Hometown hero, Sam Harrell, will return to Brownwood this month on Monday, April 23rd to speak at a community luncheon hosted by the local Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The Harrell family is deeply rooted in the very heart of Texas high school football. Sam Harrell’s father was an assistant on the legendary Gordon Wood's coaching staff at Brownwood in the 1970’s. Sam played quarterback for Coach Wood and graduated from Brownwood High School in 1975. After leaving for college and getting a start in coaching at Plainview, Sam returned to Brownwood in 1982 and also became one of Wood's assistant coaches.
Now a member of the Gordon Wood Hall of Fame, Sam Harrell said: “Brownwood is home for me.” All three of his boys were born here in Brownwood. His wife, Kathy, is a school teacher. His oldest son, Zac, followed his footsteps into coaching and is currently the Offensive Coordinator at Van High School. Graham Harrell, his middle son, was the record setting quarterback at Texas Tech University and is currently the back up quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, and was a part of the 2011 Super Bowl XLV Championship team. Sam’s youngest son, Clark, just finished his college career at Abilene Christian University and now works as a financial planner. Sam and Kathy also have two grandchildren.
Sam left Brownwood in 1990 to take on his first head coaching job at Reagan County. In 1994, Sam became the head football coach at Ennis High School, where he got to coach his three sons, and built a power-house class 4-A program that won three state championships in five years: 2000, 2001, 2004. The mastermind of one of the most prolific offensive attacks in Texas high school history, Sam Harrell was one of the first coaches to employ a no-huddle spread offense. During Sam’s sixteen years as head coach of the Ennis Lions, his teams went 153-51 with thirteen consecutive playoff appearances. He was elected to coach the Texas All-Star team in 2002, and was the president of the Texas High School Coaches Association in 2008.
However, after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005, Sam progressively got worse and was forced to step down from coaching in 2009. Transitioning into administration next, the severity of his situation and medical needs only became greater, so he retired from Ennis ISD in 2011.
Multiple sclerosis, commonly known as MS, is a chronic, unpredictable, autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. The immune system eats away the myelin sheath surrounding the nerves. Symptoms vary from person to person. Mild symptoms include numbness in the limbs, weakness, fatigue and blurred vision. Severe symptoms include paralysis and loss of vision. Harrell first noticed the vision in one eye was going blurry, a condition that would worsen with heat and exercise. Over time, he gradually lost his ability to walk. The most challenging part of MS is the fact that American neurologist have no real hope or cure for the disease, only medication that can slow it down. Sam Harrell is encouraged, however, by accounts of medical advances being achieved outside of the strict U.S. regulatory environment. He has been to Panama three times now for stem cell treatment, and is more mobile and doing better than he has been in the past three years.
Through it all, Sam has a positive attitude and said, "MS may take away the things you do, but it doesn't take away your life.” Sam and Kathy are ultimately at peace because of their faith that God is in control and said, “We don’t blame God for this small thing, after counting our many blessings in life.” Instead, Sam is using MC to honor the Lord and will be here to share his story at the FCA Community Luncheon on Monday, April 23, 2012.
From his coaching experience, Sam Harrell brings a great perspective on the influence of FCA and believes it is a great organization. Harrell said, “FCA is the avenue that helps coaches focus on the heart of athletics, which is relationships. More important than the X’s and O’s and even winning, coaching is all about molding the spiritual lives of young men and woman.”
Unlike previous FCA Community Luncheons, this is not a fundraiser. FCA simply desires to report the ministry impact from the past year to the community. In addition to Sam Harrell, Dallas Huston will emcee the event. The luncheon is from 12:00-1:00 p.m., doors will open at 11:30 a.m., at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church’s new fellowship hall. Tickets are $8 each and can be purchased at the Brownwood High School Athletic Office, or from the local FCA staff and board members. Contact Corbin Young, Brownwood Area FCA Rep., at 940-389-3210 or cyoung@fca.org. Board Members: Kevin Gabaree, Dr. Rick Evans, Kirk Wall, Darlene Wall, Stephen Haynes, Ricky Cavitt, Dr. Carol Boren, Dr. Brad Johnson, Tracey Carrier, Robert Damron, Tony Daniel.
Brownwood Area FCA
Community Luncheon
Monday, April 23, 2012
CABC New Fellowship Hall
12:00-1:00 p.m.
(Doors open at 11:30am)
Guest Speaker: Sam Harrell
Emcee: Dallas Huston
Tickets: $8 each
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