Former Bossier High star athlete and longtime Bossier Parish School Board member J.W. Slack passed away Saturday. He was 87.
Visitation is Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. at Airline Baptist Church. A funeral service will be conducted by Harrell Shelton at 2 p.m. Wednesday, also at Airline Baptist.
Slack served as a member of the school board representing District 7 for 25 years before retiring in 2022.
At Bossier High, Slack was a standout in football, baseball and track and field. He was a two-time All-City selection at running back in 1953 and 1954.
According to an article written by Nico Van Thyn for Louisiana Tech Sports Information upon Slack’s induction into the Tech Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019, Slack scored 106 points, scoring 16 touchdowns and 10 PATs in his senior season at Bossier. He rushed for 1,130 yards on 139 carries.
At Louisiana Tech, he was a three-time all-conference selection. He was a running back, safety, punter, place kicker and kick returner, according to the Hall of Fame story.
Slack’s sons, Terry and Jay, followed in their father’s footsteps as football players at Tech. Terry went on to be the head football coach at Airline for 10 years.
Slack’s grandson Hayden also played for the Bulldogs at wide receiver. Hayden is now the area director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
J.W. Slack’s induction into the Tech Hall of Fame came 60 years after his final season.
The Bulldogs won three Gulf States Conference titles in 1957, 1958 and 1959 during his time there.
After college, Slack signed with the Los Angeles Chargers of the American Football League which was just getting off the ground.
After two years, he returned home to be with his wife Ginger and sons Dwayne and Terry. “Jay was on the way but had not yet arrived,” his obituary states.
Slack had the opportunity to coach and teach but instead joined the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Department and later the City Marshal’s office. His career in law enforcement spanned 30 years.
In 1951, Slack surrendered his life to Jesus Christ at a Billy Graham Crusade in Shreveport.
Slack’s wife Ginger passed away in 2010. They were married for 57 years.
“Our parents showed us what a marriage that honored God was supposed to look like,” his obituary states. “We were taught the importance of prayer, Bible Study, and church attendance.
“Our dad was the example of how a Godly husband stands by, loves, and cares for his wife. He took care of our mother through the years she was battling Multiple Myeloma.”
The Slacks were faithful members of Airline Baptist.
“He served as a choir member, deacon, and member of the Randy Wilkes Sunday School Class,” his obit states.