Thanks to the research of my best all-time reporter, we have a great internet article on Nic Nichols. Nic, we are really proud of you. "Let your light shine . . . " I know all your classmates will be very interested and pleased to read the following:James “Nic” Nichols began his athletic career at Meridian High School in Meridian, Miss., where he was coached by Billy Allgood and Harold Knight. In his senior year, the team was undefeated, and Nichols was voted Honorable Mention All-State tackle. He had offers from several schools, but instead enrolled in the Navy in 1958.
He served aboard the destroyer, U.S.S. Cony, which was part of an anti-sub task force which patrolled the North Atlantic. He completed his tour of duty as a Bosun Mate 1st Class Seaman in 1960. Upon his discharge from the Navy, he received a football scholarship to Louisiana College.
Nichols participated in 33 games at Louisiana College and lettered three years as an offensive guard, offensive tackle, defensive tackle, defensive nose man, and defensive end. He was tri-captain in 1963. He was a member of the “L” Club for three years and received an inquiry from the Dallas Cowboys but received a career-ending injury in 1963. By the next year, he was the Louisiana College freshman football coach.
Except for one year in Louisiana, Nichols spent his entire 35-year teaching and coaching career in Texas. He coached football, track, baseball, and basketball and was involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The last 20 years of Nichols' career were spent as a defensive line coach at the Texas high school 5-A classification. His teams were in the high school football play-offs 11 years, and he coached 13 playoff games in the Houston Astrodome and coached in the high school football 5-A state championship game in 1979.
Twenty of his football linemen played college football, three of whom made All-American at the University of Texas. All three played NFL football.
Retired in 2000, Nichols makes his home in the Texas hill country where he attends First Baptist Church and participates in the Meals on Wheels program.
Nichols is married to the former Pat Thomas of Houston, Texas, and they have three daughters, Lori, Niki, and Keri; one son, Mark; and five grandchildren, Drew, Amber, Tyler, Mark, and Ethan.
The Wildcat Athletic Association inducted James “Nic” Nichols into the Louisiana College Sports Hall of Fame on October 15, 2004.
Source: https://www.lacollege.edu/athletics/halloffame/images/hof_nichols.jpg
1 comment:
James, Wow! What an interesting, complete life you've had. I am glad to be a member of your graduating class. It allows me to be in the peripheral shadow of your many accomplishments. My bet is that modesty would have prevented your sharing so much with us and I am happy Ouida found a way to do so. I know your family must also be quite proud of you.
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