Pittman Keen, who coached some of the Greenville Lions’ top football teams in the 1970s and in 1980, has passed at the age of 81.

Keen, who was also a head football coach at Quinlan Ford, died on Sunday following a long illness. His service is set for 2 p.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church in Greenville. Visitation is planned from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home in Greenville.

Keen made a big impact on the many lives that he touched, more than he ever realized, according to Randy Tarpley, one of Keen’s former players in Greenville and a close friend.

“His life was wrapped up in what he did,” said Tarpley. “He was a life coach. He wasn’t just a coach.”

Keen coached 15 seasons as a head football coach, including from 1974 to 1983 with the Lions and from 1991-1994 at Ford. His career record was 73-75-3.

His 1978 Greenville team went 9-1, sharing the District 13-4A title, and produced several top college players, including quarterback Nate Mason and running back/receiver Ricky Simmons, who both played at Nebraska.

Keen’s 1980 Lion team was 10-0 on the playing field but missed going to the playoffs due to an ineligible player. That team produced 12 players that competed in college athletics, including running back Robert Lewis, who was a starter at Texas Tech.

His 1994 Quinlan Ford team also went 7-3-1, making the playoffs.

Keen was an assistant coach with the Greenville Lions under Larry Hogue from 1963-1973. The 1970 Lions, led by running back Mike Thomas, was a 9-1 District 13-4A co-champion. Thomas went on to earn NFL Rookie of the Year honors with the Washington Redskins.

Keen was born on Nov. 20, 1937 in Quitman County, Miss. He was a standout football player and basketball player in high school at Marks, Miss. and later played football as a center and offensive lineman at Delta State in Mississippi and as a member of the U.S. Army.

He was an E4 Specialist in the Army and also served as the manager of the Army basketball team.

His first coaching job was an assistant at West Helena, Ark. under Hogue. He followed Hogue to Greenville.

Keen assisted his former player Phil Blue at Quinlan Ford before becoming the head coach of the Panthers.

Keen is survived by his wife Geneva, who was at every game. Geneva worked 33 years at E-Systems/Raytheon before retiring.

“I tried to support Pitt as much as possible,” she said.

Mrs. Keen said being the wife of a coach “was pretty tough.”

“When he lost, it was so devastating.”

But she said, “I loved every bit of it.”

Keen’s also survived by his son Ray Keen, Jr., who played guard for the Lions in the 1977-78 football seasons.

“He always treated me like a son, not a player,” said Keen.

Ray Jr. said his father taught him a lot about football and a lot about life, including showing respect for other people.

Keen said on the field he was treated “the same as any other player.”

“He always supported me and he always supported his coaches and other athletes,” said Keen. “I spent 18 years down at that field house, learning to love football.”

Ray Jr. said though his father was from Mississippi, “He loved Texas.”

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