Megan Navarro
BUDA — Husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend — Robert “Bob” Francis Shelton Jr. wore many hats and titles during his life of 85 years, prior to his death Nov. 10. One that many lovingly knew him for was as a coach within Hays CISD.
Before his time there, Bob graduated from Dripping Springs High School, where he still holds the record for total points scored during his varsity basketball career and was also named first team all-state during his senior year. Following that, he went on to earn his bachelor’s and Master of Education degrees from Southwest Texas State University — he also played basketball for the University of Texas before transferring.
Transitioning to the other side of Hays County, Bob started his coaching and athletic career at Buda High School in 1964. In 1966, the football team finished with a record of 10-2 and won the regional round — the furthest teams could advance in Class B at the time. It was then that, in addition to his winning career as a coach, he became well-known within the community, as his namesake was adorned on Hays CISD’s football stadium. He later moved to Hays High School in 1968, when the high schools consolidated into one district.
Throughout his 47 years with the district, Bob developed an extensive resume of accolades, including 313 career wins, multiple playoff performances, 23 consecutive seasons without a losing record, several state recognition awards and Hall of Honor/Fame inductions and more.
At the time of his retirement in 2012, he held the record for the most years — 43 — a high school football coach has served at one school in the state of Texas, along with the record for most years as a head coach at 47 years.
In remembrance
Hays CISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright reflected on his time spent with Bob over the years.
Wright shared that when he was named lone finalist for superintendent in 2017 and then, starting his new position in January 2018, shortly after, Bob was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame and he was able to attend the ceremony. To Wright, what really struck him about Bob was his humbleness.
“There were several coaches that got inducted in and he was probably the most humble of all of them. What he kept going back to is he constantly thanked his assistant coaches and his family and the community support and most of all, his student athletes,” Wright said. “You can tell that he really was a great mentor and bonded with the kids that he was able to coach for all those years. It’s just a remarkable legacy because it's unheard of to stay in one place for that long and I think he coached here as the district grew in every classification.”
He also remembered a tradition that Bob started, where he would go every Tuesday to Smitty’s Market BBQ in Lockhart for lunch with several community members and, when his schedule allowed, Wright would accompany him.
Wright continued, stating that Bob was always interested in what others had to say — never shining the spotlight on himself, despite his success.
“It was pretty, pretty special that I got to be a part of his life for as long as I was able to because you can tell that he was an outstanding mentor and was just a people person,” he said. “You can tell that he was a Godly man and he loved his family. I totally understand why he was able to achieve the milestones that he was able to achieve and the successes because he invested in people.”
Behind Bob’s long tenure as coach was his wife of 52 years, Beverly, who was there at his games, cheering for him and the team, and supporting his passion for the sport, while they also raised their four children.
“He just lived and breathed football. He loved his coaches — he had the same staff for so long — and he loved his players and really started to take care of them,” she shared. “It was great watching him do what he wanted. I don't think he worked a day in his life because he just loved doing what he was doing.”
Through his long hours of coaching on the field, Bob was still always there to play ball with the kids in the backyard when he would get home, Beverly recalled, and he would also take them to work with him.
Outside of coaching, he had various interests, including playing his guitar and singing, golf, traveling and spending time with his children and grandchildren. Beverly shared that they traveled to a wide variety of places, including West Point — something that Bob always wanted to do to see college teams play — Haiti as part of a mission with their church, Israel, Alaska, Hawaii, New Orleans, Texas beaches and a river cruise in Europe when their kids were young. They also went to New England to see the leaves change in the fall, something they were able to do after he retired.
While she has many memories of Bob that she will continue to carry with her, Beverly shared two: bringing home a fresh bouquet of flowers and dancing with his granddaughter.
“As long as he could drive, he would go to Sam's and do all the shopping for me and he would always bring home a bouquet of flowers for me to arrange. I loved watching him with the kids and the grandkids. He was always ready to play and be silly with them,” she said. “We had the coaches over here one night after a football game and we had won, I think, because they were pretty loud sitting around the table and [our granddaughter] went over there and told him she needed to teach him a dance step. He got up and went right next door into the study and worked with her on teaching him a dance, while all of these coaches were sitting around the table.”
She emphasized that he was her rock and the strength of the family.
Leaving a legacy
A scholarship fund — the Coach Bob Shelton Memorial Scholarship Fund — has been created and dedicated to Bob’s memory, where all proceeds will go toward scholarships for Hays CISD students.
According to Beverly, the coach would have been thrilled and honored to know that this scholarship was available for students.
“He loved for kids to have the opportunity to do all they wanted to do and all they had their heart set on,” she said.
Along with the fund, Wright said that Hays CISD will continue to honor Bob because not only did he shape the athletic program, but many young lives, as well. He added that before every single game, they play a video tribute to the stadium’s namesake as an inspiration for others to see the success that can be had from people in the community and the countless seeds that he planted.
“We're going to do our best to make sure that we keep his legacy alive, but I think he did enough during his own time period that that'll take care of itself because he coached generations of people and so, I think the life lessons that he taught them will live on through others,” he concluded.
To learn more about the scholarship fund, or to donate, visit bit.ly/4olEa8w.
