NEDERLAND — Port Arthur News sports stories from 1964, ‘65 and ‘66, penned by brother John and myself, chronicled the exploits of Mid-County football players and their young coaches.

Most of the kids are now grandparents. Their former mentors still living are 80 or so, and one, Bum Phillips, is chugging along towards 90.

Wow! Nearly a half-century has passed since Bum did a two-year stint at PN-G, and the late Gene Henderson was leading Nederland to a District 11-AAAA title.

The Indian quarterback in ‘64 was senior Wade Phillips, his backup was sophomore Jack Lynch. After Wade graduated and followed his dad to the University of Houston, he ceded his man-under duties to the swift, 150-pound Lynch.

Yep folks, Jack Lynch, the guy who prowled sidelines and courtsides at Nederland C. O. Wilson Middle School for the past 40 years, was once a dreaded Indian. And a darned good one at that.

With Lynch at the throttle for two seasons, Coach Ken Watson’s teams posted a record of 15-3-2. In that span, Lynch rushed for 1,216 yards, passed for l,l84 and scored 18 touchdowns. In the 1965 season finale, Lynch and the Indians prevailed in a 16-15 thriller at Bulldog Stadium. Finishing in a dead heat with Jack for all-district honors was Nederland’s Steve Stuart.

Lynch today is looking into a future beyond C.O., where he poured his heart and soul into shaping the lives of thousands of young Bullpups.

“I had several invitations to join the high school staff, or to coach somewhere else,” said Lynch. “But helping develop kids at C.O. has been my life — what I was cut out to do.”

In appreciation of his extrordinary contributions to C.O. Wilson, the Bulldog athletic program and indeed the entire community of Nederland, Lynch will be feted at a retirement reception Saturday, July 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the C.O. Wilson cafeteria. The reception is being planned by past and present colleagues of Lynch, and is open to the public.

Anticipating a new school year without being part of it, Lynch is returning to work on a part-time basis in the family concrete business with brothers Billy, Donald and M.E.

“It’s still concrete work, but the equipment has made it easier, and it’s not going to be an every day deal,” said Jack.

Coming up soon will be a trip to visit family in Florida with his wife of 39 years, the former Janice Nunez. Young Jack and Janice met when she was working in the NISD administration office. For Janice, also, the retirment decision has brought about mixed emotions.

“He will miss it for sure, but we both believe the time has come,” said Janice. “Jack had a special gift for coaching youngsters, but he will turn 65 in December, and being on the field with 150 boys in mid-day heat was not getting easier.”

Lynch took his running skills to Kilgore Junior College, had a good freshman year and was switched to the defensive line the following season. He went on to give it a shot at Sul Ross in Alpine before deciding to concentrate on studies back home at Lamar. He earned his degree in 1972 and was hired that fall by Neal Morgan to assist Bullpup head coach Charles Cotton.

A year later, Lynch was joined at C.O. by Delbert Spell, who stayed with the Bullpups for 11 years before moving up to Ben Hurt’s high school staff. Lynch was an assistant at C.O. five years, and co-head coach two years before beginning a 33-year tenure as head Bullpup.

Lynch and Spell worked under seven athletic directors before Larry Neumann’s arrival in 1992. Spell has been a fixture as defensive coordinator ever since. NISD superintendents, eight of them, have also come and gone while the veteran coaching duo went from season to season, from lean times to good times.

C.O. has been a perennial power in junior high and middle school circles, and the consistent Bulldogs threw a monkey off their backs last year, claiming a district championship outright for the first time since l965.

“Jack Lynch has an extreme passion for his profession,” said Neumann. “It’s been my honor to be associated with him for the past 20 years. Many men today can look back and appreciate what Coach Lynch did to help them in their younger years.”

Lynch returns compliments to his boss: “Larry Neumann has really brought us together as a coaching staff. I’ve learned so much by being able to work with such a great group of guys, and Larry has helped in every way possible while letting me run my program.”

Cody Sheppard, who once played for Lynch, will take the reins at C.O. Others in the district who once received coaching encouragement from Lynch include Bulldog basketball coach Brian English, high school assistant principal Bill Jardell, assistant superintendent Stuart Kieschnick, Bulldog staffer Brent Stark and C.O. assistant Daniel Vandiver.

“Brian made me a good basketball coach,” laughs Lynch. “We went 28-1 for the two years he was lighting it up.”

Watching their fiery styles in pushing and encouraging their teams leaves little wonder that the young coach once played for the old coach.