George Knox Pittard

(George) Knox Pittard, of Bedford, Texas passed away on April 24, 2016, at Medical Plaza Hospital in Fort Worth. Knox was a picture of health with no medical conditions but suffered a brain bleed that led to his massive stroke. Knox was born in Coleman, Texas in 1943, and was 72 years of age. He grew up in the community of Mozelle in south Coleman County. Knox gave his life to the Lord at the early age of six at Voss Baptist Church.
Knox was an all around athlete at Mozelle High School where he lettered in football, basketball, track and field. The Mustangs were District Champions in football all four years in high school, and he was named to the All-District Football team each year. He was also named Honorable Mention to the High School All American Football Team his senior year and was on the Texas All Star Football Team . In 2006, he was named to the Texas Six Man Hall of Fame. In addition to athletics, he was Valedictorian of his senior class in 1962. Following high school, he was offered a football scholarship to Baylor University where he was the second leading scorer on the Freshman football team. Following his college career, Knox had a brief stint with the Baltimore Colts and the Atlanta Falcons. He then spent time working under Dan Devine at the University of Missouri, coaching pass receivers. He received his BBA from Baylor University in 1966 and then returned to obtain his MBA in Management and Marketing at Baylor in 1968.
At age 15 he met the love of his life, Pam, and they enjoyed their college careers at Baylor University. He and Pam enjoyed a very full life together for almost 52 years.
Knox’s business career started with IBM in 1968. He spent 40 years in the high tech areas, including AT&T, Southwestern Bell, GTE, and Intervoice. He had taught at Tarrant County College since 1971 as an adjunct professor in the evenings. He received the Outstanding Adjunct Award from the college in 2004 where he continued teaching until his death. He was highly respected by his students who affectionately called him “Coach”. Knox had a passion for knowledge and was an avid reader.
Knox and Pam have been members of First Baptist Euless since 1968, where he served as Sunday School teacher for many years. Knox was ordained as a deacon in 1974 and was an active deacon at the time of his death. He was also a current member of the Personnel Committee and served on other committees during the years.
Knox served on the HOA Board of the Bedford Parc subdivision. He was a past member of the Arlington Rotary Club, and he worked for United Way of Tarrant County. He spent three years working with Lifeway Ministries. He and Pam embarked in homebuilding in the 80s, and they organized the Baylor Mid Cities Club for Baylor Alumni in the area. Knox served on the Northeast Tarrant County YMCA board during the years he coached both his boys in all their sports.
For eleven years, Knox officiated track and field events at the high school and college level, including the Texas Relays. He was also very active with Carter Blood Center, having given a total of 24 gallons.
He was a member of the Baylor University Presidents’ Club and a lifetime member of the Baylor University Alumni Association. He was instrumental in his parents’ locker room legacy campaign honoring involvement in Baylor University Athletics. He was a lifetime member of the Baylor Letterwinners’ Association and served as President in 2002, where he was instrumental in starting the Baylor Wall of Honor for athletes.
The joys in his life were numerous. First he served the Lord every day of his life. He had a great love for Pam and enjoyed many activities with her, the greatest being their love of attending Baylor football games and seeing so many of their old friends there. They enjoyed watching Baylor Men’s and Women’s Basketball. They also enjoyed gospel and country music. He has been Pam’s caregiver the past five years as she has dealt with her journey of sarcoma cancer. His devotion to her has been evidenced by all who knew them and many who did not know them. He was very active in helping Pam in her book sales from the book she wrote and had published during her first year of cancer treatment, Eagle in a Storm.
He was most proud of his two sons and their careers as an attorney and the manager of a large homebuiding business.. He admired them both for their dedication to their wives and children and the Godly example they are setting for them. The four grandchildren were a huge source of joy as he watched their activities. He had a blessed relationship with his siblings and particularly his brother, Gary, who was very close in age to him. One of his great passions was his teaching at Tarrant County College and being able to help his students find their place in the business world. Knox was always known as a man of integrity, a virtue instilled in him from a very godly Mother and Father.
Knox was predeceased by his father and mother, Louis and Eugenia Pittard of Mozelle and his inlaws, J.D. and Grenetta Berry of Goldthwaite.
He is survived by his wife, Pam, his son, Steve and wife Belinda of Frisco, his son Kirk and his wife, Lisa of Grapevine. The beloved grandchildren are Preston Knox and Presley Kate Pittard of Frisco and Wyatt and Chloe Pittard of Grapevine. He is also survived by his brother, Gary, and his wife Lee Ann of Tyler, his brother, Robert and his wife, Cindy of Plano, and his sister Nancy Smith and her husband, Rodney, of Abilene. Knox shared a close relationship with his sisters-in-laws and all the nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.
The visitation will be Wednesday, April 27, from 6 to 8 PM, at Lucas Funeral Home in Hurst , 1321 Precinct Line Road in Hurst. The memorial service will be at 1 PM Thursday, April 28, in the chapel of First Baptist Church, Euless, 1000 Airport Freeway, Euless, with interment at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park, 5725 Colleyville Blvd. Colleyville, Texas following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Knox’s name to Six Stones Ministry for missions, First Baptist Euless, 209 North Industrial Blvd., Suite 241, Bedford, Texas 76021 the Baylor ‘”B “Association, c.o Baylor Athletics, 1500 South University Parks Dr., Waco, Tx, 76706, or the Louis and Eugenia Pittard Endowed Athletic Scholarship Fund in Football, c.o Baylor University Gift Office, One Bear Place, #97050, Waco, Tx 76798, or your favorite charity.
He was a great man, a man of his word, a man who will be greatly missed, but a man who has no more pain, and his family rests in the assurance that he is with his Lord and Savior.