Walter Gene Mears
Walter Gene Mears (85) passed away in his home in League City, Texas on December 18, 2017. He was born in Seminole, Oklahoma on June 8, 1932. Gene is survived by his wife, Jane Burton Mears; Christmas Day would have been their 65th anniversary. He graduated from The University of Oklahoma. In 1954, his senior year, Gene was voted by his team mates as one of three football captains; OU was undefeated that year. Gene played during the 47-game winning streak that has never been broken. The Tulsa World also named him as the greatest football player that ever played in Seminole. After college, he coached high school football in Oklahoma and Texas. In 1975, Gene was recognized by the Jim Thorpe Award Committee as one of the All-Time Greats of Oklahoma for the decade of the 1950’s. He retired from Clear Creek ISD as Director of Transportation in 1997 and moved to Buffalo, Texas to raise cattle and spend time with his grandchildren.Gene is survived by his sister, Charlotte Morris; sons Pat Mears, Jay Mears, Johnny Mears & wife Gina; grandchildren Nicole Becker & husband Matt, Stephanie Massie & husband Alan, Codi Sansom & husband Lonnie, Garrett Mears, Jordan Mears, Jacqueline Mears, Shane Mears & wife Sarah; great-grandchildren Madison, Peyton & Jackson Becker, Katee Holleron & Marlee Massie; and many ‘adopted’ family members and friends.
It was Gene’s request there be no funeral, just good memories. Condolences may be sent to Crowder Funeral Home, Pearland, Texas.
Coach Mears was by far the toughest coach I played for…junior high, high school and college. His August two-a-day workouts and his off-season agility drills tested every fiber of my being. But the end result was that I was capable of enduring other very stressful times in my life. RIP, Sir. You made me a much stronger and better man.
Thank you John. High School Football Coaches will do that for you!
I worked with gene mears for many years at CCISD transportation. I always feared and respected him even though we didn’t always agree. He was tough in every respect but I always admired him. May he Rest In Peace. I know he will be missed by his family and friends. 🙏🙏 Happy trails Gene. Respectfully, Debby Coward
For Jane and Family,
Pepper and I are deeply sadden of learning of Gene’s passing. A Great man who earned our respects just knowing him, he will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time. Please let us know if there is anything we can do.
Mike and Pepper Weeren
May Coach Mears rest well. He was a fine man. Bart Goforth
I’ve known Gene Mears a long time…..his family lived down the street from mine & I babysat the boys….. I also worked with him at CCISD transportation for many years. He was a great man & will be missed by many. Sincere condolences to the family & may God bless!
Kathy Garretson
Thank you Kathy!
Gene Mears will always be Coach Mears to me, a giant of a man to a 17 year old football player at Clear Creek High School the season of 1966. His dedication to each and every one of us instilling the desire to be the best we could be, not to accept pretty good but to strive with all of our being for perfection in our football techniques. Yes, Coach Mears was tough on us, it was his way of preparing 16 and 17 year old high school football players to be men, husbands, fathers, grand fathers and productive members of society. Thank you Coach Mears for being the example you were to all of us and all the others that were privileged to know you and to be coached by you. We will all miss you, but never forget you or the lessons you taught us. Condolences to the Mears family you will be in my prayers.
Skip Wobig CCHS Class of 67
Our condolences to the family and know that there are many who are saddened by his death; but, count their blessings to have known him.
My mother, Lydia C. Gonzalez worked with Coach Mears as the dispatcher in the Transportation Department. She fondly remembered him as a kind, fair, and respectful man till the day she passed. He was like family. Thank you Coach! Rest In Peace.
Respectfully,
Bea Gonzalez Sorensen
Clear Creek High School
Class of 1967
Skip, your comments are exactly why coaches coach. Thank you so much.
Johnny Mears
Bea,
Your mother was his back bone at the transportation barn. I worked out there the summer of ‘78 after I got out of the Marine Corps. He talked of her with great admiration over the years!
Coach was fine part of the CCHS community and will greatly missed. He taught me much re; football and life.
Coach Mears was critical influence in The Clear Creek community. He taught me much re: football and life.
Thank you Bart !
