John Gordon Baskin Sr.

The family of John G. Baskin sorrowfully announces his death, yet also joyfully celebrates his life. John passed away gently and peacefully at home from natural causes on Thursday, August 28, amidst his loving family.

John's soul left this earth just barely a week shy of his 89th birthday. He was born on September 8, 1936, in Martins Mill, Texas to D.A. Baskin and Arlene Chaney Baskin. His growing years were spent in Borger, Texas, where he attended the Borger schools throughout elementary, junior high and high school. His memories of his summers spent on his aunt and uncle's farm in East Texas remained some of his most vivid until the very end of his life, when many of his other memories were denied him. His nickname, "Nubbin" was acquired during these summers of harvesting cucumbers and remained with him throughout his life within family gatherings.

As a youth, John was always very athletic and was a four-sport letterman at Borger High School, which included football, basketball, baseball and track. These sports would eventually become his life's calling and retained their entertainment value long after his retirement. John was awarded an athletic scholarship to play football at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. There, he met a young coed named Geneva Norris, who became his bride in January, 1957. A year later a daughter, M'Lissa, was born in February and she attended with her mother John's senior year football games. Upon graduation in May 1959, he accepted a position as assistant coach and algebra teacher at DeLeon High School. It was while living in DeLeon that John and Geneva added to their family another daughter, Kris, and a son, John Jr.

In 1963, John accepted a position as head coach at Hico High School. The following year he was recruited to become the head coach at San Saba High School where he remained until 1974. It was during this tenure that John was awarded Central Texas Coach of the Year 1968 in recognition for the success of the 1968 Armadillo team which advanced to the state quarterfinals. He also helped produce some outstanding track and field athletes, which included both girls and boys.

John's next move along his coaching path took him and his family to Llano High School where he joined the staff of former Howard Payne teammate, Ken Gray, as an assistant football and head track coach. In 1976, he took the helm as head coach for both football and boys track. These teams provided John the joys and anguish as only athletic competitions can. From 1981- 84, John added to his duties that of being the Regional Director of the Texas High School Coaches Association to which he remained a member to his last days. John and family remained in Llano until 1984, when the next move was made to Round Rock High School.

John and Geneva enjoyed the proximity to the larger cities and ultimately made the move to San Antonio, where John coached football and track at James Madison High School and Douglas MacArthur High School from 1988 until his retirement in 2002. While at MacArthur High School, John coached and reveled in the excitement of playing in the 1998 State 5A Finals at Texas Stadium. Again, over the years he rejoiced in the many successes of his track athletes. One of the highlights of John's coaching career actually occurred AFTER his retirement, when he was afforded the opportunity to assist his son, John Baskin Jr., as an offensive coordinator at former school, San Saba, for the 2002 and 2003 football seasons. In later retirement, John would again respond to the call of volunteer assistant to John Jr.'s Ronald Reagan High School tracksters.

John was loved and well known for his genuine interest in and welfare of the hundreds of teenagers he encountered on an almost daily basis for 50 years. As a dad, he had the privilege of being able to claim that he coached all three of his children throughout their school years, whether it was football, cross country, track, basketball or summer league softball/baseball. He also tried his best to teach us algebra; even though we didn't fail, we also didn't excel at it ! Throughout his retirement, he continued to support both Kris and John Jr. in their own coaching careers, doing his due diligence to yell at referees and time splits. Many athletes on these teams also came to love and respect him. Upon reflection, we find it incredible that his coaching and/or teaching career spanned seven different decades, from his first job in 1959 to his last volunteer stint in 2020.

John's personal life afforded him much pleasure and joy. He and Geneva traveled when their schedules allowed to places far and wide, from European countries to the coasts and Midwest of the U.S. They bravely weathered a blizzard in Pennsylvania as well as the cool, sunny breezes of California. Trips often took them to wherever their grandchildren lived, for those babies were the pride and joy of both grandparents. Many people may not know that John: Was a huge John Wayne fan and had watched all his movies; Loved his homemade banana ice cream - always a Sunday evening summer treat; Could make a mean Lemon Meringue Pie; Always gave VERY tight hugs to all he greeted; ALWAYS sharpened his own pencils with his pocketknife; Enjoyed studying maps and loved even more drawing his own any time someone needed directions; Late in life discovered his daily Sudoku puzzles; Was the Baskin family breakfast cook after Geneva resumed her working career and never served just cereal; Was a youth Sunday School teacher; Loved babies and kids in general.

Mourning John's passing are wife, Geneva, who was his loving and faithful caregiver, and children M'Lissa (Michael) Baye, Kris (Lila) Baskin, and John (Kenda) Baskin. Also included are grandchildren Natalie, Sunnye (Tyler), Mitchell (Alyssa), Mallory, and Jennifer. To these belong the great-grandchildren, Callaway, Kate, Carson, Cavin, Jacqueline and Jonathan. John is also survived by brother-in-law Leonard Fort and a number of nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by parents, D.A. Baskin and Arlene Baker, and brother Dennis Baskin. Cremation rites were under the direction of Sunset Memorial Gardens, San Antonio. A Celebration of Life is being planned for early Spring. It is our hope that upon entering the gates of Paradise, John (Dad) was able to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."