Page 46 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2019- Online Magazine
P. 46
Gary Sharon Gaines
Life, Love and
Friday Night
Lights by Jane Bromley
“ know somebody who wants to box. His mother had helped him learned from the Larneds how to
date you.” Sharon Hicks was in a pick out a beautiful engagement support each other and how to build
I beauty shop getting ready for the ring. “It was the sweetest thing.” a team. In 1975, the Gaines were
Miss Texas pageant when she heard The ASU quarterback married his blessed with a daughter, Nicole.
those words. The West Texas girl sweetheart on June 27, 1970, the Gary’s first head coaching job was
from Crane was in school at Angelo summer before their senior year. at Petersburg. Successful seasons
State. A young man there were followed by positions
named Gary Gaines - also Gary Gaines had at Denver City, Odessa Permian,
from Crane - was there graduated from Crane Amarillo Tascosa (Sharon’s alma
on a football scholarship. High School in 1967. mater), Monahans again, and back
Little did she know how He was great at every to Permian. Spike Dykes asked Gary
life-changing that would sport, but he always to come to Lubbock to help coach
be. wanted to coach. the Red Raiders for four years.
When he was in sixth His favorite part of that job was
The fairy tale unfolded grade, his uncle and recruiting students from all over
that Christmas at a hero, Richard Gaines, West Texas. Gary was always proud
basketball game back in the football coach at of the fact that he talked Coach
Crane. Typical teenage Haskell, passed away. Dykes into giving Zach Thomas a
tactics of riding around, That tragedy only scholarship.
talking to girlfriends and fueled his dream.
even accepting a date with He majored in PE at After Texas Tech, the highly
Gary’s best friend led to a real date. Angelo State and got his master’s in sought-after coach went to Abilene
“We fell in love immediately and Administration at Sul Ross. Sharon High School, San Angelo Central,
dated for a year. He was so cute,” earned a bachelor’s in Elementary Abilene Christian University and
Sharon gushes. They spent the next Education at ASU. Their careers back to Odessa as Athletic Director
year enjoying each other’s company were launched at Ft. Stockton, where for Ector County. Fred Harden of
and making plans for the future. he coached JV, and Sharon taught Lubbock recruited Gary for LISD
sixth grade. The young couple Athletic Director which he did for
The following Christmas, Gary welcomed their son Bradley. two years before going back to
asked her to go for a ride. “Instead Permian as head coach for four more
of going to our usual parking place, Monahans Coach Jerry Larned hired years before finally hanging up his
he drove off on an oil field road. Gary for his varsity staff. He and whistle. That adds up to 42 years of
He gave Sharon a wide flat box, but his wife became great friends and football games, and “He loved every
inside was a turquoise velvet ring mentors to the young couple. They minute of it,” according to Sharon.
46 Lubbock Senior Link
