Robin Montgomery: Conroe’s Don Granger was a friend to the world

On Sept. 9, Conroe lost one of its most endearing figures. Leaving us at age 90, the man whom many referenced as “Coach Granger,” left an enduring legacy centered on friendship. Let’s look at this legacy of a lifetime, concluding with personal remembrances from this writer.

Don came from family stock who thought outside the proverbial box. Reflections of this trait in Montgomery County began in 1907 when his grandparents, Dr. Edwin and Colistia Granger, bought property setting in motion a plan to form a colony bearing the Granger name. Continuing the dream was Don’s father, D.D. Granger, who built 32 “shotgun” houses for oil field workers during the Great Conroe Oil Boom. The area became known as “Granger’s Camp.” Picking up the legacy, Don Granger cultivated friendships while promoting businesses in the area by then called Grangerland, a few miles outside of Conroe.

Contributory to his personal legacy of friendship, upon graduating from Conroe High in 1948, Don attended Navarro Jr. College and Midwestern on football scholarships, and after a stint in the Army became a teacher and coach starting in Cleveland and ending in Conroe. It was during the teaching era that his brand of friendship was in full display reflected in the attention he gave to his students and athletes. Among his ventures with them were trips to as far away as Florida. Students also accompanied him on his annual trip to the Cotton Bowl football classic in Dallas. These journeys nurtured lifetime friendships while molding grand character in the students.

It was during Don’s time as a student in a similar Coach-Student relationship that this writer’s personal remembrances come in to play. In the mid-1940s, Don was a student of my father, J.T. Montgomery, at Travis Jr. High in Conroe; Don also played on the basketball team dad coached. Like Don later, Montgomery treated his team like family. On many occasions after practice, the team would gather at Montgomery’s home for after dinner discussions and strategies. As a lad, seven years of age, I was the team mascot and participated in many of these events.

A sense of comradery reigned as I looked on the guys as older brothers. On occasion, the guys and my dad would pull pranks of various kinds. Most of the guys had nick names. For instance, dad was called “Monkey,” while the guys had names such as “Caveman,” “Wiggle Tail”, “Wildman” and “Armadillo.” This sense of family played a key role in the team winning all of its 32 official games, with the lone loss a practice game with a high school team. Don stood tall as a leader and role model for this great team. Exemplary of his maturity and sense of responsibility, he was my designated care taker on team trips.

Don Granger, student, athlete, teacher and businessman, was a friend to the world.

Robin Montgomery is an author, professor and history columnist for The Courier.