John Paul "Coach" Hobgood

John Paul “Coach” Hobgood, 78, a native of West Monroe, LA, and a resident of Houma, LA, passed away on June 11, 2023.

Family and friends of the family are invited to attend a Memorial Service at Chauvin Funeral Home on Thursday, July 13, 2023, beginning at 5:00 P.M.

Ministry service and Celebration of Paul’s life will follow at 7:00 P.M. An additional service will be held on Saturday, July 15, 2023, at 10:00 A.M., at Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe, with burial to take place after.

As a teenager Paul excelled in track and football at West Monroe High School which led to a scholarship for track to Northeast Louisiana University (now ULM) where he met his wife. 

While at WMHS he earned several medals for pole vaulting and relay at regional and state meets. At WMHS he was also in FBLA, Letterman’s Club, Basketball, and All State Track Team.  At NLU/ULM he also earned Pole Vault medals in local meets and the Gulf States Conference (‘64, ‘65), I-AAA District Meet, Civitan Relays in Memphis, and ‘66 Division Indoor Meet at Dallas.  He earned a BAE in physical education, MED, and Education Specialist degree from NLU/ULM.  He was a member of NLU Phi Delta Kappa for professional educators. 

He was a devoted teacher and coach at SMS and Terrebonne High School in the late 60s to mid-70s. He was proud of his coaching days, and to this day loves that he is still called “coach.”  He coached the THS track team to win several titles and trophies over the years including ‘70 State Champions.

In 2009, THS inducted him to their Athletic Hall of Fame.  After teaching he switched to work in the oilfield where he excelled in sales and business. He was naturally driven, which led him to open his own company, Hobco. He did well in business as well as inventing and developing specialized machinery and patents on oil field equipment. His impeccable staff of many years was like family to him. 

He enjoyed watching his grandson play sports, fishing, camping, and the outdoors with friends and family. If he cooked, it was with a giant pot or an oversized grill. He loved reminiscing with his high school and college friends at reunions.  In his later years he loved spending time at Downtown Jeaux coffee shop to see guys he used to coach and making new friends. 

“Coach” Paul will be remembered for his energy, charisma, generosity, and bringing people together. He will be forever missed by the people in his life. He did feel that he lived a full life.

Paul is survived by his loving family, his daughters, Kelly Hobgood and Paula Howard; son-in-law, Frederic Howard; Grandson, Logan Howard; siblings, Kernel Hobgood and Tomi McClain.

Paul is preceded in passing by his wife of 52 years, Linda Jones Hobgood; parents, Thomas Hobgood and Violet Coates Hobgood; and his brother, Virgil Hobgood.