By Dr. Shirley Knox Benton
Special to Texas Metro News
Fort Worth – I will always have respect for Coach Bob Hughes.
You might ask why? Because he always respected me as his principal, the first female principal of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School.
He was a teacher of Health first, and Coach second, according to the State of Texas. He was the ‘Head Coach’ of Boys Basketball and the Girls Volleyball Team.
He was a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, Five-Time Texas State Champion, 2003 National Coach of the Year, National High School Hall of Fame, Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame.
His status as an international figure never got in the way of his role as a member of the faculty at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. He performed hall duty, classroom supervision, attended all faculty meetings, and he always turned in his reports on time.
He never fretted or complained; in my eyes, he was an Icon. I called him my giant ‘Gentleman.’
He arrived at school each day as early as 5 a.m. If there had been a disturbance of any kind that happened overnight, he never failed to call me as early as 6 a.m. to give me the “heads-up.”
I respected his role and never interfered. During my 12-year tenure as principal, I visited his office only once.
When it came to discipline, we were on the same page in giving instructions and guidance; not only to the basketball team members, but the general student body. Our students did not have to look beyond the campus for role models; Coach Hughes was at the top of the list.
The school’s motto, “In Class…With Class…It Can Be Done!” was repeated on a daily basis and was embedded in the minds of all students. ‘Academics paralleled Athletics’ and all of the students had a role to play.
I am so grateful that both State Basketball Championships were won under my leadership in 1992 and 2003. It was also a privilege, no matter where I traveled, when Dunbar Fort Worth’s name was mentioned, Coach Hughes’ name became the topic of the conversation. He was known for his ‘witty’ sense of humor.
One of his favorite quotes was: “If you have to tell people who you are, then you are not.” In his words, he was blunt, and would say, “If you have to tell people who you is, then you ain’t!”
On June 15, 2023, it was an honor to speak at the groundbreaking ceremony for Hughes House on Amanda and East Rosedale Streets. I shared memorabilia of some of Coach Hughes’ great accomplishments, namely: A basketball signed by Coach Hughes, Leondas Rambo, and the basketball team members, an album of pictures of the winning game in 1993, UIL Ribbon Award and a medal necklace that Coach Hughes wanted me to have.
In my eyes, he will always be the top coach of coaches. His shoe prints and hand prints are on the wall of a Pavilion named in his honor at the front of the building on the campus of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School.
To God Be the Glory!
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Dr. Shirley Knox Benton, 1992-2003-04, Former Principal of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, an award-winning principal cited by Reader’s Digest as An American Hero In Education for turning a “troubled school” around; leading her to be selected as Texas’ High School Principal of the Year, 2001. You can reach her at sknoxbenton@gmail.com
