September 24, 1940 - August 15, 2017
Henry Michael Rabun, Jr., a native Texan, passed away on Tuesday, August 15, 2017, in Granbury, Texas, at the age of 76. He was born September 24,
1940, in Houston, Texas, to the late Henry “Hank” M. Rabun and Euva B. Sitton Rabun. Shortly after graduating from the University of North Texas with a journalism degree, Mike was employed by United Press International in 1962 as a general sports reporter. He took part in covering such events as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and was an eyewitness to the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald. He also took part in the coverage of the first manned moon landing, Apollo 11, and Apollo 13.
Mike was named Southwest Division Sports Editor for UPI and began covering a myriad of sports including Summer and Winter Olympic Games, Super Bowls, Masters, U.S. Open and PGA Championship golf tournaments. He covered activities of the Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks and Southwest Conference as well as dozens of NCAA tournament basketball games and Final Fours. Mike was a long-time contributing writer for the Dallas Cowboys Star, formerly the Cowboys Weekly. He also served for many years as a member of the Selection Committee of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
Mike is survived by his wife of over 53 years, Janet E. Rabun, and two daughters: Tracey L. Coe and her husband, William O. Coe; Hillary J. Prieto and her husband, Anthony E. Prieto; four granddaughters: Julia J. Coe, Rachel R. Coe, Angelina L. Prieto and Isabella G. Prieto, all of Austin, Texas. Mike is survived by a sister, Robin A. Rabun, and her husband, Leroy Smith, of Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is also survived by nieces and nephews: Mark Evans and Leslie Wogstad of San Antonio, Texas; Randa Hiemke of Saginaw, Texas; Emilie Lamb of Ft. Irwin, California; and Ellen Satterwhite of Washington, D.C.
Visitation: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Friday, August 18, 2017, Wiley Funeral Home, Granbury, Texas. Visitation: 11:00 AM, Saturday, August 19, 2017 until 12:00 PM service time, Saturday, August 19, 2017, Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home, Dallas, Texas, Officiated by Jerry Doherty.
Interment: Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park, Dallas, Texas.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
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