Don Loucks
Don Loucks 
Full Name:  Hugh Donald Loucks
     Born:  July 15, 1914, Bicknell, Ind.
     Died:  April 5, 1999, Tallahassee, Fla.

Legacy Bricks:  Legacy Walk Map Link
   1985 Coach HOF - Loc 28


FSU Career
Coaches & Administrators

                     C


Member of the FSU Hall of Fame
Elected into the FSU Hall of Fame in 1985
Donald Loucks began his coaching career in 1936 at the University School of Florida State College for Women where he coached all sports. This was the beginning of an association with Florida State which crossed six decades, 1936-1980, ending in his retirement as Professor Emeritus of Physical Education. In 1942, while serving as an officer in the Army, he stationed at West Point where he coached plebe basketball ball and tennis.

In 1947, Donald Loucks was the first FSU basketball coach and a year later was named the school's first tennis coach. His basketball team scored the first athletic victory (12/10/47) in Florida State history. His tennis team was the first athletic team to have a winning season. The varsity tennis courts were named for him in 1981.

Donald Loucks served as Dean of Men at FSU from 1957-1967. His record is one of leadership, service and devotion to Florida State University.

From the Tallahassee Democrat, April 7, 1999, page 11.

FSU's first men's tennis, basketball coach dies.
H. Donald Loucks continued caring for the community well after his tenure at FSU.

By Pete Reinwald, Democart staff writer.

He did it right, his son said.

H. Donald Loucks, Florida State's first basketball coach and tennis coach, taught mathematics and coached athletics teams at West Point during World War II. He was inducted into FSU's Hall of Fame in 1985. And he was a tireless community volunteer until late in his life.

Loucks died of heart failure Tuesday after months of declining health. He was 84.

"He had a full, good life," said his son, Tallahassee physician Don Loucks. "He had no regrets. There was nothing he had to go back and fix."

Loucks coached the FSU men's basketball team to a 5-13 record in its first season, 1947-48. He was the city tennis champion in 1941, and he coached the FSU tennis team for several years beginning in 1947. FSU's tennis courts are named in his honor.

Loucks taught physical education at FSU until his retirement in 1980. He served 10 years as dean of men.

Loucks earned a Ph.D. in physical education from Indiana University. He was born in Bicknell, Ind., also the hometown of Don Veller, who was FSU's football coach from 1948 through 1952. Loucks graduated from Florida High and later taught and coached there.

Veller said that Loucks was instrumental in bringing him to Tallahassee.

"He was a very nice person," Veller said. "He was a student of athletics and followed them very closely. His forte was really tennis. He was a good player and by far the best player in our hometown."

Loucks played tennis into his mid-70s. He and his wife of 61 years, Mary Etta, were Meals on Wheels volunteers for about 15 years until about 1990.

He spent his last years caring for Mary Etta at their home in the Westminster Oaks retirement village. She suffered a stroke in December 1993.

Loucks is survived by his wife, his son Don and his daughter, Tallahassee lawyer Judy Dillard.

"He was not only a great teacher for his students but a great teacher and example for us as a father," Don said. "He was everything you could have wanted in a father."



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