Thomas "T" Cook  1/11/1933 -9/3/2007

Thomas Bradford Cook, 74, of Frankston, passed away September 3, 2007. He was born January 11, 1933. Forty-seven years serving public education is his professional legacy. A Christian, Mason, and loving family patriarch is his personal story.

Mr. Cook had served the Frankston Independent School District for 40 years before an illness caused him to relinquish his duties. Prior to that, he had served seven years as a teacher-coach at Mt. Enterprise ISD, after graduating from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. He is a 1951 graduate of Frankston High School.

The veteran educator returned to his hometown to become a fulltime social studies teacher in 1967.  When the school decided to reinstate a football program which had been discontinued in 1950, Mr. Cook agreed to take over as head coach. He had been a quarterback on one of the last teams to play before the program was discontinued.  In his new job, Coach Cook led the team in a year of junior varsity competition in 1972 and a perfect 10-0 record that year. He then led the Indians on a four-year revival of Frankston football fortunes, culminating in a District 18-A championship, a bi-district win over Blooming Grove, a regional victory over Overton and a trip to the state Class A quarterfinals against powerful Mart. Coach Cook was honored by being selected an East Texas Coach of the Year for his and the Indians’ accomplishment. During the four years at the FHS helm, Coach Cook compiled a 26-16-1 record in varsity play before stepping down as head coach at the close of the 1976 season. During the 1976 season, his team posted a 10-2-1 season record and a 5-0 district mark. The team had 7-3 records for the two prior years. Coach Cook also served as head baseball coach. Shortly after his resignation from his head coaching duties, Mr. Cook took over fulltime duties as principal of Frankston Elementary School, a position he held until 1988, when he returned to teaching and assisting with the Frankston football program.  After his years as head football coach, he rarely missed a Frankston football game, at home or away and regularly attended other Frankston sporting events. I

In recent years, Cook had been serving as textbook coordinator for Frankston ISD and helping out in any other ways he could.  He was an “early riser” and it was not uncommon to see him returning from an early errand as others were leaving for work. Those who knew him best also were well-advised to “call him early” in the evening, because, when he could, he went to bed early.  He liked to fish, alone or with friends or family, and he faithfully tended his lawn and his farm.  He had a passion for his role as a public school teacher, administrator and coach and would have begun his 41st year at Frankston ISD had his health allowed, family members said.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Naomi Ruth Cook; children include Tommy D. Cook and wife Lisa of the Woodlands and Gena L. (Cook) Stoke and husband Aaron of Round Rock; grandchildren are Jesse L. Cook, Minnie A. (Cook) Baker and husband Matt, and Anissa L. Stoke; great-granddaughter, Brooklyn R. Baker and sister, Juanita Conaway of Frankston.

He was preceded in death by brother, Otis “Poncho” R. Cook.

Pallbearers are Austin Thacker, G. V. “Bo” Ousley, Raymond Nichols, Jerry Beard, Mike Cook, Johnny Burks, Jim Smith, and Robert Loper. Honorary pallbearers are Troy House, Larry Weesner, Karla Dennis, Sarah Thacker, Joan Moseley, D.A. “Doodle” Beard, Mickey Kirkpatrick, Sonny Perry, James (Turk) Monday, Les Wells, T.L. Beard, and Billy Bacon.

Visitation services are scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m, Sept. 5 at Autry Funeral Home, Jacksonville. 

Funeral services will be at the Frankston First Baptist Church, beginning at 3 p.m., Sept. 6, with Olin Boles, Chris White, J.A. Griffin, and Darin Wood officiating.  Burial will be at the Frankston City Cemetery.
If desired, memorials may be made to the Frankston City Cemetery, c/o Billy Bussey, 304 E Reagan St, Frankston, TX 75763, the church of your choice, or Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University, Tyler, TX 75701.

Information from Autry Funeral Home

THOMAS BRADFORD COOK

Funeral for Thomas Bradford Cook, 74, of Frankston was at 3 p.m. Friday at the Frankston First Baptist Church with Olin Boles, Chris White, J.A. Griffin and Darin Wood officiating. Burial was in Frankston City Cemetery.

Mr. Cook died Sept. 3. He was born Jan. 11, 1933. He graduated from Frankston High School and Stephen F. Austin State University. Mr. Cook spent 47 years in public education, 40 of those at the Frankston ISD, the other time spent at Mount Enterprise.

He served as teacher, coach and principal. As head coach at Frankston High School he led the Indians to a District 18A championship, a bi-district win over Blooming Grove, a regional victory over Overton and a trip to the state Class A quarterfinals against Mart. He was selected an East Texas Coach of the Year for his and the team's accomplishments.

He was preceded in death by brother, Otis (Poncho) R. Cook.

