Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Mourns Loss of Ernest Hawkins
January 29, 2018 | Football, Double T Varsity Club
Texas Tech Hall of Fame quarterback Ernest Hawkins passed away Sunday night at the age of 91
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech Athletics mourns the loss of Hall of Fame quarterback Ernest Hawkins, who passed away Sunday night at the age of 91.
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"Ernest Hawkins' life was nothing short of impressive," said Rodney Allison, Director of the Double T Varsity Club. "He served his country bravely during World War II and then returned to become one of the greatest multi-sport athletes in our history. We will keep his family in our thoughts during this time."
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Hawkins remains one of the early greats in Texas Tech history as he led the Red Raiders to three Border Conference titles during his three seasons as the starting quarterback from 1947-49. Tech was a perfect 14-0 in Border Conference games with Hawkins at quarterback en route to appearances in both the Sun Bowl (1947) and Raisin Bowl (1949).
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A native of nearby Lamesa, Texas, Hawkins earned All-Border Conference honors as a quarterback in 1948. In addition to his role on the gridiron, Hawkins, a 1975 inductee into the Texas Tech Hall of Fame, was also a member of the Red Raider men's basketball and track and field teams.
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Hawkins became a multi-sport standout for the Red Raiders following several years of military service during World War II. He re-enrolled at Texas Tech shortly after completing his service as wartime rules allowed him to compete immediately.
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Following his playing career, Hawkins began a successful coaching career that began as an assistant at Paris Junior College. He was hired as an assistant at East Texas State in 1957 and then took over head coaching duties for the Lions in 1964, beginning a successful 22-year reign that featured an impressive 132-92-6 record.
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Hawkins remains the winningest coach in East Texas State, now Texas A&M Commerce, history as he led the Lions to four Lone Star Conference crowns (1966, 1969, 1972, 1983) and most impressively, the 1972 NAIA National Championship. His 22 years as head coach also mark the longest tenure in school history.
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Hawkins, a four-time Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year recipient, was inducted into the Lion Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Lone Star Conference Hall of Honor in 2004. The football field at Texas A&M Commerce was renamed Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium just this past season.
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Memorial services for Hawkins are pending at this time.
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"Ernest Hawkins' life was nothing short of impressive," said Rodney Allison, Director of the Double T Varsity Club. "He served his country bravely during World War II and then returned to become one of the greatest multi-sport athletes in our history. We will keep his family in our thoughts during this time."
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Hawkins remains one of the early greats in Texas Tech history as he led the Red Raiders to three Border Conference titles during his three seasons as the starting quarterback from 1947-49. Tech was a perfect 14-0 in Border Conference games with Hawkins at quarterback en route to appearances in both the Sun Bowl (1947) and Raisin Bowl (1949).
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A native of nearby Lamesa, Texas, Hawkins earned All-Border Conference honors as a quarterback in 1948. In addition to his role on the gridiron, Hawkins, a 1975 inductee into the Texas Tech Hall of Fame, was also a member of the Red Raider men's basketball and track and field teams.
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Hawkins became a multi-sport standout for the Red Raiders following several years of military service during World War II. He re-enrolled at Texas Tech shortly after completing his service as wartime rules allowed him to compete immediately.
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Following his playing career, Hawkins began a successful coaching career that began as an assistant at Paris Junior College. He was hired as an assistant at East Texas State in 1957 and then took over head coaching duties for the Lions in 1964, beginning a successful 22-year reign that featured an impressive 132-92-6 record.
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Hawkins remains the winningest coach in East Texas State, now Texas A&M Commerce, history as he led the Lions to four Lone Star Conference crowns (1966, 1969, 1972, 1983) and most impressively, the 1972 NAIA National Championship. His 22 years as head coach also mark the longest tenure in school history.
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Hawkins, a four-time Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year recipient, was inducted into the Lion Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Lone Star Conference Hall of Honor in 2004. The football field at Texas A&M Commerce was renamed Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium just this past season.
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Memorial services for Hawkins are pending at this time.
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