James Lewis Segrest

1936 - 2023

GRANBURY - James Lewis Segrest passed away on August 5, 2023, surrounded by his family. He was born to Excell and Louise Segrest on November 14, 1936, in Brady, Texas. He grew in up in Bangs, Texas and attended Abilene Christian College on a track scholarship. He earned a Bachelor's and Master's degree.

James met Ellie Katherine Neal of Wichita Falls, Texas while attending ACC and they were married on September 1, 1956. They had two daughters Tammy and Cindi, a son-in-law Wes, and a grandson Josh.

Coach Segrest was known as the "One Man Gang from Bangs." He single-handedly scored 34 points to win the 1954 Class B Track and Field State Championship. He was a member of the 440 and 880-yard relay teams at Abilene Christian. The relay teams set five world records. The Wildcats team of Bobby Morrow, James Segrest, Bill Woodhouse and Waymond Griggs became the first to run the 440-yard relay in under 40 seconds breaking the NCAA, American and World records with a time of 39.9 in 1957. They later reset those records with a 39.7 in 1958. Coach was also a member of the 1958 U.S. track team that participated in the first dual meet with the Soviet Union in Moscow. He began his coaching career at Bonham Jr High and Monahans High School. He led Monahans to the 1966 Track and Field State Championship. He coached at Permian High School, and he served as the head track coach and Athletic Director at Odessa Junior College. His teams won 11 NJCAA National Championships. He was selected to coach the World University Games and is a member of the NJCAA Track & Field Hall of Fame, Abilene Christian Sports Hall of Fame, and the United States Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He is a member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and The Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame. He was honored to be included in Bangs High School's inaugural Hall of Honor. Odessa College honored him by naming their new Track and Field facility and stadium after him. The day of the groundbreaking was proclaimed James Segrest's day.

Throughout his career he made lifelong and cherished friendships with the students he taught and coached, his teammates, and fellow coaches and teachers. Many remained in contact with him throughout the years and he considered them "Family". We are so grateful for the support and the love they showed him. It meant so much to him and to our family.

He was a faithful member of the Granbury Church of Christ where he helped the children at the Royal Family Kid's Camp learn to fish and he helped to pack lunches for school children in need.

He is survived by his daughter Cindi Williams, son-in-love Wes and his grandson Josh of Grapevine, Texas, and his niece Traci Feazelle of Rochelle, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents Excell and Louise, his daughter Tammy Segrest, his sister Linda Fay Granberry, and his loving wife of 64 years Ellie Katherine Segrest.

If you choose, memorials may be sent to the Royal Family Kid's Camp through the Granbury Church of Christ, Odessa College Track and Field Department or the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

A visitation with the family receiving friends will be from 2-4pm. Saturday, August 12, 2023, at Wiley Funeral Home in Granbury.

A private graveside service for his family will be held on Sunday at Rochelle Cemetery in Rochelle, Texas.