Poe
Ron Poe
As the force behind the winning football tradition for 18 years in McKinney, Ron Poe is one of the most respected high school coaches in the state.
August 21, 1988 Courier Gazette by Kathleen C. Edwards.
Ron Poe is part of what is called the winning tradition at McKinney High School. Although the Tradition dates back to 1956, Poe has held the position of athletic director and head football coach longer than anyone else. Poe came to McKinney in 1970, and the positive athletic program has held him here ever since.
Poe played high school sports in Quitman, where he was born. He was an avid player and, coupled with his twin brother Don made a formidable impression in the Northeast Texas town.
"Being a poor kid in a small town, sports was all we had. We went out for them all. We were more enthusiastic than anything, but weighing over 200 lbs. and standing 6 foot 3, we were better football players than anything. We were not really outstanding, mostly we were just together."
Although the rural doctor who delivered the twins said they were not identical, Ron and Don feel otherwise. They have an intense personal bond which has kept them living, working, playing, and raising their families in parallel directions even since then can remember.
Poe's father was an oilfield worker in East Texas. That meant eight-hour work days, seven days a week at very little money. "We didn't have enough money to live in town," quips Poe, "And we were too poor to own land, so we lived right at the city limits of Quitman."
Poe's mother was also a hard worker, not only did she raise her three sons on the limited income earned by her husband, she also had to devote special attention to Poe's sister, Debbie, who is mentally retarded. As Poe's father was often absent, older brother Bill stepped in to assume the role of authority figure for the twins.
"He loved sports," says Poe, "and went out for them all, but he was smaller than we were and never excelled at any. We wanted to be just like him and so we did just what he did. He was very proud of us and only missed one of our games from the time we started playing, right up through when we were coaching."
Bill's death in 1982 had the effect of drawing the Poe family closer together, although they have always been tight knit. ... in times of crisis we become very close, referring to his sister's handicap, the deaths of his father and brother, and his youngest son Bill who has been deaf since birth. Ron and Don turned down scholarships which would have separated them. Instead they went to Paris Junior College where they shared a dormitory room and recognition as All-American football players. They repeated the performance at East Texas State University...
When they graduated in 1964, Poe took his first coaching and teaching position in Mansfield, where he taught history, physical education and was head basketball coach and assistant football coach.
Having done his practice teaching in Greenville, Poe ...submitted and application. He was hired in 1965 as head baseball coach and assistant coach in basketball and football. He stayed in Greenville for five years. ... In 1969 Scott Johnson, then head football coach in McKinney, approached Poe with an offer to work with him. Poe stayed in Greenville another year and was promoted to vice principal. ... When Johnson contacted him again in 1970, Poe jumped at the chance. ...
Poe went on to become head football coach in 1971.... Poe's brother Don had been coaching at Sulphur Springs Junior High School since 1964. He became an assistant coach at McKinney. Don worked closely with his brother for five years.
As the force behind the winning football tradition for 18 years in McKinney, Ron Poe is one of the most respected high school coaches in the state.
August 21, 1988 Courier Gazette by Kathleen C. Edwards.
Ron Poe is part of what is called the winning tradition at McKinney High School. Although the Tradition dates back to 1956, Poe has held the position of athletic director and head football coach longer than anyone else. Poe came to McKinney in 1970, and the positive athletic program has held him here ever since.
Poe played high school sports in Quitman, where he was born. He was an avid player and, coupled with his twin brother Don made a formidable impression in the Northeast Texas town.
"Being a poor kid in a small town, sports was all we had. We went out for them all. We were more enthusiastic than anything, but weighing over 200 lbs. and standing 6 foot 3, we were better football players than anything. We were not really outstanding, mostly we were just together."
Although the rural doctor who delivered the twins said they were not identical, Ron and Don feel otherwise. They have an intense personal bond which has kept them living, working, playing, and raising their families in parallel directions even since then can remember.
Poe's father was an oilfield worker in East Texas. That meant eight-hour work days, seven days a week at very little money. "We didn't have enough money to live in town," quips Poe, "And we were too poor to own land, so we lived right at the city limits of Quitman."
Poe's mother was also a hard worker, not only did she raise her three sons on the limited income earned by her husband, she also had to devote special attention to Poe's sister, Debbie, who is mentally retarded. As Poe's father was often absent, older brother Bill stepped in to assume the role of authority figure for the twins.
"He loved sports," says Poe, "and went out for them all, but he was smaller than we were and never excelled at any. We wanted to be just like him and so we did just what he did. He was very proud of us and only missed one of our games from the time we started playing, right up through when we were coaching."
Bill's death in 1982 had the effect of drawing the Poe family closer together, although they have always been tight knit. ... in times of crisis we become very close, referring to his sister's handicap, the deaths of his father and brother, and his youngest son Bill who has been deaf since birth. Ron and Don turned down scholarships which would have separated them. Instead they went to Paris Junior College where they shared a dormitory room and recognition as All-American football players. They repeated the performance at East Texas State University...
When they graduated in 1964, Poe took his first coaching and teaching position in Mansfield, where he taught history, physical education and was head basketball coach and assistant football coach.
Having done his practice teaching in Greenville, Poe ...submitted and application. He was hired in 1965 as head baseball coach and assistant coach in basketball and football. He stayed in Greenville for five years. ... In 1969 Scott Johnson, then head football coach in McKinney, approached Poe with an offer to work with him. Poe stayed in Greenville another year and was promoted to vice principal. ... When Johnson contacted him again in 1970, Poe jumped at the chance. ...
Poe went on to become head football coach in 1971.... Poe's brother Don had been coaching at Sulphur Springs Junior High School since 1964. He became an assistant coach at McKinney. Don worked closely with his brother for five years.
