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Oklahoma City is OK
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by Tom Keener
Allen native Chester Story was recently inducted into the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches’ Hall of Fame. Chester coached basketball for 42 years, 38 of these years was as a head coach at the high school and college level. His 18 years as a high school coach produced five play-off teams and he led Richland College and Brookhaven College to national tournaments, and Howard Payne University to national playoffs. In the 1999-2000 seasons, Richland had a 34-game winning streak and won the National Championship in 1999. As head coach, his career record was 695-324.
Born in Allen, Chester is the son of the late Alvis and Roberta Story and brother to Allen resident June Story Snoddy. Graduating in from Allen High School in 1955, he played football, basketball and baseball for the Allen Eagles. He credits the influence of Allen’s head coaches Pete Moseley, Gene Curtis and Lee Rountree for his succesful career. Chester states, "They possessed an aura that commanded respect and were role models that meant so much to me." In his senior year, the Allen High School Eagles won the Collin County Class B Boys’ Basketball Championship by defeating the Anna Coyotes, 50-48. Playing center, Chester scored a sensational 34 points, making a major contribution to this narrow victory over the highly skilled Coyotes. The score was tied eight times. With Chester leading the valiant defense, the Eagles blocked the Coyotes’ attempts at the basket in the last 30 seconds of the game.
After leaving Allen, Chester attended Austin College in Sherman, majoring in Business and Physical Education. "I had many professors that meant so much to me. Clyde Hall and Ralph (Slats) McCord reinforced my love of basketball and imbued me with a sense of discipline and values." [Personal: I was blessed by having these two professors at Austin College and share Chester’s admiration]. At Austin College, Chester averaged 14 points and six rebounds per game, was elected basketball captain for three years and lettered in basketball and baseball for four years. In 1999, Austin College named him Alumnus Coach of the Year. In 1962, Chester earned a Master of Education at North Texas State University in Denton.
Chester’s first coaching job was at Grapevine High School. Later assignments included Sul Ross University, Midland College, Texas High School, Howard Payne University, McKinney High School, Newman Smith High School in Carrolton, Brookhaven College and Richland College.
Under Coach Story’s leadership, Richland’s 1999 Thunderduck basket¬ball team won the Division III National Championship. When Chester became Richland’s head coach, the team had been plagued with a losing streak and academic eligibility problems. His ability to turn the team around is reminiscent of the 1986 movie Hoosiers with Gene Hackman, the story of an Indiana basketball team that won a championship against heavy odds. Chester encouraged his players not only to be athletes but student athletes. He preached that teamwork and synergy—belief in each other—could overcome the odds. To achieve this, he required the three Ds—defense, discipline and determination. The campus newspaper Richland Chronicle described the championship win as "a thunderous triumph."
Although Chester Story retired from coaching in 2001, retirement has not deterred his coaching. He volunteers as a coach for his grandchildren’s leagues and savors this opportunity.
Throughout the years, Chester’s wife Marian was a key part of his winning strategy. She served as his cheerleader, win or lose. Marian states, "Chester, you have been very fortunate to be able to do the kind of work you really wanted to do. Your vocation and avocation have been one and the same. God called you to this mission and you eagerly responded."
Pottsboro basketball coach Josh Recer sums up his feelings, "I owe Chester Story just about everything.
I can never repay him for what he has done."
Allen resident John Shearer adds, "Chester was a high school kid who took time for younger kids. He was not only our hero, but also our mentor and role model."
Chester and Marian have three children, Cheri White, Teri Vrba and Kyle Story, and six grandchildren, Drew and Whitney Vrba, Sara and Chad White, Shay and Tyler Story.
Allen is proud of, and blessed by, Chester and Marian Story. Their legacies continue in the lives of thousands of former students and athletes. |
