Joe Reed Abbey, of Denton, Texas, passed away on March 6, 2014. Born in Denton on March 21, 1925, he was one of ten children born to Roy Abbey and Lillie Dustin Abbey.
He graduated from Denton High School in 1942.
He began his college career at the University of Texas. Soon after enrolling, he was drafted into the army and fought in the Philippines during World War II. After the war ended, he returned home and enrolled at the University of North Texas. He was a standout athlete, lettering in both football and basketball.
He was selected to the All-Lone Star Conference football squad, and played a role in North Texas capturing the Lone Star Conference Title in 1947. Also, while playing for North Texas, the football team went to the initial Salad Bowl in Phoenix in 1948, which is now the Fiesta Bowl. After two years at North Texas, he went on to play in the NFL for the Chicago Bears in 1948-1949. After two seasons with the Bears, he returned home to finish his education. He graduated from the University of North Texas with his bachelor's and master's degrees in physical education.
He began a long career of teaching and coaching that spanned over 35 years. While coaching at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, he met Alice McLean, who was working at the college. After marrying in 1953, they moved to California where Joe became an athletic director in both Fontana and Chico Unified School Districts. In 1967, he and his family moved to Champaign, Illinois, where he became the first-ever athletic director for Parkland College. He stayed at Parkland for 21 years, retiring in 1988. He belonged to the National Athletic Directors Association and was inducted in the National Athletic Directors Hall of Fame in 1988. He was inducted into the University of North Texas Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001, and posthumously the Texas Veterans Hall of Fame.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Alice McLean Abbey. He is survived by his son, Joe R. Abbey Jr. "Pete" of Denton, two daughters, Marianne Abbey-Smith (Campbell) of Champaign, Illinois, and Melinda Poag (John) of Senatobia, Mississippi, five grandsons: Morgan Smith, Collin Smith, Brandon Smith, Evan Poag, and William Poag, and two sisters, Dorothy White of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Peggy Browne of Denton.
He graduated from Denton High School in 1942.
He began his college career at the University of Texas. Soon after enrolling, he was drafted into the army and fought in the Philippines during World War II. After the war ended, he returned home and enrolled at the University of North Texas. He was a standout athlete, lettering in both football and basketball.
He was selected to the All-Lone Star Conference football squad, and played a role in North Texas capturing the Lone Star Conference Title in 1947. Also, while playing for North Texas, the football team went to the initial Salad Bowl in Phoenix in 1948, which is now the Fiesta Bowl. After two years at North Texas, he went on to play in the NFL for the Chicago Bears in 1948-1949. After two seasons with the Bears, he returned home to finish his education. He graduated from the University of North Texas with his bachelor's and master's degrees in physical education.
He began a long career of teaching and coaching that spanned over 35 years. While coaching at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, he met Alice McLean, who was working at the college. After marrying in 1953, they moved to California where Joe became an athletic director in both Fontana and Chico Unified School Districts. In 1967, he and his family moved to Champaign, Illinois, where he became the first-ever athletic director for Parkland College. He stayed at Parkland for 21 years, retiring in 1988. He belonged to the National Athletic Directors Association and was inducted in the National Athletic Directors Hall of Fame in 1988. He was inducted into the University of North Texas Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001, and posthumously the Texas Veterans Hall of Fame.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Alice McLean Abbey. He is survived by his son, Joe R. Abbey Jr. "Pete" of Denton, two daughters, Marianne Abbey-Smith (Campbell) of Champaign, Illinois, and Melinda Poag (John) of Senatobia, Mississippi, five grandsons: Morgan Smith, Collin Smith, Brandon Smith, Evan Poag, and William Poag, and two sisters, Dorothy White of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Peggy Browne of Denton.
Joe Reed Abbey, of Denton, Texas, passed away on March 6, 2014. Born in Denton on March 21, 1925, he was one of ten children born to Roy Abbey and Lillie Dustin Abbey.
He graduated from Denton High School in 1942.
He began his college career at the University of Texas. Soon after enrolling, he was drafted into the army and fought in the Philippines during World War II. After the war ended, he returned home and enrolled at the University of North Texas. He was a standout athlete, lettering in both football and basketball.
He was selected to the All-Lone Star Conference football squad, and played a role in North Texas capturing the Lone Star Conference Title in 1947. Also, while playing for North Texas, the football team went to the initial Salad Bowl in Phoenix in 1948, which is now the Fiesta Bowl. After two years at North Texas, he went on to play in the NFL for the Chicago Bears in 1948-1949. After two seasons with the Bears, he returned home to finish his education. He graduated from the University of North Texas with his bachelor's and master's degrees in physical education.
He began a long career of teaching and coaching that spanned over 35 years. While coaching at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, he met Alice McLean, who was working at the college. After marrying in 1953, they moved to California where Joe became an athletic director in both Fontana and Chico Unified School Districts. In 1967, he and his family moved to Champaign, Illinois, where he became the first-ever athletic director for Parkland College. He stayed at Parkland for 21 years, retiring in 1988. He belonged to the National Athletic Directors Association and was inducted in the National Athletic Directors Hall of Fame in 1988. He was inducted into the University of North Texas Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001, and posthumously the Texas Veterans Hall of Fame.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Alice McLean Abbey. He is survived by his son, Joe R. Abbey Jr. "Pete" of Denton, two daughters, Marianne Abbey-Smith (Campbell) of Champaign, Illinois, and Melinda Poag (John) of Senatobia, Mississippi, five grandsons: Morgan Smith, Collin Smith, Brandon Smith, Evan Poag, and William Poag, and two sisters, Dorothy White of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Peggy Browne of Denton.
He graduated from Denton High School in 1942.
He began his college career at the University of Texas. Soon after enrolling, he was drafted into the army and fought in the Philippines during World War II. After the war ended, he returned home and enrolled at the University of North Texas. He was a standout athlete, lettering in both football and basketball.
He was selected to the All-Lone Star Conference football squad, and played a role in North Texas capturing the Lone Star Conference Title in 1947. Also, while playing for North Texas, the football team went to the initial Salad Bowl in Phoenix in 1948, which is now the Fiesta Bowl. After two years at North Texas, he went on to play in the NFL for the Chicago Bears in 1948-1949. After two seasons with the Bears, he returned home to finish his education. He graduated from the University of North Texas with his bachelor's and master's degrees in physical education.
He began a long career of teaching and coaching that spanned over 35 years. While coaching at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, he met Alice McLean, who was working at the college. After marrying in 1953, they moved to California where Joe became an athletic director in both Fontana and Chico Unified School Districts. In 1967, he and his family moved to Champaign, Illinois, where he became the first-ever athletic director for Parkland College. He stayed at Parkland for 21 years, retiring in 1988. He belonged to the National Athletic Directors Association and was inducted in the National Athletic Directors Hall of Fame in 1988. He was inducted into the University of North Texas Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001, and posthumously the Texas Veterans Hall of Fame.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Alice McLean Abbey. He is survived by his son, Joe R. Abbey Jr. "Pete" of Denton, two daughters, Marianne Abbey-Smith (Campbell) of Champaign, Illinois, and Melinda Poag (John) of Senatobia, Mississippi, five grandsons: Morgan Smith, Collin Smith, Brandon Smith, Evan Poag, and William Poag, and two sisters, Dorothy White of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Peggy Browne of Denton.
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