Nick Nicholson

N.L. “Nick” Nicholson died September 29, 2010, at the age of 84 in San Antonio, Texas, after a long fight against Alzheimer’s disease. He was born December 3, 1925, in Farmersville, Texas, to N.L. Nicholson, Sr. and Susie Mae Maynard Nicholson.

Nick attended public schools in Greenville, Texas, and graduated from Greenville High School where he played football and other sports. He entered the U.S. Navy on March 1, 1944, and served until June 2, 1946. While in the Navy he attended Arkansas A&M and Rice University, where he played football. Nick was named to the Associated Press All-Southwest Conference first team in 1945 as right guard. He played two more seasons at Rice as a civilian. On January 1, 1948, Rice beat the University of Tennessee in the Orange Bowl. Graduation from Rice University was in 1948 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education. In 1952 Nick received a Master of Science degree in Education from North Texas University, Denton, Texas. He met the love of his life, Helen Terry, at church in Greenville, Texas, and they were married on July 7, 1952.

Nick began his career at Brazosport High School, Freeport, Texas where he taught biology and coached football for eight years, serving as head football coach for four years. In 1956 Nick and Helen moved to Abilene, Texas, where he became head football coach at Abilene Christian University. He remained there through the 1961 football season.

In 1962, Nick began a career as a life insurance underwriter for Amicable Life Insurance Company. He was a prominent life insurance agent in Abilene for 35 years and received his Chartered Life Underwriter designation in 1969. Nick was General Manager of the Abilene Agency for 26 years and was named Manager of the Year 3 times. Later, the company sold to, and Nick worked for, American General Life Insurance Company. He was a member of the Abilene Association of Life Underwriters, Texas Association of Life Underwriters, National Association of Life Underwriters, General Agents and Managers Association, Million Dollar Round Table, and the Kiwanis Club of Abilene.

His greatest honor, however, was serving as a Deacon and Elder at the University Church of Christ, where he was a member since 1956. One of the special things Nick did was to record himself reading the entire New Testament and making copies for his wife and three children. He loved to fish and take care of his yard. Many hours were spent doing both. Nick loved playing with his grandchildren, whether it be playing “hide and seek” or “catch” with the football.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Helen Nicholson; twin daughters, Carol Nelson and her husband, Jeff of San Antonio; Cheryl Lucas and her husband, Guy of Abilene; a son, Lee Nicholson and wife, Helen from Highland Village; and five grandchildren: Nathan Nicholson, Nelson Nicholson, Haley Lucas, Christopher Nelson, and Nataleigh Nelson; a nephew, Ron Nicholson of Milton, Florida, and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.

The funeral will be Saturday, October 2nd, at 2 pm at the University Church of Christ in Abilene with Bill Young officiating. Burial will follow at Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories Cemetery on Highway 277. Visitation will be at Piersall Benton Funeral Home, 733 Butternut from 5-7 pm on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the N.L. “Nick” and Helen Nicholson Endowed Scholarship at Abilene Christian University, P.O. Box 29132, Abilene, Texas, 79699. Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.