Jethro Pugh Jr.'s Obituary
Jethro Pugh, age 70, died on January 7, 2015, in Dallas, Texas, of natural causes. Jethro was born on July 3, 1944 in Windsor, North Carolina, where he attended Bertie High School. At the age of 16, Jethro attended Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) in North Carolina, where he played for the Vikings football team, becoming a two-time All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) defensive end in 1963 and 1964 and one of only five players to have his jersey retired by the University. Jethro was only twenty years old when he started his professional career as a backup defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys, having been selected by the Cowboys in the 1965 NFL draft. He played with the Cowboys for fourteen seasons, from 1965 through 1978, representing the fourth-longest career in Cowboys’ history and including a then-NFL record of twenty-three playoff games. As a member of the Cowboys’ famed “Doomsday Defense,” Jethro helped the team win two Super Bowls and five NFC Championships and to qualify for the NFL post-season in twelve out of thirteen seasons. During Jethro’s impressive career, he led the Cowboys in sacks for five consecutive seasons (before it became an official statistic) and currently ranks sixth on the Cowboys’ all-time sacks list. Pugh retired from the NFL on January 29, 1979. Among his many distinctions, Jethro has been inducted into the CIAA Hall of Fame, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the ECSU Sports Hall of Fame, the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame, and the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame. While the public saw Jethro as an amazing football player, his family, friends and teammates also knew Jethro as a kind, loving and selfless man – a “gentle giant” at his height of 6’6”. Following his football career, Jethro was a successful businessman and owned a number of gift shops at DFW International Airport. He was as hard-working, sharp, and tireless in business as he was on the football field. Jethro was also very dedicated to the community. His tremendous moral compass guided him to devote his time to various charities, including hosting an annual Jethro Pugh Scholarship Invitational golf tournament for over twenty years to raise funds for the United Negro College Fund. Jethro was preceded in death by his mother, Mamie Coggins Pugh; father, Jethro Pugh Sr.; his brothers Luther Coggins Pugh, Robert Pugh and Jerry Pugh. He leaves to cherish his memory two loving and devoted children, son Jethro Pugh III (daughter-in-law Tracey), and daughter, Jethrolyn Pugh; five grandchildren, Keana Pratt, Jacob Pugh, Jessica Pugh, Madison Morris and McKenzie Morris; a loving brother, Michael Pugh, and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and other dear relatives and friends. The Pugh family will receive family and friends during the visitation on Wednesday, January 14, 2015 from 6-8p.m., at Restland Funeral Home, 9220 Restland Road, Dallas, Texas 75243. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 15, 2015 at 11:00 in morning at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, 1808 W. Camp Wisdom Road, Dallas, Texas 75232. Donations in memory of Jethro may be made to the Jethro Pugh Scholarship Fund c/o Indian Woods Missionary Baptist Church, 2230 Indian Woods Road, Windsor, North Carolina 27983.
What’s your fondest memory of Jethro?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jethro?
Share a story where Jethro's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jethro you’ll never forget.
How did Jethro make you smile?