Tynes Hildebrand

Tynes Hildebrand (Coach), 93, made his home in Heaven on July 28, 2024. A service celebrating his life will be held on Sunday, August 4, 2024 at 3:30 pm at the First Baptist Church of Natchitoches, Louisiana. A visitation with the family will be held at 2:00 pm prior to the service at the Church. He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. He was a collector of friends and had more than you could ever count.

Tynes was born February 25, 1931 in Florien, Louisiana and lived there with his parents, Hez and Isabel Hildebrand. He graduated from Florien High School before entering Northwestern State University on a basketball and track scholarship and lettered in both sports for all four years. He graduated with honors with degrees in Education and Science. He earned a Master’s degree plus 50 graduate hours.

After graduation, he served in the military at Fort Bliss and at the Hanford Atomic projects in the state of Washington. There he was awarded the Top Officer award in the Western Defense command.

After military service, Tynes returned to Natchitoches to teach and coach at Natchitoches High School and later became Head Basketball coach at Northwestern State Univerisity. He coached championship teams at all levels and was honored to be part of selection coaches for the United States Olympic Team in 1972.

In 1982, Tynes was named Athletic Director at NSU and retired in 1996. During that time, NSU moved from the Gulf Star Conference to the Southland Conference.

After his retirement from NSU, Tynes began his work for the NCAA where he served until 2014 as referee trainer and evaluator of major college basketball officials.

Tynes was active in the Natchitoches community. He was long time member of the Kiwanis Club and served as President. He and wife, Julia, served as co-chair of the Natchitoches Christmas Festival in 1982, and was named Man of the Year in Natchitoches that year. He was named to the NSU Sports Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Natchitoches where he was a deacon, Sunday School and Training Union teacher.

Tynes treasured his family and talked about the great years he and wife, Julia, had together. They were married 73 years. They loved to cruise, travel to various countries, numerous U.S. states, and athletics events which included children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Julia, his sons, Tynes Jr. and wife Trish, and Bruce and wife, Nancy and grandchildren, John and his wife, Alice, Jackson and his wife, Curri, Joseph and his wife, Emily, Brent and his wife, Allison, and Cara Grace Gray and her husband Andrew. Also great grandchildren, Hannah, Hayden, Hudson, Ellie, Hazel, Charlotte, Hattie, Adelyn and Sam.

Tynes liked to be the master of ceremonies at events and tell funny stories and see smiles of audience faces. Tynes was indeed very blessed with his life. He stated “Love one another, take care of one another and always have faith in God”.

Special thanks to Dr. Paul (Corky) Davis who took tremendous care of Tynes and was such an outstanding family friend.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Tynes Hildebrand Athletic Scholarship Fund at NSU.