Ronald McHenry

Honoring the life of Coach Mac March 21, 1937-January 10, 2018 Ronald McHenry was born in Wewoka, Oklahoma on Sunday, March 21, 1937 to Walter and Josephine (Alexander) McHenry. Ron passed away on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at the age of 80. He was preceded in death by his wife Martha, son Jon Walter, and father Walter. Ron graduated from Broken Arrow High School in 1955. He attended Southeastern State University in Durant where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education. He also earned a Master’s in Education at Northeastern State University allowing him to serve as a high school guidance counselor in addition to coaching football. On August 18, 1958 Ron married Martha John in Durant, Oklahoma while attending Southeastern. Their union was blessed with four sons and one daughter. Ron McHenry began his teaching career in Synder, TX in 1959. His love for coaching began while working with an underprivileged youth basketball team in Synder. In 1962 he moved back home to Broken Arrow to serve as an assistant football coach under Coach Joe Robinson. This marked the beginning of a coaching career that would span many years which allowed him to touch the lives of many players and coaches along the way. In 1965 Ron accepted his first head coaching job at Owasso High School. He moved to Collinsville as an assistant coach in 1970 under Benny Kiger and later Paul Davis. In 1974 he would become the Head Coach for Collinsville. In 1981 after a successful 7 year run at Collinsville, he accepted the job of Head Coach at Coweta High School. This move would allow him to be closer to his parents and his beloved home church. His head coaching career concluded following the 2003 season. In 2004, Mac returned to Collinsville as an assistant under long time Coweta Tiger assistant Bob Craig. In 2008 he began his final coaching stint at Catoosa High School when he was hired by Head Coach Greg Whiteley and later served under Aaron Meier. He cherished the times he worked as an assistant coach in the twilight of his career. First returning to Collinsville to reunite and work with old friends and finally at Catoosa where he was able to mentor a new generation of young coaches. Coach McHenry ended his coaching career in 2013 after coaching six decades of Oklahoma High School Football. At every coaching stop he was part of an undefeated regular season. His Senior yr in HS he was a member of BAHS’s last undefeated football team in 1954. As a head coach he led Owasso, Collinsville and Coweta teams to undefeated regular seasons and served as an assistant coach at Catoosa on the 2011 undefeated regular season. A highlight of his career was being able to coach alongside his son Joe at Catoosa High School. Coach Mac was a member of the Oklahoma Coaches Association. He received numerous awards for his coaching efforts and was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Hall Of Fame in 1999. He also served as Region 3 Representative for the Oklahoma Coaches Association. He served the OCA and OFBCA with respect and class, always dressed for coaching clinics and meetings in dress clothes and hat. Above all else the 2 things he loved the most about football was studying the game to stay current with the latest trends and finally sharing that knowledge with his fellow coaches. Ronald McHenry was a devoted and committed member of the Broken Arrow Indian United Methodist Church. When he was baptized his grandmother Ida Kelley brought him forth along with his father Walter. He served as a Sunday School teacher, Church Lay Leader, Ex Officio member of all committees, and is the church Delegate to the Annual conference of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference of the United Methodist Church. He enjoyed worship, communion service, Creek singing and old Christian Hymns. He supported all aspects of Christian mission by feeding the homeless, attending Sunday evening services, going to visit the sick in the hospitals, attending home “cottage” prayer services. He was always willing to help the church mentoring young members. His leadership at Broken Arrow Church helped mold the Christian lives of many who had a desire to serve God and the church, praying for and encouraging them along the way. It brought him great joy to help plan the activities of the church, pray and prepare for them, and finally seeing them come to fruition with all of God’s blessing. He gave God all the glory and his desire for us all would be to never lose our faith and to continue in our works. Ron is survived by children, Eli McHenry and wife Cordelia, Broken Arrow, Ok; Ronda McHenry, Dallas, TX; Joe Dan McHenry and Lisa Deere of Broken Arrow, Ok; Steve McHenry and wife Traci, Ponca City, OK; Mother Josephine McHenry, Broken Arrow, Ok; Grandchildren Jessica McHenry, Broken Arrow; Joseph and wife Rachel, Broken Arrow; Luke McHenry, Ponca City, OK; Great grandchildren Greyson and Taloa McHenry. Brother Chuck McHenry and wife Francis, BA. Sisters Janis Imotichey, Fillmore, OK and Teena Boyce and husband Mike Broken Arrow. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and his church family. Memorials may be made to BAIUMC 20854 E. 141st St. S., BA, OK 74014

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Ronald McHenry

March 21, 1937 - January 10, 2018