Don Phillip Beck

Don Phillip Beck died peacefully on December 13, 2024, at the age of 89 in Austin, Texas.

Don was born in Gruver, Texas, on August 16, 1935, to Ben and Bess Beck as the youngest of four siblings: Dick Beck, Beverly Torbert, and Barbara Tuggle. Don thought the world of his parents, who in turn were his biggest Friday Night Lights fans following him to watch over 20 years of coaching football games.

Don attended high school in Canyon. He attended West Texas State University from 1954-1958 where he played for the Buffaloes lettering in football, basketball, track and diving. The football team was mighty in his day when they got to play in the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Florida cementing a lifelong bond with his teammates.

His greatest achievement arrived after two years of attending West Texas State, when he spotted a lovely, talented young woman from Panhandle, Texas playing in a high school basketball game at Canyon High. He sought out Zelda Mae Weatherly who attended WT in the following fall and they were married February 17, 1956. They were rarely apart for the next 67 years. Zelda sat in the stadium bleachers as a successful coach’s wife for over 20 years in the Panhandle weather of Texas. Upon Don’s retirement, she followed him to the wilds of New Mexico, Montana, and British Columbia. Don had his faithful companion and support through it all, as she was willing to follow him wherever he went.

After graduating college in 1958, Don embarked on a successful high school football coaching career throughout the Texas Panhandle, Oklahoma, and Eastern New Mexico. Don would build a team every few years then be recruited to another town to coach and build their program. Don and Zelda moved more than 40 times through their lives together, many of them for Don’s coaching career. Don received many accolades throughout the coaching years such as South Plains Class AA Coach of the Year, Panhandle Hall of Fame Coach of the Year, and speaker at many coaching schools. Articles were published in the Texas football magazines with motivating and winning tactics he designed. Don led his teams to the playoffs seven times and had 11 district championships in track. He coached and taught history at Clarendon High School in the late 1980s.

As the sports editor, Garret Von Netzer, of Amarillo Globe-News in 1978 stated, “Beck held the distinction of having been a winner at every stop on his excursion through coaching which spanned 20 years, including the last 16 as a head coach.

Don always credited hard working athletes and devoted coaching staff the key to the success equation.

The pinnacle of Don’s coaching career came with his selection as head coach of the North Texas All Star Team played in the Houston Astrodome in 1978. Brad, his son, an All- American High School superstar at the time was selected to play as a top high school senior in the state. Father and son proved to be an unbeatable duo. It was only the second time in history of Texas High School Coaching Association a father and son took the position of coach and player.

Don’s favorite movies were Westerns – Lonesome Dove and Paint Your Wagon – so it was fitting that he retired at 55 and hankered for the open sky. Don and Zelda pursued dreams of ranching in Texas, Montana, New Mexico and British Columbia. Don was a rancher and pioneer at heart. Their ranching years ushered in great memories with children and grandchildren who loved to listen to their stories. They learned the art of “weinee roasts and s’mores” on open pit fires and jeep rides. His final ranch purchase was in the backcountry of British Columbia. He found his heaven on earth with the coastal, snowy mountain range, beautiful valley and home to the wild horses and grizzlies that roam the country.

Don was never one to back down from challenges in either the playing field coaching, or the challenges of remote ranching. He was bigger than life and funny as well. He loved and respected nature and was crazy about dogs. Those around him said when they left this earth they wanted to come back as one of Beck’s dogs.

Don was a winner as a son, a man, a dad, a coach, a friend and most of all a husband. He took care of Zelda the best he could as long as he could as the two of them battled her Alzheimer’s when she passed October 2022.

Don had a contagious smile, a big heart, and was a “John Wayne” with his southern manners, Panhandle charm, and cowboy hat.

Don is survived by his daughter, Cindy Mott and her husband, Chris of Austin, their children Ryan and Rebecka of Austin, his deceased son Brad’s daughters, Rachelle Mullins of Canyon, Texas, Heather Flores of Roswell, New Mexico and Brittney Seaton of Cashion, Oklahoma, 13 great grandchildren and his sister Barbara Tuggle and husband Delmer of Amarillo, Texas.

A celebration service will be held February 8 at 1:30 p.m. at the J.A. Hill Chapel of West Texas A&M University, 210 26th St, Canyon, .
Donations may be made to a local animal shelter or rescue.