Jane, I’m so so so very sorry to hear of Gene’s passing. I know your love for him is fierce and his love for you, too. We are sending our love and prayers to you and yours. ❤️ We miss being your neighbors.
We love you.
Matt, Corrie, Nyleigha, Parker Boyle
Corrie, my Mimi still talks about y’all and how much she loved having you as neighbors. She misses the kids so much! Thank you for everything you ever did for them and your kind words! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas! Nicole
My dad, Homer Simmons, was Gene’s coach at Seminole Hi. My junior year at Norman High School the coaching staff included Gene Corrotto (head coach), Homer Simmons (asst. coach), and Gene Mears (asst. coach). How much better could it get? My Dad followed Gene’s Texas coaching career with pride. I’ll be praying the best for Jayne and family. Mike Simmons
Mike, I can’t tell you how many times we talked about your dad and so many great football stories after supper around the table.
My deepest condolences to the entire family.
Of course Gene will be desperately missed .
But he is only a memory away.
Celebrate his full life by honoring him with a smile when you think of him.
I think he would like that very much.
He will keep the fire going until each of you can join him🌈
Thanks Rick we appreciate the comments.
Dear Jane, Pat, Jay, and Johnny,
We know that you have a great sorrow at this moment and we are praying that you and your extended family have the kind of faith that let’s you know your husband, father, grandfather is celebrating his celestial eternal life standing with Jesus looking on at all of you this Christmas and New Year with that loving smile, those twinkling eyes. Jane, he always appreciated that you got up early every morning and ironed him a dress shirt. He always looked sharp.
I did not have the privilege to be coached by Gene in high school because I never played varsity football, but I knew of his greatness even then. His coaching of me came in 1985 for twelve years when I became his assistant transportation director. I have great respect and admiration for this formidable administrator. He had a steadfast ability to not be wavered by anyone–maybe that’s considered stubbornness, but I saw it as strength of character and integrity. I enjoyed the years he mentored me and found it interesting that school administrators would come to me with requests, thinking they were sidestepping Gene, but everything I did was decided by Gene’s blessings.
CCISD Transportation Department is a good memory of good times. It was hard work and long hours, but it was with good people which made it all worth it. He and I pulled some funny practical jokes on colleagues from time to time and we have laughed about them over the years since 1997. Gene has made my life more full in many ways, and I will always treasure our friendship. He will be sorely missed, but we will rejoice when we all get to Heaven, with whole bodies and minds, to glorify our Lord God together again.
Charles thank you for the very kind words. Ya’ll did have a lot of fun at ‘The Barn’ back in those days.
Coach Mears made me a better person and a better football player. He was extremely tough but very fair. Perhaps some of the hardest football practices were under his Coaching, but it allowed us as a team to play the entire football game without wearing down. We were in shape. He will always be Coach Mears. He pushed and coached us to be the best and not settle for second best. I will always be thankful and grateful for his leadership and being the type of Coach, Man, Teacher that I wanted to grow up and be like him. RIP in peace Coach, I know you are in heaven with the Greatest Coach of all. He will truly be missed.
Alfred and all the other players and coaches, google Coach by Johnny Mears. A song I wrote for all High School Football Coaches & Players.
Coach Mears will be missed. He was a great Coach and a good man. He taught me how to be tough both mentally and physically, and how important it was to never quit. He will be missed
Laddie I also remember you working at Reynolds meat market. We could hardly wait to get home with the chopped beef sandwiches. I remember the saw dust floors at Alban’s And getting a sample of cheese or chopped beef! I loved that place!
A man amoung men, a coach amoung coaches. He was the best. I was blessed to have been in his presents as a coach. God bless rest I peace. Ed Borman
Thank you Ed! High School Football Coaches are in part, what makes America what it is!
To Jane, Pat, Jay, Johnny, and grandkids,
I am deeply saddened to learn of Gene’s death. I have a special place for him in my heart as I do for all of you. It is so difficult to watch those we love struggle at the end of life. My thoughts are with you as you deal with your loss. Grief is also a difficult thing. Hold on to all those wonderful memories and share them with each other often. The pain will subside but the memories never will. We had some great times didn’t we?
Hugs to all of you,
Lissa