He is survived by wife of 54 years Naomi Ruth Cook; children, Tommy D. Cook and wife Lisa of the Woodlands and Gena L. Cook Stoke and husband Aaron of Round Rock; grandchildren, Jesse L. Cook, Minnie A. Cook Baker and husband Matt, and Anissa L. Stoke; great-granddaughter Brooklyn R. Baker; and a sister Juanita Conaway of Frankston.

Pallbearers were Austin Thacker, G. V. (Bo) Ousley, Raymond Nichols, Jerry Beard, Mike Cook, Johnny Burks, Jim Smith and Robert Loper.

Honorary pallbearers were Troy House, Larry Weesner, Karla Dennis, Sarah Thacker, Joan Moseley, D.A. (Doodle) Beard, Mickey Kirkpatrick, Sonny Perry, James Turk Monday, Les Wells, T.L. Beard and Billy Bacon. Autry Funeral Home was in charge.

Information from The Cherokeean Herald

Thomas Bradford Cook

Thomas Bradford Cook, 74, of Frankston, passed away Sept. 3, 2007. He was born Jan. 11, 1933. Forty-seven years serving public education is his professional legacy. A Christian, Mason, and loving family patriarch is his personal story.

Mr. Cook had served the Frankston Independent School District for 40 years before an illness caused him to relinquish his duties. Prior to that he had served seven years as a teacher-coach at Mt. Enterprise ISD after graduating from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. He is a 1951 graduate of Frankston High School.

The veteran educator returned to his hometown to become a fulltime social studies teacher in 1967.When the school decided to reinstate a football program which had been discontinued in 1950, Mr. Cook agreed to take over as head coach. He had been a quarterback on one of the last teams to play before the program was discontinued.

In his new job, Coach Cook led the team in a year of junior varsity competition in 1972 and a perfect 10-0 record that year. He then led the Indians on a four-year revival of Frankston football fortunes, culminating in a District 18-A championship, a bi-district win over Blooming Grove, a regional victory over Overton and a trip to the state Class A quarterfinals against powerful Mart.

Coach Cook was honored by being selected an East Texas Coach of the Year for his and the Indians’ accomplishment.

During the four years at the FHS helm, Coach Cook compiled a 26-16-1 record in varsity play before stepping down as head coach at the close of the 1976 season. During the 1976 season, his team posted an 10-2-1 season record and a 5-0 district mark. The team had 7-3 records for the two prior years.

Coach Cook also served as head baseball coach.

Shortly after his resignation from his head coaching duties, Mr. Cook took over fulltime duties as principal of Frankston Elementary School, a position he held until 1988, when he returned to teaching and assisting with the Frankston football program.

After his years as head football coach, he rarely missed a Frankston football game, at home or away and regularly attended other Frankston sporting events.

In recent years, Cook had been serving as textbook coordinator for Frankston ISD and helping out in any other ways he could.

He was an “early riser” and it was not uncommon to see him returning from an early errand as others were leaving for work. Those who knew him best also were well-advised to “call him early” in the evening because, when he could, he went to bed early.

He liked to fish, alone or with friends or family, and he faithfully tended his lawn and his farm. He had a passion for his role as a public school teacher, administrator and coach and would have begun his 41st year at Frankston ISD had his health allowed, family members said.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years Naomi Ruth Cook. Children include Tommy D. Cook and wife Lisa of the Woodlands and Gena L. (Cook) Stoke and husband Aaron of Round Rock. His grandchildren are Jesse L. Cook, Minnie A. (Cook) Baker and  husband Matt, and Anissa L. Stoke; great-granddaughter Brooklyn R. Baker and sister Juanita Conaway of Frankston. He was preceded in death by his brother, Otis “Poncho” R. Cook.

Pallbearers are Austin Thacker, G. V. “Bo” Ousley, Raymond Nichols, Jerry Beard, Mike Cook, Johnny Burks, Jim Smith, and Robert Loper. 

Honorary pallbearers are Troy House, Larry Weesner, Karla Dennis, Sarah Thacker, Joan Moseley, D.A. “Doodle” Beard, Mickey Kirkpatrick, Sonny Perry, James (Turk) Monday, Les Wells, T.L. Beard, and Billy Bacon.

Visitation services are scheduled from 6-8 p.m, Sept. 5 at the Autry Funeral Home, Jacksonville. Funeral services will be at the Frankston First Baptist Church beginning at 3 p.m., Sept. 6 with Olin Boles, Chris White, J.A. Griffin, and Darin Wood officiating. Burial will be at the Frankston City Cemetery.  

If desired, memorials may be made to the Frankston City Cemetery, the church of your choice, or the Hospice of East Texas 4111 University, Tyler, Texas 75701.

 September 5, 2007, Information from the Jacksonville Daily Progress