Coach John Outlaw, 58, of Lufkin was born on July 28, 1953 in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, the son of the late Geraldine (Wright) and Wilton Outlaw. He passed away on Friday, December 23, 2011 in a Lufkin hospital. He began his high school coaching career in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where he won two state championships. He later moved to Sherman, Texas with new successes. Coach Outlaw finally arrived in Lufkin in 1995 where he has been Head Football Coach for the Lufkin ISD since that time. Less than 1% of high school coaches in America ever achieve the 300-wins status. Coach Outlaw is one of those very few, with career stats of 302 wins, 89 losses, and 3 ties for a 77% winning percentage.
Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Francie Outlaw, of Lufkin; son, John Stephen Outlaw, of Lufkin; brother Stephen Outlaw, of Ozark, Arkansas; nephew and niece, Daniel and Frankie Howe, of Rogers, Arkansas; mother-in-law, Emily Wooley, of Conway, Arkansas; grandson, Wriley Cooper, of Arkadelphia, Arkansas; granddaughter, Josie Cooper, of Arkadelphia, Arkansas; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Joan and Gary White, of Conway, Arkansas; Coach Outlaw was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Joel Cooper; and father-in-law, Marion Wooley. Pallbearers will be Clay Berry, Barry Burch, Oscar Kennedy, Cecil Roach, Todd Quick, and Tommy Earley. Honorary pallbearers will be "every boy I ever coached."
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Coach Outlaw's memory may be made to a scholarship that will be set up in his name, or to the Lufkin High School Alumni Association, P. O. Box 150837, Lufkin, Texas 75915-0837.
Services for Coach Outlaw will be held at 11:00AM, Tuesday, December 27th in the Lufkin Middle School Auditorium. The family will receive friends from 5:00PM to 7:00PM, Monday evening at Gipson Funeral Home, 1515 South Chestnut in Lufkin. Condolences may be offered at
www.gipsonfuneralhome.com Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.
