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By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

Don Hendrix, the long-time head football coach at Hogansville High, died on Saturday at the age of 81.

Hendrix, who was also a successful basketball coach at Hogansville, led the school’s football program from 1965 to 1987.

Hendrix had a career record of 153-93-2, and he won four region championships while guiding three teams to the semifinals of the state playoffs.

In basketball, Hendrix led Hogansville to the state-championship game in 1981 where it lost to Warren County 69-67, and the team reached the state semifinals on four other occasions.

Hendrix also coached softball, baseball, track and tennis at Hogansville High.

Following his time as a football coach, Hendrix served as the athletics director at Hogansville and Callaway High until 1998.

Hogansville High closed its doors in the spring of 1996, and Callaway High opened later that year.

Hendrix was an enthusiastic supporter of Callaway High athletics according to Dusty Hubbard, Callaway’s baseball coach and defensive coordinator on the football team.

“He was at every (football) game until the last couple of years when his health started getting a little worse,” Hubbard said. “He was always there, and he’d call me after games some times and talk to me.”

The stadium where Hogansville played its home games was later named after Hendrix, and Hendrix Stadium still stands today, and Callaway has played a number of preseason games there over the years.

“He turned that team into a power. It had a lot to do with him,” Hubbard said. “He’s legendary in Hogansville. You don’t name the field after someone unless they’re legendary.”

Hendrix became Hogansville’s football coach in 1965, and after three straight losing seasons, the team went 9-1 in 1968.

After three more losing seasons, Hogansville went 11-1 in 1972 and reached the semifinals of the state playoffs.

That was the start of a run where Hogansville had winning records in 13 out of 14 seasons while making it to the region or state playoffs 13 times during that time.

Hogansville made it to the state semifinals in 1972, 1974 and 1976 while reaching the quarterfinals in 1978.

In 1972, Hogansville went 11-1, and it lost to Adairsville 15-12 in the state semifinals.

Hogansville went 11-1 once again in 1976, and its season ended with a 7-6 loss to Buford in the state semifinals.

Hogansville was 31-4 from 1979 to 1981, and it went 11-1 in 1981 with its only loss coming in the region-championship game against Greenville

OF NOTE: For much more on coach Hendrix, see Wednesday’s sports section. Also, a celebration of life will be held on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Hendrix Stadium.