Fred Schwake

Ballinger, Texas - Freddy Joe Schwake, the son of William and Lillie Schwake, was born in Odessa, Texas on June 10, 1945. Freddy attended primary and secondary schools in Odessa Texas, graduating from Odessa's Ector High School in 1963. As he grew up, Fred was very interested in athletics but wasn't certain about how to get actively involved until he met Jerry Rhea, the trainer at Ector high.

Jerry took Fred under his wing as his student trainer and taught Fred all he knew about the profession. Fred learned the profession so well that it garnered him a full scholarship to become a student trainer at Texas Western College where he began to further learn and refine his skills under the mentorship of the legendary collegiate trainer Ross Moore.

As a freshman at Texas Western in 1963, Freddy initially began working with his new mentor, Ross Moore on the Miner's football team. However, as basketball season approached (October 15th in those days) Ross realized that Freddy possessed the skills and demeanor to take on the responsibility for the basketball team and Coach Don "the bear" Haskins. Freddy quickly became a favorite of this very successful basketball program and its temperamental and high-strung athletes - not only for his skill in the training room - taping ankles, mending wounds and the like, but for his skills as a spiritual advisor of sorts --- keeping egos in check with pointed levity and tempers and aggressive behavior from ruining the chemistry of the team. Among his many experiences as a trainer for the basketball team in his 4 years at Texas Western, Fred had the privilege and responsibility of working with basketball teams that participated in 1 National Invitational Tournament and 3 NCAA tournaments and serving as the trainer for the 1966 Texas Western team that beat the University of Kentucky for the National Championship on March 19, 1966 - a game recently designated as one of the 25 most significant events in the 100 year history of the NCAA.

After graduating from Texas Western College in 1967 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, Freddy returned to Odessa to serve a two-year stint as head trainer at his old high school - Ector high. But his skills as a trainer were gaining recognition at higher levels and in 1969, he became an assistant trainer for the Atlanta Falcons. Freddy served in that capacity for seven years before the San Francisco 49ers came calling on him to become their head trainer. Fred was the head trainer of the 49ers for three years and then left the profession for a business opportunity in his home town where he owned and operated a flower shop known as Flowerama.

Several years later, Fred sold his flower business, moved to San Angelo, Texas and took sales positions with Nasco and then School Specialty and NASCO where he worked for nine years before deciding to convert a lifetime hobby of collecting antiques into a commercial venture. So, Fred bought an old icehouse/warehouse in the commercial district of Ballinger, Texas, converted it into living quarters and an antique store. Fred operated One of a Kind Unique Antiques until his death.

Fred passed away on Saturday, February 1, 2025, in Coleman, Texas.

He is survived by one daughter, Crystal McLane and husband Keith along with two grandchildren. Fred is also survived by many close friends including Kenneth West, Buddy Luce, and Steve Tredennick.

Fred requested no formal funeral or memorial service. Arrangements are entrusted to Stevens Funeral Home, 400 W. Pecan Street, in Coleman.

We invite you to share fond memories and words of comfort and condolence with the Schwake family by signing the guestbook on Fred's tribute page at www.stevensfuneralhome.com. Stevens Funeral Home is honored to serve the Schwake family.