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Coach G.A. Moore, Jr.
The "All Time Winningest Coach" in Texas High School Football History.
By Richard Greene
Assistant Editor
The Pilot Point Post -Signal
In the wee hours of the morning, youngsters crowded around him, begging for autographs. Across the room, grown men swapped legends about him. Hours earlier, television cameras, flash bulbs and reporters documented his every scowl and even the occasional smile. On this night, G.A. Moore was the brightest star in Pilot Point - and all of Texas high school football. For the 397th time in his 40-year career, Moore led a team to victory Friday night, making him the state's all-time winningest coach. With the Bearcats' 27-13 win over Van Alstyne, Moore surpassed former Brownwood coach Gordon Wood for the record. "This is an honor," Moore said as reporters and photographers crowded around him following the game. "I get the credit, but this is an award that belongs to the whole town of Pilot Point and the whole town of Celina. If I'd been doing it by myself, I wouldn't have got anywhere." After the game, fans from Pilot Point and Celina returned to the high school to honor Moore. About 500 people packed the school's cafeteria, and the celebration stretched into the early hours of Saturday. Moore's career record reached 397-74-9 - a winning percentage of 82.7 Friday night. He has led nine teams to state titles while coaching at four schools - Bryson, Pilot Point, Celina and Sherman. Moore is in his third stint at Pilot Point, where he has coached a total of 8 years. He led the Bearcats to state titles in 1980 and 1981. Before returning to Pilot Point in March, Moore was at Celina. He led the Bobcats to five state titles since 1995, including four in a row from 1998-2001. Moore also coached Celina through the first 57 games of its state-record 67-game winning streak. Moore entered this season needing seven wins to take over the top spot. After losing their first two district games to fall to 4-3, the Bearcats rallied to win their final three games of the regular season, getting a playoff spot and the record for Moore. "We've been working on this record all year," said senior quarterback and defensive back Joe Calhoun. "We had a few games to win coming in. "I just get goosebumps every time I think about it. This will be in the history books forever. He's a lucky man, and we're lucky to get the opportunity to play for him." Moore received a specially-made trophy recognizing his accomplishment during the post-game reception. Booster Club President David Fuller, who
played for Moore on the Bearcats' state championship teams in 1980 and 1981, made the presentation. "I have to present something to him and I'm nervous as I can be," said Fuller, looking around the crowded room. "I'm just so proud for him. This is a moment in history that will never be repeated. No one will ever surpass what he's done and what he's done in these communities. Just look in this room. He's touched a lot of people. ""Coach Moore, you taught us don't hold up the No. 1 until you earned it," Fuller said. "You've done it." Several guest speakers addressed the crowd, including childhood friend Tuck Dunn and Rex Gledenning, a member of Moore's first state championship team at Celina in 1974. Dunn told stories of Moore's drive and competitiveness growing up in Pilot Point in the 1950's. "I can't think of anything that is more unimaginable than the record you've accomplished," Dunn said. "I treasure your friendship in a way you don't believe."
Glendenning called Moore a special person who influenced his life. "When most people think of G.A. Moore, they think of a great coach," Glendenning said. "But I believe he's more than that. He's been a good-will ambassador for the communities he's coached in. "As much as he wants to win, he wants to make sure he's representing his community with dignity and the utmost character
birthday. All four of Moore's children were on hand to celebrate their. We love you G.A." Moore's record-setting win came as his wife Lois Ann celebrated her father's accomplishment. "This has taken almost a lifetime," said Moore's oldest daughter Pam, who was wearing a T-shirt with her father on front. "We're very proud of him. Words can't express it. "Every Friday as long as I can remember, we've been at games. He's really family-oriented. We've always been into it. It's really a family affair."
Bearcat boss first high school coach to receive honor
06/15/2002
By Chuck Cox / Staff Writer
(reprinted from The Denton Record Chronicle)
G.A. Moore seems to have a knack for breaking new ground.
And the Pilot Point head coach has done it yet again.
Moore will become the first high school football coach ever to appear on the cover of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, which is set to hit newsstands across the Lone Star State this week.
The 43rd annual edition of the publication, which previews football programs from high school to college to the NFL each year, will also feature Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys, Kliff Kingsbury of Texas Tech and Drew Tate of Baytown Lee on the prestigious cover.
Moore, who is back at Pilot Point for a third stint as head coach after coaching Celina from 1988-2001, is seven victories away from becoming the all-time winningest coach in Texas high school football history. Moore also left Celina with a state-record 57-game winning streak and a streak of four consecutive state titles intact.
Pilot Point coach G.A. Moore, lower left, will be the first high school coach to ever grace the cover of Texas Football magazine.
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Moore, who also coached at Bryson and Sherman, has won a total of eight state championships – one at Pilot Point and seven at Celina and even had a sports drink named after him last year. Moore is 390-71-9, while Wood was 396-91-15 in 43 years of coaching. Wood won nine state championships while spending the bulk of his career at Brownwood.
The theme of the cover is "Chasing History." Smith is attempting to become the all-time leading rusher in NFL history. He is 540 yards away from passing Walter Payton at the top of the list.
Kingsbury, who was also one of four college quarterbacks on last year’s cover, owns eight Big 12 and 33 Texas Tech passing and total offense records. Meanwhile, Tate is already the state’s all-team leading high school passer with 8,562 yards.
"In its 43 years of covering every facet of football in the state, Texas Football magazine has established and maintained a tradition of excellence," said David Campbell, founder and editor-in-chief of Texas Football, in a press release. "From the cover to page 336, this year’s edition more than lives up to that tradition. The cover is historic in that it features four Texas football heroes ranging from the high school ranks of both player and coach, extending to college football and to the Dallas Cowboys."
Game pictures and stats provided by The Pilot Point Post Signal.
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