Mr. Robert "SNAKE" C LeGrand Jr.

Bob "Snake" LeGrand

81

Robert Colston LeGrand, Jr. was born on August 28, 1943 in Nashville, TN to proud parents and Fisk University students, Sarah Ann Hardge and Robert Colston LeGrand, Sr. Shortly after his birth, they relocated to New York City before ultimately settling in Portsmouth, VA at age 13. It was there and then Snake picked up a basketball and the legacy was born. He attended and played basketball at Crestwood High School in Portsmouth, VA where he got the nickname "Snake" from his high school coach for his prowess and ability to "snake" his way up and down the court. Dedicated to a life of service and leadership from an early age, Snake was proud to have achieved the highest rank of Boy Scouts, becoming an Eagle Scout at the age of 14. He went on to serve in the United States Air Force from 1963-1967, and even in the midst of serving his country, his basketball legacy continued to grow. During his 2 year tour in England, Snake played as a forward for the Chicksands, England based Fighting Chicks in the USAFE U.K. Southern Division. He was named all European player twice and was the 1964/65 leading scorer with 225 points. Upon his honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1967, Snake was awarded a basketball scholarship to St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. Smashing through racial barriers on one of the first Texas teams to allow black players, as a St. Mary’s Rattler he was named All Big State Conference, and graduated with a degree in Political Science in 1970. He was inducted into the St. Mary’s Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987, where it is of significant note that upon son Chris’ induction in 2008, made them the first father-son duo to share that distinguished achievement. After graduation, in May 1972 Snake eventually became the head basketball coach of Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio, Texas. His teams battled their way to the UIL state tournament in Austin in two of his four coaching years, and during this time he also enrolled in Southwest Texas State University, earning a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling in 1973. In 1976 Coach LeGrand became UT Arlington’s first black head coach, and simultaneously the first black Division 1 head basketball coach in Texas. During his 11 year tenure in that role, he led the Mavericks to their first 20 win season and their 1st NIT tournament appearance in 1981. He was also named Southland Conference Coach of the Year, Texas College Basketball Coach of the Year, and for several years held the record for most basketball wins at UTA. In 2006, his 1980-81 UTA basketball team was inducted into the UTA Hall of Fame. Snake’s passion and dedication to the game ensured no basketball player was left behind. He was instrumental in establishing the world famous UTA Movin’ Mavs wheelchair basketball program. Later in life, Coach LeGrand continued to make a difference in the lives of young people. He served as head basketball coach of Irving High School from 1988-1994, then as a guidance counselor at Nichols Jr. High School, before ultimately retiring in 2011 after 12 years as a counselor at Lamar High School. Each and every day Snake was dedicated to a life of service. He served as Polemarch of the distinguished Kappa Alpha Psi Men’s Fraternity from 2004-2006, and was heavily involved in the prestigious Delta Mu chapter of the Grand Boulé of the Sigma Pi Phi professional fraternal organization. On Saturday July 19, 2025, Bob “Snake” LeGrand passed away surrounded by his wife, Gloria, as well as his children and their loving spouses at the age of 81. On Wednesday, July 23 Congressman Marc Veasey honored Snake with a resolution, a brief eulogy, on the House Congressional floor in Washington D.C. to recognize his life of service and positive impact on the community and lives of others. Finally, on Thursday, July 31st, Snake will be laid to final rest in the distinguished Dallas Fort-Worth National Cemetery for our honored fallen service members and their special loved ones.

He is survived by his loving wife, Gloria LeGrand, and six children, Lisa, Bobby, Chris, Aurice, Brianna and Brian. He deeply cherished his ten grandchildren, one grandchild in heaven, and one great-grandchild. He is also survived by his devoted sister, Marsha Lee, and is reunited with his brother in heaven, Claude, leaving behind a loving legacy of nieces and nephews on the East Coast.

Words cannot do his legacy justice, for this we shall always carry him in our hearts, and in our

acts of service to others.