Jack Otto Price

Jack Otto Price December 21, 1923 - December 15, 2009 Jack Otto Price of Waco passed away Tuesday, December 15, 2009, at Providence Hospital in Waco after a long battle with cancer. Graveside services will be 1:00 p.m., Friday, December 18, at Oakwood Cemetery with Rev. Bob Painter officiating. Visitation will be from 6 8 p.m., Thursday, December 17, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Jack was born December 21, 1923, in Charleroi, PA, to Georgia Wieberg Price and Robert W. Price. Upon graduation from North Belle Vernon High School, he attended Williams College and then Penn State on a football scholarship. With the onset of WWII, he enlisted in the Navy, serving as an officer and a pilot. Following his military service, he once again received a football scholarship and moved to Waco to attend Baylor University. Jack was quarterback and captain of the BU football team from 1945-1947. He represented BU as a distinguished player in the East/West Shrine All-star game in 1946, playing both offense and defense. On December 17, 1946, he married the love of his life, his BU sweetheart, Leona Dillard, of Waco. Upon his graduation from Baylor, Jack started a 41 year career in the Waco Independent School District, coaching at Waco High and Richfield High and serving as Assistant Athletic Director and subsequently Athletic Director from 1947-1987, where he successfully implemented many new programs. Jack and Leona were the "summer parents" to hundreds of young boys for many years at Camp RioVista near Kerrville, TX, where Jack was the Camp Director. The American Camping Association recognized them for having significantly and positively influenced the lives of so many young campers. After Jack's retirement from WISD, he pursued his new hobby of tennis with the same competitive zeal he always had in his football career. At the age of 70, Jack and his good friend, Jim Attaway, made it to the finals in the Senior Olympics Tennis Tournament in Baton Rouge, LA. He and Jim also played on a USTA tennis team in the Nationals in Tucson, Arizona. Jack was an avid outdoorsman and had no trouble bagging elk or deer on his many hunting excursions. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 92, Scottish Rites of Freemasonry, Knights Templar of Texas Commandery No. 10, and the Karem Shriners. He was a longtime member of Central Presbyterian Church. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Edmund; and his sister, Vivian. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Leona, of Waco; his beloved daughter, Sarah Lee Ferguson and husband, Rob, of Katy, TX; his two grandchildren, Price and Maggie, who were the joy of his life; nephew, Ed Price and wife, Pam; and nieces, Patricia Ream and Joyce Fought. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Curing Children's Cancer Fund, www.cccfund.org., 6621 Fannin St., CC 1410.00, Houston, TX 77030, to Texas High Sports Hall of Fame, in Memory of Jack Price, 1108 S. University Parks, 76706, or the charity of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.