Don Gene Hubbard

Donald Gene Hubbard, 73, of Magnolia, Arkansas passed away on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at the Magnolia Regional Medical Center in Magnolia. He was born on June 13, 1938 in De Queen, Arkansas to the late Carl and Gracie (Hill) Hubbard. Don graduated from DeQueen High School in 1956 where he was the Salutatorian of his graduating class and was a letterman in football, basketball, and track as well as being a member of the Leopard band. Don attended Henderson State Teacher's College where he played football and earned his Bachelor's degree and then served six months in the Army before beginning his first coaching job at Bearden High School. At Bearden he not only assisted in football, but served as the head basketball and track coach, and had the distinction of starting the girl's basketball program at Bearden. In 1963 Don returned to his hometown as head football and track coach taking with him his winning ways. In his four years at De Queen he brought home two district football and track championships before moving to his last stop, Magnolia. Over the next decade at Magnolia Don's teams would win a conference track championship, four conference football championships and three state football championships, running the table with undefeated football teams in both 1968 and 1972. He was promoted to school Plant Manager and Athletic Director in 1970 and served the Magnolia School District in that capacity for thirty years. Don also worked with the Magnolia tennis program for several years and continued to do so after retirement. Over his career, Don was the recipient of many awards. He was on the AHSCA All Star coaching staff five times and served as head coach in 1966. He was the AHSCA Football Coach of the Year in 1968 and was twice named the Arkansas Athletic Director of the Year in 1986 and 1990. Don was honored by the city of Magnolia when September 21, 2007 was proclaimed the Don Hubbard Day. Don was inducted into the Arkansas High School Athletic Administrators Hall of Fame in 2009. He was honored in September 2009 with the naming of the Magnolia High School Football Field as the Don Hubbard Field at Panther Stadium. In his retirement, Don enjoyed family, fishing, and of course, attending athletic events at Magnolia where he was a regular fixture on football Friday nights having missed but three games in 44 years. Don is survived by Jennifer Wylie Hubbard whom he married in 1978; a daughter, Melissa Hubbard Scott and husband Mike all of Magnolia; two sons, Mike and Dan Hubbard both of Warren, Arkansas; three grandsons, Blake Watson of Magnolia, Jon Hubbard of Warren, Skylar Scott of Magnolia; brother, James Hubbard and wife Pat of Dallas, Texas; mother-in-law, Norma Jean Wylie of Emmet, Arkansas; sisters-in-law, Deborah Nipper and husband Steve of Magnolia, and Robin Tate and husband Marc of Germantown, Tennessee; his caregivers, Kevin Lambert and Ruthell Rudd; and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and students. A memorial service with family visitation to follow will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church where he was an active member with Rev. Larry Kelso and Rev. Raymond Cammack officiating. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, Magnolia Boys and Girls Club, and the Magnolia Regional Medical Center. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Waters, Marvin Lindsey, Jr., Jim Garrett, Ken Schmidt, George Branch, Charles Turner, Tony Beltrani, Floyd Tye, Sonny Whittingon, Scott Nipper, David Alpe, and Steven Souter. www.lewisfuneralhome.biz.