Terry Elton Priest, legendary basketball player and coach, passed away on Friday, May 29, 2020, at the age of 76. Terry was born on January 14, 1944, in Taylor, Texas. He was the eldest of five children born to Elton and Gladys Priest. He grew up in Florence and later moved to Hutto where he graduated high school in 1962. Terry went on to play basketball at Henderson County Junior College and then Abilene Christian College. He immediately started his coaching career at Aspermont High School in 1966 and won the State Championship in 1968. After a two year stint in the US Army he returned to Abilene for his masters degree, and there he met his future wife Theresa Ann Butler. The two were married in 1972, and they celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary on May 13th of this year. Terry and Theresa moved to Spring, Texas, in 1976 where he continued his 30 year coaching career at McCullough High School (later renamed The Woodlands). They welcomed two children, Kyle in 1976 and Kedra in 1978. Terry concluded his career as Assistant Athletic Director in Fort Bend ISD, and then retired in 2009.
Terry loved the Lord, his family, his friends, his teammates, and his players. He rarely backed down from a competition. He was an intense and oftentimes intimidating presence as a player and coach, but deep down he was truly tenderhearted, a friend to everyone, a “Gentle Giant.” He was lovingly known by friends and teammates as “Hutto,” and sometimes “Bull” or “Bear,” but to most he was known simply as “Coach.”
Terry is preceded in death by parents Elton (1960), Gladys (2010), sister Deborah (1954), and brother Sam (2019). Terry is survived by wife Theresa, son Kyle (wife Sarah and their son Kaden), daughter Kedra, his brothers Kirby and Steve, and extended family.
Services will be held at First Colony Church of Christ in Sugar Land, Texas, on Monday, June 8th, at 2pm. Viewing begins at 1pm. Social distancing will be observed, please wear a mask to protect all guests. If unable to attend, the service will be live streamed at https://firstcolonychurch.churchonline.org/
Graveside services will be held at Florence Cemetery in Florence, Texas, on Tuesday, June 9th at 1pm.
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