1934
Jim
2015
Jim Austin
June 14, 1934 — February 9, 2015
Coach Jim Austin, 80, of Peach Orchard, AR., passed away Monday, February 9, 2015 from injuries sustained in a two car collision on Highway 304 near Pocahontas, AR.
Coach Austin was born in Peach Orchard, AR., on June 14, 1934 to Pelham and Esther (Toler) Austin.
Jim Austin’s affiliation with the Delaplaine School System began in 1940 at the Peach Orchard School, where he attended through the sixth grade, then transferred to Delaplaine. While at Delaplaine, Jim (known as Coach to all those who know him) excelled in basketball and baseball. After graduating from Delaplaine in 1952, he enrolled at Arkansas State College in Jonesboro lettering in Track and Basketball. On July 24, 1954 he married his wife of 60 years Marietta (McRee) Austin. After receiving his BSE in 1957, Jim was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. While stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, he coached company baseball and basketball. Post Army, he was hired to teach at the Knob School in 1959. The following year he transferred to the Knobel High School. In 1965 Coach Austin was hired as the Head Basketball Coach at Delaplaine High School.
Coach Austin is the father of three children; Robin born in 1958, Kippi born in 1960 and Blaine born in 1964. He was also grandfather to Darrick Bridger, Mason Gott and Connor Gott.
Coach Austin’s career at DHS was exciting and he had many accomplishments. In 1972 his Senior High basketball team won the District 5 Championship and he was named the Area 5 Coach of the Year. Throughout his career, it was common for Coach Austin to pay for lunches, vitamins, shoes, uniforms and many other things for students who were unable to afford such items, making it possible for them to participate in school sports.
Taking a break from Basketball and Track during the summer of 1969, Coach worked in Sarasota, Florida as the trainer for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Indians rookie league. Among his players was a seventeen year old Buddy Bell, who went on to play for the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros.
Coach Austin’s passion for sports was the force behind him starting the track program at Delaplaine. With no budget and a big heart, he built the track, field, hurdles, pole vault pit, high jump pit and long jump pit with his own hands. He even built a concrete basketball court in Peach Orchard to give the local kids somewhere to play. The facilities may have not been state of the art but it didn’t prevent him from pumping out champions. Delaplaine became known as having an outstanding track program with outstanding athletes. Many district and state records were broken over the years with many of them still remaining. In 1974, Coach Austin was named the AAU Region 8 Coach in Track for Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma and headed up the teams at the National AAU meet in Lincoln, Nebraska. Among his protégées were three High School All-Americans; daughter Kippi, son Blaine and Courtenay Curtis. All three excelled at Track and Basketball. He also coached Arkansas State Representative David Cook.
Coach Austin has been in AAU Summer Track for forty years and had three students that were National Champions. He retired from teaching in 1991, but remained as a volunteer coach until the school closed in 2007. Since most of the athletes transferred to the Hoxie school system, Coach began volunteering his time with that program. While volunteering at DHS, the Senior Girls Track team won five consecutive State Championships. The Senior Boys had two second place finishes during that same time.
Coach Austin was considered by officials as the “Premier Track Coach” in the state of Arkansas.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, February 14, 2015 at 2:00 PM in the Hoxie High School Gymnasium, Hoxie, AR., with Reverend Terry Phipps officiating. Burial will follow the services at Pirtle Cemetery in Peach Orchard, AR., with Military Honors. Visitation will be held Saturday, February 14, 2015 from 12:00 PM until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Pirtle-Brownie Cemetery Association, 899 CR 206, Peach Orchard, AR., 72453
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Ermert Funeral Home of Corning, AR.
Visit his memorial on Facebook: www.facebook.com/coachjimaustin
www.ermertfuneralhome.com.
Obituary submitted by family.
Coach Austin was born in Peach Orchard, AR., on June 14, 1934 to Pelham and Esther (Toler) Austin.
Jim Austin’s affiliation with the Delaplaine School System began in 1940 at the Peach Orchard School, where he attended through the sixth grade, then transferred to Delaplaine. While at Delaplaine, Jim (known as Coach to all those who know him) excelled in basketball and baseball. After graduating from Delaplaine in 1952, he enrolled at Arkansas State College in Jonesboro lettering in Track and Basketball. On July 24, 1954 he married his wife of 60 years Marietta (McRee) Austin. After receiving his BSE in 1957, Jim was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. While stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, he coached company baseball and basketball. Post Army, he was hired to teach at the Knob School in 1959. The following year he transferred to the Knobel High School. In 1965 Coach Austin was hired as the Head Basketball Coach at Delaplaine High School.
Coach Austin is the father of three children; Robin born in 1958, Kippi born in 1960 and Blaine born in 1964. He was also grandfather to Darrick Bridger, Mason Gott and Connor Gott.
Coach Austin’s career at DHS was exciting and he had many accomplishments. In 1972 his Senior High basketball team won the District 5 Championship and he was named the Area 5 Coach of the Year. Throughout his career, it was common for Coach Austin to pay for lunches, vitamins, shoes, uniforms and many other things for students who were unable to afford such items, making it possible for them to participate in school sports.
Taking a break from Basketball and Track during the summer of 1969, Coach worked in Sarasota, Florida as the trainer for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Indians rookie league. Among his players was a seventeen year old Buddy Bell, who went on to play for the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros.
Coach Austin’s passion for sports was the force behind him starting the track program at Delaplaine. With no budget and a big heart, he built the track, field, hurdles, pole vault pit, high jump pit and long jump pit with his own hands. He even built a concrete basketball court in Peach Orchard to give the local kids somewhere to play. The facilities may have not been state of the art but it didn’t prevent him from pumping out champions. Delaplaine became known as having an outstanding track program with outstanding athletes. Many district and state records were broken over the years with many of them still remaining. In 1974, Coach Austin was named the AAU Region 8 Coach in Track for Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma and headed up the teams at the National AAU meet in Lincoln, Nebraska. Among his protégées were three High School All-Americans; daughter Kippi, son Blaine and Courtenay Curtis. All three excelled at Track and Basketball. He also coached Arkansas State Representative David Cook.
Coach Austin has been in AAU Summer Track for forty years and had three students that were National Champions. He retired from teaching in 1991, but remained as a volunteer coach until the school closed in 2007. Since most of the athletes transferred to the Hoxie school system, Coach began volunteering his time with that program. While volunteering at DHS, the Senior Girls Track team won five consecutive State Championships. The Senior Boys had two second place finishes during that same time.
Coach Austin was considered by officials as the “Premier Track Coach” in the state of Arkansas.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, February 14, 2015 at 2:00 PM in the Hoxie High School Gymnasium, Hoxie, AR., with Reverend Terry Phipps officiating. Burial will follow the services at Pirtle Cemetery in Peach Orchard, AR., with Military Honors. Visitation will be held Saturday, February 14, 2015 from 12:00 PM until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Pirtle-Brownie Cemetery Association, 899 CR 206, Peach Orchard, AR., 72453
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Ermert Funeral Home of Corning, AR.
Visit his memorial on Facebook: www.facebook.com/coachjimaustin
www.ermertfuneralhome.com.
Obituary submitted by family.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jim Austin, please visit our flower store.
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