State coaches honor former Jackson coach Paul Webber

~ The former Jackson coach was inducted into the state's Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame

The man who helped build the Jackson High School football program into a perennial power recently received a major honor, albeit posthumously.

Paul Webber, who died in 1998, was inducted into the Missouri Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Lake of the Ozarks earlier this month.

"It's very deserving," said former Jackson coach Carl Gross, who was an assistant on Webber's staff for eight years before succeeding Webber as the Indians' boss in 1989. "He was a great man and a great coach."

Webber compiled a 130-71-2 record at Jackson from 1969 through 1988 and led the school to its first state playoff berth in 1972. The former Southeast Missouri State football player later continued his success at Poplar Bluff -- his alma mater -- and led the Mules to an undefeated regular season in 1990.

Nic Antoine, who wrote the book "The Jackson Indians: 100 Years of Gridiron Glory," told the Southeast Missourian last year that Webber "was the most influential person in Jackson football history, without a doubt."

Gross said Webber excelled not only because of his knowledge of the game but also his ability to motivate and relate to his players. A gregarious personality, keen sense of humor and carnival-like showmanship didn't hurt either.

"He had a tremendous personality," Gross said. "He was great with the media and he was a showman. We used to get tickled. ... We never knew what kind of hat he was going to wear [for a game]. He was kind of a P.T. Barnum of football because he was a wheeler and a dealer. He was something, just a very unique person.

"He always had food for the kids and he was a real motivator for the kids. He spent a lot of time trying to get the kids ready."

Gross said among Webber's best traits in directing his coaching staff was allowing his assistants plenty of control.

"I guess one of the biggest things about Paul, he'd hire you and then let you coach. He'd leave you alone," said Gross, who served as Webber's offensive coordinator. "During the years I was with him, he pretty much turned the offense over to me. It was a fun time for me as a coach."

Webber also is a member of the Missouri Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He had a 118-17 dual-match record as Jackson's wrestling coach from 1970 through 1982, leading the Indians to the 1977 state championship while directing them to 16 district titles and 14 conference crowns.

"He was a great coach in wrestling as well as football," Gross said.

Webber's daughter, Julie Rush, said the recent MFBCA Hall of Fame induction was a memorable occasion.

Rush, her four brothers and their families -- 15 people in all -- attended the induction ceremony.

"It was a great honor and a very classy ceremony," Rush said.

Also inducted into the MFBCA Hall of Fame along with Webber were two other coaches with Southeast Missouri ties: Jim McKay, the longtime Portageville coach who died this year; and Matt Haug, who coached at several regional high schools, including Dexter.