How A High School Football Coach Taught Me To Live Before I Die 

At some point in our journey most people start thinking about leaving a legacy. For some the idea of leaving a legacy means accumulating wealth or property to give to the next generation. A family business can be a legacy that keeps a memory alive through the years. Prestige and power can be thought of as a legacy. In the winter of 2017 I became friends with Newton Texas high school football Coach W.T. Johnston. His story of courage and faith became the basis of my book “Between the White Lines“. For eighteen months the Johnston family embedded me in their lives and shared their story with unvarnished honesty. I had no idea how much that project and that relationship would influence me. I had thought now and then about my legacy. I had always factored my accomplishments into legacy. I had a long and satisfying television directing career. I was fortunate to win a few awards. But the fact is that
Continue reading...

How A Small Town Football Coach Taught Me To Live Before I Die

At some point in our journey most people start thinking about leaving a legacy. For some the idea of leaving a legacy means accumulating wealth or property to give to the next generation. A family business can be a legacy that keeps a memory alive through the years. Prestige and power can be thought of as a legacy. In the winter of 2017 I became friends with Newton Texas high school football Coach W.T. Johnston. His story of courage and faith became the basis of my book “Between the White Lines“. For eighteen months the Johnston family embedded me in their lives and shared their story with unvarnished honesty. I had no idea how much that project and that relationship would influence me. I had thought now and then about my legacy. I had always factored my accomplishments into legacy. I had a long and satisfying television directing career. I was fortunate to win a few awards. But the fact
Continue reading...

A Football Coach Showed Me How to Leave a Legacy

At some point in our journey most people start thinking about leaving a legacy. For some the idea of leaving a legacy means accumulating wealth or property to give to the next generation. A family business can be a legacy that keeps a memory alive through the years. Prestige and power can be thought of as a legacy. In the winter of 2017 I became friends with Newton Texas high school football Coach W.T. Johnston. His story of courage and faith became the basis of my book “Between the White Lines“. For eighteen months the Johnston family embedded me in their lives and shared their story with unvarnished honesty. I had no idea how much that project and that relationship would influence me. I had thought now and then about my legacy. I had always factored my accomplishments into legacy. I had a long and satisfying television directing career. I was fortunate to win a few awards. But the fact
Continue reading...

What Would My Last Message Be?

I only knew W.T. Johnston for a year and a half while writing Between the White Lines but his impact on my life has been remarkable. He knew his time was limited by an incurable lung disease. I remember expressing my sadness for his prognosis. W.T.’s response still amazes me. “I have been given a great gift. A lot of people don’t have a chance to see how their life mattered and to say what they need to say to others.” His post-game message after the nationally televised state title game has been seen by millions. I don’t know how much time is left on my life odometer. It could be 30 years. It could be 30 days. I spent some time this week wondering what my message would be if I knew my time was limited. I think it would look something like this. Love your wife.Most of us repeated something like this on our wedding day. I, (Guy
Continue reading...

The Incredible Power of Example

Last week I speculated about the need for white mentors and leaders to step up boldly in support of our black brothers and sisters in Christ. In my latest book I wrote about a remarkable coach who was known for his absolute color blind approach to leading young men. W.T. Johnston forged a remarkable legacy. His dad Sonny was not a follower of Christ when W.T. was a youngster and it bothered him that his father would not accompany the family to church. But Sonny Johnston’s ingrained sense of justice and fairness changed his son’s life by example. Today’s excerpt from Between the White Lines is a bit longer but I hope you will find it worth your time. It is a lesson for all of us. Sonny Johnston grew up in a sheltered environment in rural Oklahoma. When the Korean War broke out his limited perception of the world was about to change quickly. After enlisting in the Army,
Continue reading...