Hugh Mac Johnson

Hugh Mac was born April 29, 1923 in Bay City, Texas. He graduated from Bay City High School where he won three letters in football, two in basketball, and two in track. (He set a High School record in the 120 yard high hurdles that held for over 25 years.)

After high school, Hugh Mac attended Rice University on a football scholarship where he earned a freshman letter in football. He left after a year to join the Air Force during WWII. During the service, he played football for the Second Air Force team stationed at Colorado Springs, Colorado.

After the service, Hugh Mac followed several of his Air Force teammates to Kansas University in Lawrence, Kansas where he starred at tackle, eventually becoming a co-captain and helping the Jayhawkers win two Big Six Championships and an Orange Bowl bid that was played in Miami, Florida on New Years’ Day, 1948. To quote a Kansas City newspaper at the time, “The rugged Texan is 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighs 188 pounds and is known by his teammates as ‘Hugo.’” Though he was on the draft list of several pro teams, Hugh Mac never seriously considered playing professional ball. After graduating from KU, he returned to Houston and went to work for his old high school football coach, Tom Driskoll, who was the athletic director at St. Thomas High School. Hugh Mac taught and coached at St. Thomas until 1959 when he went to work for U.S. Probation and Parole in Houston, where he retired in 1979 as the Deputy Director for the Southern District of Texas.

Hugh Mac is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Addie Lou, his son Kyle, his daughter-in-law, Julie, two grandsons, Jake and Max (both of who are currently enrolled at St. Thomas High School where Hugh Mac first worked after college), and numerous nieces and nephews.

Until his later years, Hugh Mac enjoyed trips to Las Vegas, spending time at home with his family and torturing any telemarketer unfortunate enough to get him on the phone.

The family will receive friends at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 21, 2014, where a celebration of Hugh Mac’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of Waltrip Funeral Directors, 1415 Campbell Road, Houston, Texas 77055. The Reverend Scott Heitshusen of St. Mark Lutheran Church will be officiating. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Garden of Memories, 1101 Antoine Drive, Houston, Texas 77055.

Those wishing to sign Hugh Mac’s guest book may do so at www.waltripfuneraldirectors.com.