Charles M. English passed away on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. He was surrounded by his wife and children in the comfort of his home. Charles was a native of Mansfield, Louisiana, and had been a resident of Sulphur since 1974. He was a graduate of Mansfield High School, USL, and McNeese State University. While in college at USL in Lafayette, he was a 5 year letterman on the USL basketball team. Charles coached basketball at Plaucheville High, Bienville High, Ebarb High, DeQunicy High, and Starks. He also taught elementary PE at Vinton and Frasch. He was known by many as “Big Charlie”, “Big Chuck”, “Gentle Giant”, “Big Coach”, “Par-Grand”, and “Charz”. Charles enjoyed sharing many stories of former students, former games, and former coaches. He was the absolute biggest fan of his grandchildren.
Charles is survived by his wife of 50 years Dianne Guy English; his children, Stuart Clifton English and wife Traci, Katy Elizabeth English Doucet and husband Corey; grandchildren, Jacob Paul English, Molly Elizabeth Peveto, and Ethan Pierce Doucet; one aunt Bobbie English of Mansfield; mother-in-law Frances Clifton; brother-in-law Steve Clifton of Wharton, TX; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Paul and Karen Clifton; and nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Visitation will be Sunday, November 25th at Henning Memorial United Methodist Church (404 South Huntington, Sulphur, Louisiana) from 2-5. A memorial service will begin at 5pm in the sanctuary. Burial will take place at Pollard Cemetery in Lula in DeSoto Parish at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Louisiana Baptist Childrens Home (7200 Desiard Street, Monroe, LA), Pollard Cemetery (c/o Don Ray English, 4968 Highway 84 East, Mansfield, LA, 71052), the Beryl Shipley Mended Hearts Scholarship (UL Development Office, P.O. Box 43410, Lafayette, LA 70504), or a charity of their choice.
Athletic Network Footnote by Dr. Ed Dugas, friend of Charlie since his first semester at USL.
Click here for his Athletic Network Profile.
Please find below Charlie and his 1966-67 teammates.
Click here for Charlie, one of the first to enter the press conference on Aug. 28, 2002, when the Athletic Network went on line. He has been an important part of that history.
Click here for Dianne and Charlie at the 2002 Shipley Reunion at Acadian Village.
Click here for Charlie visiting with Bob Cutrer and Dean Church.
Click here for Charlie at Walk of Honor with Shipley players at 2002 Reunion.
Click here for Charlie back in the confines of Long Gym.
Click here for Charlie, Dean Church and Jimmy Dykes in the Cajun Dome for Dean’s Jersey Retirement, Feb. 25, 2012.
Click here for the 10 chapter video of the 2002 Shipley Reunion. Chapter 3 contains an interview which Charlie gave prior to the banquet that evening.