Coach Joseph "Jack" William Salter

Joseph “Jack” William Salter, beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, coach, teacher and friend died peacefully at his home on Saturday, December 16, 2017 surrounded by his loving family. Jack was born on January 6, 1931 to the late Roger Noble and Ruth Collins Salter and was a resident of his favorite place in the world, Covington, Louisiana for his entire life. He was a lifelong parishioner of St. Peter Catholic Church in Covington and attended mass daily. His proudest accomplishment was that each day of his life began and ended with the Lord. Jack was preceded in death by the love of his life for 52 years, Betty Ann, his son Scott William Salter, his brother Roger “Rube” Salter, sisters Ruth Ellen Sevy and Jeanne Salter. Jack was cherished and will be sadly missed by his children, Rick and Cindy Salter, Kim Salter, Leslie and Keith Long, Lori Salter, Lisa Core, Kelly and Bruce Crouch; 19 grandchildren Greg (Colette), Glenn (Allison), Trent (Michelle), Scott (Rachel) and Jonathan Salter; Travis, Paige, Dylan and Morgan Long, Bridget (Mike) Saladino and Seaman Apprentice Brett Krysan, Lacee (Randy) Roth, Kristin, Kari, Caitlin and Trace Core; Kyle, Eric and Rhett Crouch. Papa Jack is also survived by 19 great grandchildren who brought him true joy Dakota, Cheyenne, Savannah, Izabella, Sydney, Joseph, Maddox, Sienna, William, Reese, Jackson and Eva Salter; Brayson, Landon and Beckham Saladino; Leighton and Ty Roth; Harper and Kinley Johnson. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews who loved their Uncle Jack, none more than his nephew Roger who was his faithful lunch partner for many years. He also will be sadly missed by the two beautiful ladies who cared for him for the last 2 years, Marie Huval and Donna Cazaubon. Their loving care will always be remembered and cherished. He graduated from St. Paul’s High School in 1949 where he played football and basketball. After graduation he attended McNeese State University on an athletic scholarship to play both football and basketball. He graduated from McNeese in 1954 and returned to his alma mater St. Paul’s High to teach and coach for one year, prior to entering the United States Army. Jack entered the Army and was a First Lieutenant from 1955 through 1957. He then returned to St. Paul’s to coach and teach from 1957 to 1961. After leaving St. Paul’s Jack was hired in 1962 by Hubie Gallagher as his assistant coach at Covington High School. The following year, 1963, he became the Head Coach of his beloved Fighting Lions and remained there until his retirement in 1996. His dedication and love of Covington High and most especially Covington High Football, it’s Coaches and Players was unquestionable. He believed that coaching and teaching young men and women was his calling. He would tell his players and students that being a good person was the most important quality that they should strive to accomplish, because with that all things in life are possible. He wanted his players to take the lessons that he taught through football into the game of life, believing that life and football were parallel and that the lessons learned on the field would make for success throughout life. His many signs hanging in the locker room – “always give 110%, There is no I in the word Team, No Pain No Gain” - professed not just how to play on Friday Nights but how to play the game of life. His accomplishments as Coach of the Fighting Lions are numerous, but he would tell you without doubt that while many may bear his name, they belong to the team and that none would have been possible without the wonderful and dedicated Assistant Coaches and Players that he had the pleasure to walk the field with each and every day. Jack coached young men for 40 years. As Head Coach of the Lions from 1963-1995 he compiled a record of 256 Wins, 110 Losses and 8 Ties. He is recognized as one of the winningest coaches in the State of Louisiana and is one of few to accomplish over 200 wins. The Lions under his leadership won 15 District Championships, made 21 State Playoff appearances and made it to the State Championship game 4 times in 1975, 1976, 1981 and 1987, winning the coveted trophy once in 1976. Jack was named District Coach of the Year 12 times, Metro Coach of the Year 3 times and State Coach of the Year 3 times, in 1975, 1976 and 1987. He was chosen to coach the State All Star Football Game 3 times. Jack was named National Coach of the Year by the High School Football Coaches of America in 1991 and was again nominated for the same award in 1992. In 1989 he was awarded the “Casey Kozminski Award” given by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. Jack was inducted into the Louisiana High School Athletic Association and Louisiana Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1993. In 1996 he was presented the Amateur Football award by the New Orleans Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame for Outstanding Achievements on the Football Field. He was inducted into the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2001 he was given the greatest honor of his professional life when the St. Tammany Parish School Board named the Covington High Stadium as “Jack Salter Stadium”. His last trip by the stadium was about a week before his death. Passing it gave him great comfort and the Lions great 2017 season certainly made him smile with pride. He would tell you that he bled blue and gold and that Once a Lion, Always a Lion and he lived in that belief until the day he died. Many thanks to St. Tammany Parish Hospice Foundation for their great care of Papa over the last few months and to all of the many wonderful doctors who cared for him over the years, especially Dr. Ricardo Blanco and Dr. Farhad Aduli. Relatives and friends are invited to attend Words of Remembrance at 2:00PM followed by a Funeral Mass at 2:15 PM on Thursday, December 21, 2017 at St. Peter Catholic Church, 125 E. 19th Ave. Covington, LA 70433. Visitation on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at St. Peter Catholic Church and on Thursday, December 21, 2017 at St. Peter Catholic Church from 11:30 AM to service time. Interment in Pinecrest Memorial Gardens Covington, LA. Interment in Pinecrest Memorial Gardens Covington, LA. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Northshore Food Bank, 840 North Columbia St., Covington, LA 70433 or CHS Athletic Association, 73030 Lion Dr., Covington, LA 70433 Share a memory on the tribute wall at www.ejfieldingfh.com

Coach Joseph "Jack" William Salter

January 6, 1931 - December 16, 2017