By Doug Ireland, Journal Sports

Billy Montgomery, who coached Haughton to a pair of boys basketball state championships before becoming one of the state’s most influential legislators, died overnight Tuesday at age 87.

Funeral arrangements are set for early next week for Montgomery, who lived in Bossier Parish after growing up in rural Natchitoches Parish.

Visitation will be Monday from 4-8 p.m. in Haughton High School’s Billy Montgomery Gymnasium, with the funeral Tuesday morning at 10 at his church, Central Assembly of God in Haughton on U.S. Highway 80 just past the Louisiana Downs racetrack.

Known statewide as “Coach Montgomery” in respect to his very successful high school basketball coaching career, he spent 20 years (1988-2008) as a legislator serving Bossier Parish in the state House of Representatives. He was widely recognized for his advocacy for education, health care, law enforcement and the state sheriffs’ association, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, horse racing, legalized gambling, restoration of the Louisiana Superdome after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and many other good causes. His ability to build non-partisan coalitions was remarkable, observers said.

Montgomery was a driving force behind securing state funding for a new $60 million campus for Bossier Parish Community College, which issued a statement Tuesday noting his “vision and leadership left an indelible mark on our institution and the broader Bossier community. Known for his passion for education and deep commitment to public service, Coach Montgomery played a pivotal role in shaping the future of BPCC.”

He also helped obtain additional funds to purchase land that today provides essential parking space, supporting the expansion of student access and campus development, the statement said.

BPCC Chancellor Dr. Rick Bateman Jr. paid tribute to the iconic local leader.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Coach Billy Montgomery, a steadfast advocate for education and a treasured member of our college family. As a former legislator and longtime member of the BPCC Foundation Board of Directors, Coach brought vision, integrity, and heart to everything he did,” said Bateman. “His leadership helped shape the college we know today, and his enduring legacy is reflected in the countless lives he touched and the strong, vibrant institution he helped build.”

His support for his alma mater, Northwestern State, was impactful, as he served in the legislature during an era when the university set enrollment records. Montgomery was a mentor to Mike McConathy, who started the basketball program at BPCC and went on to become Louisiana’s winningest college coach after 23 seasons at Northwestern.

Montgomery was a 2012 inductee in the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame, a year after he entered the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame as the 2011 recipient of the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award. He earned that recognition for his support of high school sports in the state, his influence in long-term success for Louisiana Downs in Bossier City and the state’s horse racing industry, and for being a vital player in obtaining support in the state legislature and from Governors Mike Foster and Kathleen Blanco to launch construction of the $23 million Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum in downtown Natchitoches.

In 2019, he was enshrined in the Long Purple Line, Alumni Hall of Distinction at Northwestern and is one of only 157 individuals so honored in the 140-year history of the institution.

Among other distinctions: inductions in the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame and the Ark-La-Tex Museum of Champions (in 2016), the 2010 Distinguished American Award from the North Louisiana chapter of the National Football Foundation, and being chosen “Mr. Louisiana Basketball” in 2009 by the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches, which includes him in the LABC Hall of Fame.

He was listed as “A Leader of the Century” in 2002 by the Shreveport Times and was the only individual to receive the International Police Award in 1990.

The Provencal High School alumnus served in the United States Army from 1959-64, graduating from Northwestern in 1960 with an education degree. He obtained a master’s degree in 1966 in administration and supervision, and did additional work at NSU toward his plus 30 certification, along with taking classes at LSU, Louisiana Tech and ULM.

Montgomery began his educational career as a teacher and assistant football, track and basketball coach at Haughton High School in 1960. Five years later he took over as the Bucs’ head basketball coach and was an immediate success, guiding Haughton to the state championship game in 1967, then back-to-back state championships in 1968 and 1969. He was named state Coach of the Year in Class 3A in 1967 and 1968 by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

He coached at Lafayette High in 1969-70, with the Lions posting a 27-7 record as Montgomery won another district Coach of the Year honor, before being enticed to return to Haughton as an assistant principal for the 1970-71 school year. He returned to coaching the Bucs for four more seasons in the late 1970s. He became the school’s principal in 1984 and served until retiring to pursue the District 9 seat in the House of Representatives.

In 10 seasons as a head boys basketball coach, Montgomery had a 304-77 record. He took the Buccaneers to five state tournaments and all 10 of his teams reached the playoffs in an era when only the top two teams in each district got to the postseason.

Along with Haughton’s basketball court bearing his name, Bossier Parish CC dedicated Coach Billy Montgomery Court in his honor in 2018.  Last fall, he was an inaugural inductee in the Haughton High School Hall of Fame.

After his legislative service ended, Montgomery worked with the Bossier Parish Police Jury from 2008-21, serving as a legislative liason and a project manager. He also worked extensively with the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission, serving as its chairman for several years and helping attract many events large and small to the twin cities.

At a 2021 retirement ceremony, state Senate president and longtime legislative leader John Alario said Montgomery was a servant leader for all of Louisiana.

“I have known and worked with Billy Montgomery for many years and I can truthfully say he is the example of dedication and hard work,” said Alario.

“He always served his district well, but if someone asked for his help, he never asked who their representative was. He would do whatever he could to assist them, no matter where they lived.”