H.C. Knox, Jr.

H.C. Knox, Jr., 93, passed away Thursday, August 14, 2025 at his home in Graham. Funeral service will be Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 10 a.m. in Morrison Funeral Home Chapel.

H.C. was born January 15, 1932, in Graham to the late Hugh Clarence and Ruth Jane (Hanks) Knox. He married Fern Evelyn Cornell January 15, 1955, in Graham and she preceded him in death September 9, 2023.

At Graham High School, he was recognized as an outstanding football player and was part of the “1950 Football Team of the Century” according to the Graham Athletic Booster Club. After graduating from Graham High School, he attended Texas Christian University where he received his Bachelor of Science degree and played football.

After attending TCU, he entered the armed forces at Fort Bliss where he also played football and served as a personnel specialist.

Service requirements ended in 1957, and Coach Knox immediately came to Denver City. He received his M.Ed at North Texas State and did graduate work at Texas Tech University.

Coach Knox was an assistant football coach at Denver City High School under Coach Don Orr for 10 years. Some of the highlights were winning the state championship in 1960 and coaching the Texas High School All Star game in 1966. He also enjoyed coaching the first golf teams at DCHS for many years. He was a biology teacher and ended his educational career serving as the director of the school’s swimming pool where he taught swimming skills to kids from kindergarten to high school.

After retirement, he and Fern moved back to Graham where they joined the First Baptist Church where he served as a deacon from 2002 to 2021. They enjoyed this time doing mission trips and singing in the choir with their friends.

Coach Knox always looked forward to playing a round of golf with his friends. He shot his age at 75 and scored a hole-in-one twice.

He and Fern loved to camp with family and friends, spending time in Colorado and traveling all over the United States.

The two of them also world travelers. They experienced trips to Hawaii, Alaska, Israel, England, Scotland, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Japan, and Hong Kong.

Some of his other interests were learning about WWII, wildlife and nature. He passed a love for these things on to his children.

Survivors include: sons, Darrell Melvin Knox and wife, Toni Henson Knox of Ruidoso, New Mexico and Hugh C. Knox, III of Graham; daughters, Rhonda Knox Foster and husband, Randy of Graham and Connie Jane Knox of Graham; grandchildren, Hope Charles, Cole Hilliard, Candance Lutz; step grandchildren, Tommy Foster, Michael Foster and Blair Wilcox; brother, Jim Lee Knox.

Visitation will be held Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.