MB Maxwell

MB Maxwell MB Maxwell, Jr., 87, died Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at an Abilene nursing center. He was born in Brownwood, Texas on January 11, 1925, the son of Florence Gertrude (Massey) and Michael Berry Maxwell Sr. He was named after his father who worked for the railroad until the depression. MB attended elementary school in Big Spring before finishing high school in Llano in 1943. Upon graduation, his family moved to Clyde where he met Joyce Jennings. They married in August of 1945. MB served in the Army Air Corps in San Antonio, Amarillo and Oakland, California, where he legally changed his name to MB (initials only). MB completed his degree at Abilene Christian College in 1950 in only 33 months. Lynn was born in October of 1948. MB received his Master's Degree from ACC in 1956. His first job was coaching at Blackwell High School, winning the district championship in football that year. He was contacted about the coaching/principal job at Ackerly after his first year at Blackwell. He moved to Ackerly in July of 1951 staying there until June of 1955. During that time he won district championships in both basketball and football. Kynn was born on July 2, 1951. Novice High School was next on the agenda for MB. He was coach/principal there for two years (1956-57). In 1957 he was offered the position of principal/coach/teacher at Vealmoor CSD. This was an 8 grade school and provided him with the best salary he had ever made! After four years he returned to Acherly. The return to Ackerly was in November of 1961, and the school had consolidated with Knott to form Sands CISD. His return to Acherly was in part due to the principal there being called up for service in the Bay of Pigs conflict. That year he served as part time principal and taught junior high English. The next year he coached football and basketball again, winning the district championship in basketball. That began a long tradition of district championships for the Sands Mustangs. In the fall of 1963, MB took over as Superintendent of Sands CISD, serving in that capacity until June of 1978. During that period of time, both of his boys graduated from Sands. In July of 1978, MB was hired as Superintendent of the Hobbs (TX) ISD near Rotan. He stayed there until his retirement in 1985. While there he continued his coaching. He coached his Elementary team to an undefeated season one of the years. For 24 years MB had been a resident of Abilene where he was a member of Baker Heights Church of Christ. MB was preceded in death by his wife and his parents. Survivors include two sons, Lynn Maxwell of Abilene and Kynn Maxwell and wife Jan of Midland; two brothers, Fowden Maxwell of College Station and Doyle Maxwell of Abilene; five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 15, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home Chapel, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd., Abilene, with Gary Montgomery and Ron McElyea officiating. Interment will follow in Clyde Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Charles Butler, Lynn White, Jerry Smith, Danny Myrick, Auslin Hassel and Terry Alexander. Honorary pallbearers will be Michael Maxwell, Kurt Maxwell, Cory Maxwell, Bob McCoy, Bill Whaley and Ron Heaton. Memorial contributions may be made to the donor's favorite charity.