Bobby Hamlin, former coach, school board official

Former Ville Platte High football coach, school board and Chamber of Commerce official Bobby “Coach” Max Hamlin, 82, died Friday, November 15, 2013 at his home in Ville Platte. A Funeral of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, November 18, 2013 at First Baptist Church of Ville Platte with burial to follow in Gates of Heaven Cemetery, Rev. Kevin West will officiate.
Survivors include Toni Furr Hamlin of Ville Platte and his children: Bobby Max Hamlin, Jr. and his wife, Shelley, Gladney Ardoin Hamlin and his wife, June, both of Ville Platte, Susanna Marie Hamlin and her husband, Mike Bass of Beaumont, TX. and Leah Nell Powell and her husband, Rick of Houston TX. He will be deeply mourned by his two stepdaughters: Ashley Aguillard West and her husband, Douglas of Mandeville and Amy Aguillard Avants and her husband, Mitchell of Jarreau; 17 grandchildren: Bobby Max “Macky” Hamlin III, Joseph “Joey”, John, William, Matthew and Jonathon Hamlin, Richard Fontenot, Leslie Underwood, Emily Rutherford, Sarah LaFleur, Catherine Faucheux, Reg, Ross and Rhys Davis, Caleb Avants and Austin and Alex West; 23 great-grandchildren; his two brothers: James “Jim” Hamlin and his wife, Gloria of Bartlesville, OK. and Samuel “Sam” Hamlin and his wife, Marva of Enid, OK.
He was a native of Oklahoma who made his way to his beloved Louisiana when was recruited to play football for Sacred Heart of Ville Platte; from then on his love for the game was to be a constant in his life. Max was a valuable member of one of last six man football teams. He was a proud member of the Sacred Heart Class of 1949 and went on to be inducted into the Sacred Heart Hall of Fame. Max served his country with great honor, courage and pride in the United States Army from 1952 through 1955. He then went on to graduate, in 1956, from the former Southwestern Louisiana Institute of Liberal and Technical Learning, now known as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He coached the Ville Platte High School Bulldogs to a record setting undefeated season and proudly led them to a victory in the 1965 Pony Bowl. “Coach” then moved into the administrative side of the education system serving as Assistant Principal of James Stephens Elementary School and in 1973 moved into the administrative office of the Evangeline Parish School Board. After dedicating a good part of his life to the education of the children in Evangeline Parish he retired in 1987 as Assistant Superintendent. Following his retirement, Max continued to serve his community as Executive Director of the Ville Platte Chamber of Commerce.
He was preceded in death by his parents Edgar and Mary Pounds Hamlin and 10 brothers and sisters.
Arrangements are by Ardoin's Funeral Home of Ville Platte.