Charles Wayne Curtis

On the morning of Monday, May 9, 2016, Coach Charles Wayne "Chuck" Curtis went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He passed away peacefully of natural causes at Peach Tree Place Memory Center in Weatherford, Texas. He was comforted by his wife, Carole, and many who loved him. Coach Curtis was eighty years old.Coach Curtis was born in Midlothian, Texas on July 15, 1935. He was the second child and only son of Bonnie Bryant and John Stephen Curtis. He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Ruth Curtis Thompson.Coach Chuck Curtis was a gifted athlete and savvy coach. His football career began in Gainesville, TX where he was recruited in 1954 by Abe Martin at TCU. He led TCU as quarterback to a 1957 Cotton Bowl win over the Jim Brown led, Syracuse University. Chuck played one season for the New York Giants under the legendary coaches, Tom Landry and Vince Lombardi. Their influence shaped what would become a legendary coaching career. He is best known for his three high school state championships and the recruitment of Jerry LeVias, the first African-American scholarship athlete player in the Southwest Conference, at SMU. Curtis holds a high school 135-41 record and three back to back state titles at different schools: Jacksboro '62, and Garland '63 and'64. He also had very successful seasons, turning around programs in Grand Prairie, Cleburne, Mineral Wells and Aledo, and was inducted into the Garland Hall of Fame in 1991, TCU Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame in 2007.Chuck Curtis was an avid rancher. Horses and cattle were his passion along with country music. He loved playing his big bass fiddle in the praise band at his church, Palo Pinto County Cowboy Church. He was a proud long time member of the Palo Pinto County Sheriff's Posse and the Lions Club.He is survived in death by: his wife Carole Curtis, sister Ann Montgomery, his sons Kenneth Scot Curtis and Kell Sean Curtis (whom he coached at Cleburne High) and his wife Julie Lange Curtis, his daughter Kimberly Amis and her husband Terry Amis and his two grandchildren Caleb Scot Amis and Lara Ashley Amis Davis and her husband Thomas Davis. He is also survived by Carole's son, Brad Spencer, wife Joann, grandchildren, Cole, Vaughn and McKinley Spencer and daughter, Robyne Roberts, husband David, and grandchildren, Tripp and Raley Roberts and bonus son, Gonzo Santibanez.The family would like to thank all who wish to honor and celebrate the life of Coach Chuck Curtis by requesting donations be sent to Palo Pinto County Cowboy Church Building Fund, 2731 South FM 129, Santo, Texas 76472.The memorial service will be Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at Palo Pinto County Cowboy Church. An open reception will follow the service.Honorary Pallbearers will be the: Jacksboro '62 state title team, Garland '63 and '64 state title teams, Cleburne '82 state semi-final team, and Palo Pinto County Sheriff's PosseChuck Curtis was a survivor, an entrepreneur and a charismatic leader. Big in stature and epitomizing a bigger than life character, those who knew him knew a man of competitiveness, humor, passion and drive. He also knew how to work a crowd both on and off the field. A tradition of his, when he really wanted fans to rally behind the team, was to remove his trademark cowboy hat, hold it high and shake it as the masses responded with pure volume and support. Now our hats are off and held high in honor of Coach Chuck Curtis.