George “Tex” Nolan

George “Tex” Nolan
George “Tex” Nolan

George “Tex” Nolan was born on July 13, 1941, to Emmitt and Myrtle Nolan in Shamrock, TX. He entered his heavenly home on January 17, 2021. Tex was baptized May 4, 1952, and was always deeply committed to his faith. 

Services to celebrate Tex’s life will be at 2:00 p.m., January 21, 2021, at Hillside Christian Church to allow social distancing for the many that were friends to Tex. 

Tex was a 1959 graduate of Lefors High School. He married Pat McDowell on June 18, 1960. They attended Oklahoma Panhandle State University where Tex graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education. He began his coaching career in 1963 at Robert E. Lee Junior High in Pampa. He always believed junior high was where the best coaches needed to be to make the biggest impact on students.

In 1966 he moved to Sunray ISD to become an assistant coach. Tex also taught history, a subject he took as seriously as athletics. He taught several classes and seldom if ever looked at a note. He later became the head track coach where his teams won three district championships and one regional championship. During that time, he received his master’s degree in education at Northeast Louisiana University in 1971. 

 In 1981, Tex moved to Dalhart ISD where he was an assistant football coach as well as the head track coach. There his teams won four district championships and three regional championships. While in Dalhart, Tex and Pat had a student who asked if he could live with them for his senior year due to instability at his home. Tex and Pat welcomed Charley Tiggs into their home for the year and enjoyed having a new edition to the family.

Charley said, “That year opened up possibilities that I’m not sure I would have ever considered.” Charley went on to Texas Tech University to run track and earned a bachelor’s degree in deaf education and a master’s degree in higher education/student affairs.

In 1989, Tex became assistant principal and then principal for Highland Park ISD. In 1991, he became assistant athletic director for Amarillo ISD, and in 1996 he succeeded Sonny Lang as athletic director. During his time as athletic director, he oversaw the renovation of Dick Bivins Stadium, which included the nation’s second FieldTurf surface as well as a new press box facility and dressing rooms. 

On January 13, 2001, Tex suffered complete liver failure due to Hepatitis B. He was placed as priority one on the liver transplant list and received a liver transplant on Jan. 16, 2001. His donor liver came from a 13-year-old boy in Houston who had bacterial meningitis.

 “I’m so thankful to that family and stay in contact with them,” Tex said. “Not a day goes by I’m not thankful.” He attributed his return to health and return to the job he loved to faith in God and the support of family and friends. Tex became a spokesperson for organ and blood donation by giving talks, attending blood drives to thank donors, and working with the donor registry.

In 2006, Tex was inducted into the Texas High School Athletic Director Hall of Honor. During Tex’s 13 years as athletic director, AISD teams won 16 state championships. Tex retired as AISD athletic director on June 30, 2009, totaling 46 years in public education.

In 2011, Tex was inducted into the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame as member No. 154. He was very proud of this honor to be included with other outstanding sports personalities from the Texas Panhandle.

Tex was a member of Coulter Road Baptist Church and served on several church committees. After retirement, Tex felt a strong need to give back to the medical community. He became a standardized patient for the Texas Tech Medical School and Pharmacy. He greatly enjoyed his days working with the future doctors and pharmacists. Tex also served on the WTSU College of Nursing and Health Sciences Advisory Board. He was impressed with the outstanding state and national recognition these programs earned.  

Tex and Pat continued to attend AISD sporting events of all kinds. Tex followed all AISD student-athletes that went on to participate at the collegiate level and beyond. He was genuinely interested in the lives of every student he had known and was always so touched when a past student reached out to catch up with him or if he happened to randomly run into past students.

Tex Nolan loved life and made the most of every day. Nothing was dearer to him than his family. Sundays were for family lunch and an afternoon of fun with the grandkids. “Grandan” taught them to shoot marbles, throw tops, and play dominoes. The score card was proudly displayed on the refrigerator until the next week’s champion was determined. Some of his greatest joy was watching his grandchildren compete in athletics.

Tex is survived by his wife of 60 years, Pat, his daughter Kris and husband, Michael David, his son Dodd and wife, Jennifer Nolan, all of Amarillo. His grandchildren, Halie and Mitchell Sims, Micah and Brian Smith, Nolan and Lauren David, Samantha Nolan, Cole David and fiancée Abby Keister, and James and Carson Castleman and four great-grandsons: Zayden, Michael and Hunter Smith, and Paxton David, his sister-in-law Barbara and Butch Northcott of Canadian and several special nieces and nephews. 

Tex is preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Oma Lee Brillhart, a brother, Gilford Nolan, and two nephews, Robert Sims and Mart Brillhart.

