Legendary FHS football coach Winston passes away

Winston being carried off after 1973 class 2A state championship game

Photo courtesy of Mary Gillespie

From Chron.com:

Former Friendswood football coach Henry Winston passes away

Henry Winston, a four-sport star at Alvin who later guided Friendswood to the 1973 Class 2A football state championship, passed away Saturday.

“Coach Winston was one of those few men that walked the talk that he preached every day and there’s not many of those people in this world,” said Steve Van Meter, who followed Winston as the Mustangs head coach and retired this season. “Everybody that played for Coach Winston understood that. He was all about mental toughness and mental discipline, and that’s how he led his life.

“I think he passed that along to a lot of people.”

The long-time Mustangs head coach retired after the 1991 season, ending a career that spanned 37 years, the last 31 at Friendswood. Winston posted a 171-108-5 record in 26 seasons as Friendswood’s head coach.

The Mustangs’ home field is named in his honor – Henry Winston Stadium.

In 2009, Winston was part of the inaugural class for the Alvin ISD Athletic Hall of Honor. He lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track, winning the 1949 state title in the mile.

The 1973 Mustangs went 15-0 in winning the state championship, knocking off Hooks and standout running back Billy Sims 28-15. Friendswood rolled to that title, winning one-sided playoff games over Hempstead (44-14), Newton (31-13), Llano (35-9), San Antonio Randolph (24-0) and then Hooks.

Van Meter coached under Winston before taking over the program. He also played under Winston and was a wideout and defensive back on the championship team. Van Meter retired with 148 wins at Friendswood and 15 playoff teams.

When asked of a favorite memory, Van Meter, who lived with Winston during his junior year at Friendswood, quickly recalled his first morning there.

“The lights came on at about 5:30 a.m. and his two sons (Kiel and Irby) – we were all staying in the same room – got up and started putting on their running shoes. I said, ‘What are we doing?’ And (Winston) said, ‘Put your shoes on. We’re going for a run,’” Van Meter said.

The group ran eight miles.

“I was thinking, ‘Oh Lord, what have I gotten myself into right here?’ Van Meter said. “I made the run – it was an everyday thing for Coach Winston and his sons. I was included in as one of his sons and that was what we did.”