Organ
Michael Ray Organ was born on Nov. 28, 1945, to Ola Pat and Wilma Irene Organ in Thorndale.
He was an only child who grew up shadowing his daddy, working on the farm.
Mr. Organ
He graduated from Thorndale High School and went on to attend Southwest Texas State University, now Texas State University, in San Marcos, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education. He later received his masters in education.
His love of sports saw him coordinating his teaching skills with that of coaching.
On May 30, 1969, he married the love of his life, Nancy Powell. Their union gave them three children, Michael “Mickey” Ray Organ Jr., Rodney Wayne Organ and Jennifer Lynn Organ.
His first teaching/coaching assignment was in 1968 at Milano ISD, where he taught science and coached boys basketball. In 1969, he began teaching at Lexington ISD and took the helm as head football coach for the Lexington Eagles. He was the first to produce a 10-0 perfect season. He was also the first to advance to the state championship game that produced a 14-1 season.
Old timers would tell you the greatest comeback victory ever was in 1978 when the Eagles defeated the Franklin Lions trailing 21-6 with less than five minutes to play. The Eagles scored twice and went for two twice to defeat the No. 1-ranked Lions 22-21. Coach Organ, as he was fondly known, tallied 38 wins.
Also few coaches in Texas have had the opportunity to coach a young man that played in the Super Bowl. Earl Cooper owns two Super Bowl rings and was on the cover of Sports Illustrated twice. He played for Coach Organ while at Lexington High School.
After he stopped coaching, Coach Organ continued to teach at LISD and became the “Voice of the Eagles,” announcing the football, baseball and softball home games from 1993 to 2022. It was Coach Organ’s voice that loudly proclaimed every Friday night at Eagle Stadium, “Are you ready for some football?!”
Many will also recall that it was until just a very few short years ago that the voice on the school district answering system was Coach Organ’s.
The Lexington Chamber of Commerce took advantage of his strong voice and his familiarity with the people of Lexington and Lee County, making him the announcer of the homecoming parade, beginning in 1988 until this year.
In 1998 Coach Organ joined he Lexington Leader, covering sports with his interesting stories, complete with action pictures, showcasing the student athletes while he continued to work at LISD.
In 2016, he also began to attend the Lee County Commissioners’ Court, covering the news of the county for the Leader.
In addition to his leadership roles at LISD and the Lexington Leader, Mike served in a number of capacities throughout the county. He was part of the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department, serving as president of the LVFD for 10 years and was instrumental in recommending moving the department to its current location. He joined Reuel Cooper and Bobby Rodgers in starting the Lexington EMS. He served as the president of the Lee/Bastrop Farm Bureau for 18 years and continued to be active in that organization to the present time. He was the former president of the Lexington Community Enterprise Corp., the chairman and vice-chair of the Lee County Appraisal District and the former vice-chair of the Lexington UMC Administrative Council.
Mike was given a number of awards for his service throughout the years. In 1993, the LVFD recognized his contribution to the department as president. In 2002, Lexington ISD gave him an award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the children of Texas and for his efforts to improve the quality of education as a teacher and coach at LISD.
In 2008, the Lexington Chamber named him Citizen of the Year. In 2012 he received the Masonic Lodge Community Builder Award. In 2018, he was named the 53rd annual Lexington Homecoming Parade Marshal. Sandy Brown, former coach at the Giddings State School and Lexington friend of Mike, gave him an award for 50 years of service to the Lee County communities.
Mike went to his heavenly home on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, with his wife of 55 years at his side.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ola Pat and Wilma Irene Organ.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy of Lexington, his children Mickey (Leslie) of Thorndale, Rodney (Michelle) of Dripping Springs, and Dr. Jennifer (Scott) Smart of South Carolina; seven grand children, cousins, and a host of friends throughout the country.
Visitation was held on Saturday, Oct. 12, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale.
A funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale, with Ricky Spencer, Earl Cooper and Robert Morrison officiating.
Pallbearers were John Kovar, Jeff Muegee, Tom Kleinschmidt, Martin Schubert, Jeff Savois and Darrel Towery.
Honorary pallbearers were Durwood Tucker, Sherwood Frosch, Philip Kalmbach and Randy Burns.
Burial followed the service at Locklin Cemetery in Thorndale.
Arrangements by Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home, P.O. Drawer 1417, Rockdale, TX 76567, 512-446-5454.