Donald L. Sevier

Coach Donald L. Sevier, 77, a true Arkansas sports legend, passed away on Saturday, May 5, 2012, while holding his wife and daughters' hand at the Johnson Regional Medical Center in Clarksville. Coach Sevier was a standout high school athlete at Waldron High School and a two sport star in basketball and football at Arkansas Tech where he graduated in 1957. Don was offered a professional football contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League and a basketball contract with the Phillips 66ers but chose to devote his life to coaching and teaching young men. Coach Sevier coached former White House Chief of Staff Mack McClarty when Mack was in Junior High and went on to teach and coach for nearly forty years at Hope, El Dorado and Russellville High Schools and Arkansas Tech University where the Wonderboys played for the NAIA national championship in football in 1971, as Don assisted then head coach, Don Dempsey. Coach Sevier finished his career at Arkansas Tech by serving as the Director of Athletics for 19 years. During that time, he was instrumental in the leadership of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference and was a true pioneer in helping Arkansas Tech transition to the NCAA and helped form and compete in the most powerful division two conference, The Gulf South. Don's original belief was that the Arkansas schools would be better off competing in a smaller league made up of the old "AIC" and the division two schools in Oklahoma. Coach Sevier saw that come to fruition this year in the formation of the new Great American Conference. For his service to Arkansas Tech, Don was inducted into the Arkansas Tech Hall of Distinction in 2001. Don was a man of solid character, honesty and faith and cherished so much the relationships he fostered with players, coaches and other administrators throughout his career. Coach Sevier retired in 1994 and enjoyed spending time with friends and family. Don was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Russellville. Coach Sevier is survived by his wife of 56 years, Joan of Russellville; his only daughter, Jolie Leeds; his son-in-law, Dr. Blaine Leeds; and two grandsons, Brandt and Brennan Leeds, all of Clarksville. Coach Sevier's nephew, the Mike and Cindy Webb family, their children and grandchildren reside in Ft. Smith. The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Roy Smith and Mr. Jerry Burns officiating. Burial will be at 4:30 p.m. at Duncan Cemetery at Waldron under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service. Honorary pallbearers will be Leon Anderson, Rick Thone, Jim Murphy, Kelly Davis, Howard Ritchie, Dr. Stanley Teeter, Dr. Robert Thurlby, Dan Leeds, Charley Ford, Jerry Burns, Chuck Horn, Don Dempsey, Billy Gene Davis, John Montgomery, Cleo Simmons, Bill McSpadden, Ed Bates, Larry Brown, Joe Hoing, Jim Parker and every young man his life influenced. The family will receive friends following the service in the fellowship hall of First United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Coach Sevier's name may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Russellville at 479-968-1232 or to the Don and Joan Sevier Endowment Scholarship to Arkansas Tech through the Johnson County Community Foundation at 479-754-5842. The online obituary and guestbook are available at www.shinnfuneral.com.