Dennis Michael (Mike) Williamson
Williamson, 76
Dennis Michael (Mike) Williamson, 76, of Bandera, died on Saturday, March 15, 2025, surrounded by his family after a brief battle with cancer. He was born on April 30, 1948 in Crystal City, the son of George Lloyd Williamson and Vera Mae Williamson (née Wood).
Mike is survived by his wife Sherrie Ann, children John Walker, Joy Taylor, and Kathryn Ann, daughter-in-law Erica Williamson, son-in-law Derek Smith, brother George Ronald Williamson, and his grandchildren John Wesley Williamson, Michael Isaiah Williamson, Avery Mae Smith, June Harper Smith, and Justin Anthony Blakley.
Mike graduated from Crystal City High School in 1966 after being a four-year letterman in football and track. He went on to play football first at the University of Houston and then Texas A&I in Kingsville. At Texas A&I, Mike played fullback on the 1969 NAIA National Championship team.
After graduating from Texas A&I, Mike began a coaching career of over 30 years in South Texas; with stops at Orange Grove, Pearsall, El Dorado, Devine, Carrizo Springs, Laredo, Uvalde, and Bandera.
Early in his coaching career, Mike was stricken with Guillain-Barré syndrome and overcame months of near complete paralysis to fully recover. Throughout the rest of his life, he would visit those afflicted with Guillain-Barré to show them that recovery is possible.
While coaching in Devine, Mike met Sherrie Ann Bradley and the two were married on December 19, 1980, and had three children.
Throughout his coaching career, Mike had a passion for helping his players excel—both on the field and in life and was a trusted mentor and friend to countless coaches within the Texas high school football community. He amassed over 100 victories as a head coach, guiding his teams to deep playoff runs, including a remarkable 2002 3A Division II State Championship with Bandera.
After retiring from education in the spring of 2003, he pursued opportunities that kept him connected to Texas high school sports, allowing him to remain close to the coaching community and the many friendships he had built over the years.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 29 at the Bandera High School auditorium.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Mike’s memory can be made to the Bandera Athletic Booster Club through John Milner, P.O. Box 2669 Bandera, Texas 78003 or via Venmo: John-Milner-19.
