George Vest (coach)

George Vest
Biographical details
Born(1907-12-17)December 17, 1907
Martindale, Texas, U.S.
DiedNovember 15, 1997(1997-11-15) (aged 89)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1925–1928Southwest Texas State
Basketball
1925–1929Southwest Texas State
Baseball
1926–1929Southwest Texas State
Track
1926–1927Southwest Texas State
Tennis
1929Southwest Texas State
Position(s)Fullbaclk (football)
Catcher (baseball)
High jump (track)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1929–1932Donna JHS (TX)
1933–1936Donna HS (TX)
1937–1941Southwest Texas State (assistant)
1946–1950Southwest Texas State
Basketball
1939–1942Southwest Texas State
Head coaching record
Overall30–17–3 (football)
36–29 (basketball)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
1 LSC (1948)

George Waverly Vest Sr. (December 17, 1907 – November 15, 1997) was an American football and basketball coach. He served as the head football coach at Southwest Texas State Teachers College—now known as Texas State University–from 1946 to 1950, compiling a record of 30–17–3. Vest was also the head basketball coach at Southwest Texas State from 1939 to 1942, tallying a mark of 36–29.

Vest was born on December 17, 1907, in Martindale, Texas. He attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College, where he played football, basketball, and baseball and ran track before graduating in 1929 with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. He later earned a master's degree in physical education from the University of Texas at Austin. Vest began his coaching career in Donna, Texas, mentoring the junior high school football team. He was promoted to head football coach at Donna High School in 1933. Vest returned to his alma mater, Southwest Texas State, in 1937 as an assistant coach.[1][2]

Vest enlisted in the United States Army on July 13, 1942, and then attended Officer Candidate School. He served during World War II in Karachi, reaching the rank of major before his discharge in 1946. Vest died on November 15, 1997, in Houston.[3]

  1. ^ "George Vest, Donna, Named Coach as San Marcos College". The Brownsville Herald. Brownsville, Texas. June 25, 1937. p. 2. Retrieved August 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  2. ^ "Vest Assumes Bobcats Post". Austin American. Austin, Texas. April 4, 1946. p. 13. Retrieved August 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  3. ^ "George Waverly Vest Sr". The Monitor. McAllen, Texas. November 15, 1997. p. 2D. Retrieved August 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.