Russell Wayne McGough

Russell Wayne McGough

1945-2021

Russell Wayne McGough, age 76, entered into heaven Friday, November 26, 2021. He was born in Olympia, WA but was raised in the Texas Panhandle. He graduated from Phillips High School in 1963 and was recruited to play college football and basketball. He began his collegiate career playing football in Oklahoma, but due to the death of his roommate and their odious Coach, McGough transferred to Frank Phillips Junior College, where he played basketball. He then attended Howard Payne University (HPU) in Brownwood and loved living in the “Animal House.”  He graduated from HPU in 1967, where he majored in Theology and Ministry. He started as a choir director, but anyone that knew him knew that was a horrible idea since he was tone deaf! He then became a Youth Director, and later a Southern Baptist Preacher. God spoke to him and said he needed to bring children to God, so he became a teacher and coach to impact more lives.

He started his illustrious Teaching career in Baytown, where he was the first individual in Texas to implement In-School Suspension. Boy, did he tell some stories about that! He always put the students before himself. He even lost a job in the late ‘60s because he allowed one of his students, a young black man, to move in with him and his wife since the student had no family and nowhere to go. This child of God was more important than a job. During his 37 years of Teaching and Coaching, he lived all over Texas coaching at big and small schools, where he always influenced the lives of his many students. He loved coaching; it did not matter what sport - girls or boys: Track, Tennis, Powerlifting, Volleyball, Basketball, and Football. During his distinguished career, the San Antonio Spurs honored Coach for his contribution to basketball and his leadership of students throughout Texas. During the summer months, Coach spent his time coaching at basketball camps for many years alongside greats, like UT’s own Jody Conrad, Texas Tech’s Marsha Sharp, and great HS coaches like Cathy Self-Morgan, and Leta Andrews, to name just a few.

After he retired, he became a fantastic Balloon Artist in his “spare” time. He loved being a husband, a father, and a grandfather, along with watching the Dallas Cowboys and college basketball. However, he was not the greatest at Fantasy Football because he only wanted the Cowboys on his team. He wanted to win, but his loyalty to the Cowboys intervened. Coach’s life was shortened due to an infection brought on by complications from a malignant Melanoma that metastasized in his lungs and spread throughout his body. Coach McGough peacefully took his last breath at Ft Worth, Baylor Scott, and White with family at his bedside. His family would like to express our gratitude to the many doctors and nurses for their outstanding care.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Vernice Atnip McGough and Eugene O’Connell McGough. His generous and spiritual life will be forever cherished by his beautiful and doting wife, Doracy Jo McGough; two loving daughters, Amy McFarland and Nikki Parker-Mazoch; his son in law, Joshua Sewell; and five adoring grandchildren: Andrew McFarland, Sean McFarland, Brennan Parker, Jozalyn Sewell, and Cesili Mazoch; his devoted sister, Sandra Moore and brother-in-law David Moore and their two children, Davida Mussey and Mackenzie Moore, along with their families; another loving niece, Tammy Ward, and her husband Curt along with their five children, and five grandchildren.

Coach McGough would ask that you honor his memory by attending church more often, love everyone unconditionally, and root for the Dallas Cowboys. His family asks that you smile through the pain, dote upon your family, and at this moment turn to someone close to your heart and tell them how much you love them. These are the qualities that he possessed and the world needs more people like him. We will all miss him deeply.

On Friday, December 10, 2021, a funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm at the Azle and Lake Worth Funeral Home. We look forward to family, former co-workers, students and athletes that come and want to share his memory. Pastor John Hooser will officiate. The interment will be private.

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