Stephens and wife, Julie, and Scott Stephens; granddaughters, Jennifer Stephens and Stephanie Stephens, all of Nacogdoches, Texas; along with several nieces and nephews.
Memorials in his honor can be made to the John O. Stephens Association Award, SFASU Alumni Association, P.O. Box 6096, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, Texas 75962-6096.
Visitation will be from 5 until 7 p.m. today.
Arrangements are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors, Nacogdoches, Texas.
___________________________________
John O. Stephens, 89, passed away Sunday, February 29, 2004, in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 3, 2004, at Sunset Memorial Park, Nacogdoches, Texas, with the Reverend Bruce Norman officiating.
Mr. Stephens was born January 25, 1915, in Westminster, Texas, to William Jess and Lora Hester Stephens. He graduated form Sherman High School. After receiving his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Austin College, Stephens began his coaching career in 1937 as head basketball coach and assistant football coach at Honey Grove High School. It was there that he met his wife, Ann. He served our country during World War II as a first lieutenant in the Navy Preflight Training Program. Following his high school coaching career, Stephens coached and taught at Austin State College in Sherman, Texas. In 1947 Stephens moved to Marshall to coach football and basketball and head the athletic department at East Texas Baptist College. There his basketball teams advanced to the second round of the NAIA tournament in 1951 and captured the first Big State Conference Basketball Championship in 1952. In 1952 Stephens came to Stephen F. Austin University where he served as head basketball coach from 1952 until 1959. There he compiled a record of 126-50 (.716), and coached a Lone Star Conference winning team to the NAIA Tournament. Stephens never had a losing season while coaching at SFA. From 1959 until 1960 Stephens served as athletic director at Stephen F. Austin University.
In 1975 Stephens was inducted into the Austin College Athletic Hall of Honor. He was inducted into the Stephen F. Austin State Athletic Hall of Honor in 1977 and the East Texas Baptist College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989. In 1999, the training facility at East Texas Baptist College was named in his honor.
After retiring from coaching, Stephens continued to teach political science at Stephen F. Austin University until his retirement in 1985. He was the author of two widely read books on basketball and was noted as an authority on basketball defenses.
Mr. Stephens was a member of Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society, Southwest Football Officials Association, and Southwest Social Science Association.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Anna Laura Stephens; and son, John David Stephens.
Survivors include son, Richard Stephens and wife Cindy of Fort Worth, Texas; daughter-in-law, Jean Stephens of Nacogdoches, Texas; brother, Billy Stephens of Temple, Texas; grandsons, Mark Stephens and wife, Julie, and Scott Stephens; granddaughters, Jennifer Stephens and Stephanie Stephens, all of Nacogdoches, Texas; along with several nieces and nephews.
Memorials in his honor can be made to the John O. Stephens Association Award, SFASU Alumni Association, P.O. Box 6096, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, Texas 75962-6096.
Visitation will be from 5 until 7 p.m. today.
Arrangements are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors, Nacogdoches, Texas.
___________________________________
Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 3, 2004, at Sunset Memorial Park, Nacogdoches, Texas, with the Reverend Bruce Norman officiating.
Mr. Stephens was born January 25, 1915, in Westminster, Texas, to William Jess and Lora Hester Stephens. He graduated form Sherman High School. After receiving his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Austin College, Stephens began his coaching career in 1937 as head basketball coach and assistant football coach at Honey Grove High School. It was there that he met his wife, Ann. He served our country during World War II as a first lieutenant in the Navy Preflight Training Program. Following his high school coaching career, Stephens coached and taught at Austin State College in Sherman, Texas. In 1947 Stephens moved to Marshall to coach football and basketball and head the athletic department at East Texas Baptist College. There his basketball teams advanced to the second round of the NAIA tournament in 1951 and captured the first Big State Conference Basketball Championship in 1952. In 1952 Stephens came to Stephen F. Austin University where he served as head basketball coach from 1952 until 1959. There he compiled a record of 126-50 (.716), and coached a Lone Star Conference winning team to the NAIA Tournament. Stephens never had a losing season while coaching at SFA. From 1959 until 1960 Stephens served as athletic director at Stephen F. Austin University.
In 1975 Stephens was inducted into the Austin College Athletic Hall of Honor. He was inducted into the Stephen F. Austin State Athletic Hall of Honor in 1977 and the East Texas Baptist College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989. In 1999, the training facility at East Texas Baptist College was named in his honor.
After retiring from coaching, Stephens continued to teach political science at Stephen F. Austin University until his retirement in 1985. He was the author of two widely read books on basketball and was noted as an authority on basketball defenses.
Mr. Stephens was a member of Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society, Southwest Football Officials Association, and Southwest Social Science Association.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Anna Laura Stephens; and son, John David Stephens.
Survivors include son, Richard Stephens and wife Cindy of Fort Worth, Texas; daughter-in-law, Jean Stephens of Nacogdoches, Texas; brother, Billy Stephens of Temple, Texas; grandsons, Mark Stephens and wife, Julie, and Scott Stephens; granddaughters, Jennifer Stephens and Stephanie Stephens, all of Nacogdoches, Texas; along with several nieces and nephews.
Memorials in his honor can be made to the John O. Stephens Association Award, SFASU Alumni Association, P.O. Box 6096, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, Texas 75962-6096.
Visitation will be from 5 until 7 p.m. today.
Arrangements are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors, Nacogdoches, Texas.
___________________________________
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