REST IN PEACE COACH FOSTER!!!

••Thursday•, 17 •October• 2019 22:31• ??EPSCadmin??
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LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GRIDIRON NEWS

Texas High School Football World

Mourns the passing of Coach Cozel Foster

Eagle Pass’s Greatest Ambassador of Goodwill

By: Conrado Perez, Jr. – Eagle Pass Sports Central

“Your best and only source for local sports news in Eagle Pass”

Eagle Pass Sports Central is saddened to announce the passing of one of the all-time truly great Texas High School football coaching legends the longtime former Eagle Pass Eagles head football coach Cozel Foster. Cozel Foster passed away on Wednesday October 16, 2019 was born on May 17, 1924 in Hawkins, Texas.  He attended and graduated from Phillips High School where he helped lead Phillips to three consecutive undefeated football seasons and was a four year letterman in football garnering all-district honors as a stellar running back during both his junior and senior years in high school.  In his senior year, he was selected to play in the Oil Bowl game in Wichita Falls, Texas where the best players from Texas square off against the best players from Oklahoma.  Foster also played basketball during his high school career.

After graduating from high school, Foster joined the Marine Corps in 1943 and served during World War II.  After his Tour of Duty, he attended and graduated from West Texas State University in 1950.  While at West Texas State University, Foster continued to excel in football and lettered three years as a running back and as a linebacker.

Coach Foster began his long, illustrious and distinguished coaching career in the fall of 1950 at Stinett High School capturing two District titles during his tenure there.  In 1955 he became the Head Coach at Eagle Pass High School as well as the Athletic Director.  In his very first year at the helm of the Eagle Pas Eagles football program, he led the Eagles to the District Championship where they won the title culminating a truly memorable season in the history of Eagle Pass Eagles football.  Coach Foster was also the Head Track Coach at Eagle Pass High School where he led numerous local young athletes all the way to the UIL State Track & Field Meet and captured District track titles as well as the Regional track team title in 1959.  That same year, he moved to Weslaco High School for only one year or as Coach Foster stated, “I was there (Weslaco) for nine months and two days.”  In 1960, Coach Foster moved to Monahans where he won another District Championship.  In 1964, he returned to guide The Eagle Pass Eagles football program until 1972.  From 1972 to 1976, Coach Foster returned to his Alma Mater, Phillips High School. From 1978-1982, he coached at Eagle Pass Jr. High School.  In 1982, Coach Foster took the helm of the Del Rio Rams football program until 1986.  In 1988, Coach Foster returned to the sidelines at Eagle Field as a varsity assistant football coach for the Eagle Pass Eagles and one final time in 1991 as a varsity assistant for former pupil Oki Villasenor until his retirement in 1993.  In 1996, Coach Foster was most deservingly inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Association’s Hall of Honor.

When asked what his most memorable experience in coaching was, Foster said, “When we beat Uvalde in 1955. It was the first time Eagle Pass beat Uvalde in 16 years.  The kids were so focused and fired up for that game it was unbelievable.”

Coach Cozel Foster was preceded in death by his beloved son Chad Foster and is survived by his lovely wife Martha, three daughters Sheri, Sheila and Shelle five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Tentative Funeral Arrangements

Viewing Friday, October 18, 2019

3:00 PM to 7:00 PM Yeager-Barrera Mortuary

Church Services 2:00 PM Saturday, October 19, 2019

At the Methodist Church

Interment to follow at the County Cemetery

In closing I personally would like to say thank you for the numerous wonderful stories and sayings that you shared with me of your coaching experiences. The one story that will always intrigue me was when you told me that the Eagle Pass Eagles of the late 1950’s would travel in Spinach trucks to go and play against Del Rio, San Felipe, Carrizo Springs, Crystal City and Uvalde. Wow! And kids complain about charter buses nowadays. My two all-time favorite quotes and sayings you had will always be “Hay’s in the Barn” and “Don’t worry about the Mules just load the wagons” I will always treasure them. I want to sincerely thank you for all of your time, effort and dedication that you put forth in enhancing the lives of thousands and thousands of local former youngsters that grew up to be pillars of our community> Coach Foster vaya con Dios until we meet again! (Conrado Perez, Jr.)