A scholarship will be established in Nolan’s honor and donations can be sent to Steve Brunson at First United Bank, 1 First United Bank Parkway, Amarillo, TX 79119 or LifeGift.—West Region, 5812 64th Street, Lubbock, TX. 79424

Use this link to live stream the service: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwxCSdC9KKslSEh3MxAy1pA/featured?view_as=subscriber 

26 Replies to “George “Tex” Nolan”

  1. Pat, So Sorry for you and your families loss. Praise God He gave us a Tremendous amount of different Memories that live on for a Lifetime;! Hopefully, the large amount of Support you have will help ease the heartache , and give you peace in the months ahead.

  2. Tex Nolan, a 1st class guy with great rapport with all who knew him, was a super athletic director for AISD. He supported sports programs at every level and both boys and girls programs were treated with the same degree of importance. I appreciate his hard work, his fine character and his contributions to the field of education and student-athletes. Rest In Peace Tex, you earned it.

  3. Such a beautiful and loving tribute to a very special man. May he rest in the peaceful arms of Jesus. With love and sincere sympathy to Pat and the entire family.

  4. “Hail the Aggie Crew;” the Battle Cry of the Panhandle A & M College and other names through time, now OPSU. I knew Tex as we attended there together. My wife and I got to know Tex and Pat a lot better when he had liver failure and received a replacement that required being rather sequestered in Dallas for several months. And seeing them at Aggie reunions was always a treat. Tex will be missed and our prayers go out to Pat and all their family during these trying times.

  5. Our love and prayers go out to you and your sweet family. What an amazing life to celebrate today. How proud he must be to know that his legacy will live on through his beautiful family.
    We love you guys!

  6. “Tex” was a good guy who I was fortunate enough to know. I looked forward to his visits with me in Dallas since I knew he would have a cheery disposition .

    I send my regrets to his family.

    Dr Bob Perrillo
    Dallas

  7. Coach Nolan first impacted my life when I was 17 years old and his impact continues in my life today. Coach was a good man a true lifelong mentor. Of all his amazing attributes, his kindness is the one that will always resonate the strongest with me. Coach will be greatly missed.

    Our thoughts and prayers are with Pat, Kris, Dodd, and all of the Nolan and David family. 🙏

  8. I’m so sorry to hear of Tex’s passing. I worked with him as a standardized patient, and you could always count on him for a big smile. My condolences to all his family and many friends.

  9. He has left an indelible mark on everyone during the tremendous experiences he enjoyed in so many places & with so many people. You may not remember every event or every thing he said, but you will always remember his smile & the way he made you feel.

  10. Tex Nolan was always more than just our coach. He was first and foremost a builder of youth — educating our minds, training up our bodies, and a building our character. He never coached the vast majority of the students that he impacted but he cared about them all as a person, athlete or not. And it was in the classroom that he really made a difference in so many lives. I was honored to have him as my coach in both junior high and high school. But I am truly thankful to have had him as my teacher during my freshman and senior years. He taught me history, government, and economics, laying a foundation that inspired me onwards to both my business and law degrees. Whenever I would see him he would talk to me as if I had just seen him yesterday. To all of his family and loved ones, thank you for sharing him with us, for he always gave us his best. God bless you all and may He bring you comfort in your time of grief. And it seems an appropriate Bible verse to quote in memory of my old Coach who lovingly pushed all of us so hard: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

  11. I attended (PAMC)now Oklahoma Panhandle State University for a time with Tex and then got to know him much better when he served as the AISD Athlete Director. He was such a fun person to be around and I always felt better after visiting with him. His life and career is one that many should emulate!

  12. So sorry for you loss. Tex embodied his nickname. His personality and heart were truly as big as Texas! He will be greatly missed.

  13. Tex had a gift of making people feel at ease. He had a heart full of joy, and he gladly shared that joy with others. He will be missed. May the Lord give your entire family comfort in this time of loss.

  14. Sincerely condolences to this family. He was one of my favorite teachers and coaches growing up.
    LeAnna Sawyer

  15. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Pat and the family during these challenging times. May God bring you peace and comfort.
    There are times when there are too few words left to heal us, when all we have left is the hope that tomorrow will be a more gentle place to land than today. The sun has set on an amazing life that will leave an everlasting impression on all that knew him. Tex will truly be missed by all.

  16. Tex was one of my greatest mentors. My junior high years were some of my best memories thanks to him. He brought out the best in all of us Sunray Bobcats. With his leadership we thought we were invincible!

  17. Our prayers are with you all. 🙏
    Tex was such a warm-hearted and caring man, and touched so many lives. He left a loving legacy in your family.

  18. Praying for you all. May the good Lord bless you and bring you peace and comfort. TEX was such a good man and I enjoyed every minute I visited with him throughout my life. He always made me smile 🌈🙏❤️

  19. Tex was a fine man. He always had a smile on his face. He will truly be missed by all those that were fortunate enough to know him.

  20. Tex and Pat have been wonderful neighbors for many years. Tex will be greatly missed. A life well lived.

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