Trending
CANTON, Texas -- William Burkett Neal, 82, passed away Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Tyler, Texas.
Bill was born Sept. 20, 1940, in Youngstown, to Clayson William and Dorothy E. Burkett Neal. He grew up in Youngstown, graduated from Chaney High School in 1958, got his bachelor's degree from Hiram College in 1962, and received his masters in physical education and health from Southern Illinois University in 1965.
He took an assistantship at the University of Maryland, under Coach Lee Corso, during the 1963-64 football season; and coached baseball at Cardozo High School in Washington, D.C., taking the team to their very first city championship.
Neal continued on to coach and teach at Palmetto, Satellite Beach and Dade City high schools in Florida before being recruited to Dallas, Texas, in 1972, to teach at Richland College, where the bulk of his career was spent, retiring after 48 years. There, he started a wrestling program and the team won seven of 10 state championships and finished second twice by 1984, when Texas colleges dropped their wrestling programs, leaving Neal without local competition. He helped one-time Dallas Cowboys kicking coach, Ben Agajanian, run his national football kicking camps for several summers. In the late 1970s and early 80s, Bill coached with the National Greco-Roman Wrestling Staff at the Olympic Training Center, and over his career, coached many students who went on to win national and world championships. Working as a wrestling advisor to Oliver Stone on his Academy Award-winning movie, "Born on the Fourth of July," Neal also made an appearance acting as the official in the wrestling scene.
Bill was awarded the Minnie Piper Stevens Teacher of the Year Award at Richland, delivering the commencement speech in 2000. He was the director of the emeritus program in physical education for seniors there and had a scholarship named in his honor. After retiring, he went on to coach football for five more years at Trinity Valley Community College, while maintaining the small ranch he shared with his wife and best friend, Donny, both members of Edom United Methodist Church.
He leaves to grieve in his passing, wife, Donna Latour Neal; as well as his five children, Thomas (Becky) Neal, James Neal, Jennifer Neal (Gabriel Crish), Scott (Ashley) Neal and Kevin Neal; stepson, Josh (Jade) LaTour; grandchildren, Rachel Neal, Courtney Baugh, Brooke Neal, Riley Crish, Grant, Emery, Hannah and Ryder Neal, Jackson, Jace and Jocelyn LaTour; great-granddaughters, Taylor and Ava Best; his brother, Ernie (Diane) Neal; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy and Clay Neal; and his sister, Kathryn Belle "Kitty B" Corroto.
No memorial is scheduled, in accordance with his wishes. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
(special notice)