Neil Hector, 95, of Wimberley died Saturday, May 21, 2016. Coach Hector was a much respected and much admired Austin area and south Texas athlete, high school coach and high school administrator. He was a calm, collected, soft-spoken and extremely patient coach, parent and grandparent who had a great gift for teaching and motivating young athletes. He was born in Buda January 11, 1921 and graduated from Buda High School in 1938. He played baseball at UT Austin from 1940-1948 with his college career being interrupted by service in the Air Corps during World War II. From 1948-1973 he coached baseball and football and other sports at high schools in McAllen and Three Rivers, and in Austin at McCallum and Johnston. The last years of his professional live he was the Dean of Boys at Anderson and Johnston high schools. In retirement, he helped organize and establish Wimberley’s St. Stephen’s School and senior citizen’s thrift shop while also being an ardent supporter of WimDems. Neil was also active in local tennis circles, and even won a Texas 70-and-over state tennis championship.
He is survived by Pat Hector of Wimberley, his loving and devoted wife of 65 years; sons, Dean Keddy-Hector and wife Anne of Driftwood; Jim Hector and Pauline Hernandez of Alpine; Casey Hector and wife Tammy of Robinson; and grandchildren Austin, Cassidy, Emmaline, Isabel, Julian, Katy, Logan, Megan, Rachel and William.
A Memorial Service will take place at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Wimberley on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at 11 am to be followed by a reception for family and friends at the Hectors’ home. A college scholarship fund for underprivileged high school baseball players has been established in Neil’s name through the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association (www.thsbca.com).
