Johnny B. Bilberry, Sr., who died at the age of 52, was the first African-American to be appointed to the position of Caddo Parish School System Supervisor of Athletics, Health and Physical Education. Bilberry, a native of Farmerville, had resided in Shreveport for 26 years. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in 1963 from the University of Colorado. He was employed by the Caddo Parish School System in 1963. His professional career in the Caddo System included serving as a teacher, coach, principal, and Parish Supervisor of Athletics and HPER. Prior to coming to Caddo Parish, he taught and coached in the Bossier Parish School System. He was a very knowledgeable person, especially as it pertained to athletics. And he had the unique ability to relate to all types of people. He exhibited outstanding leadership capabilities. He always had great concern for those with which he worked or came into contact with.

Coach Bilberry started his career as an assistant principal and physical education teacher at Bethune High School. He was later head football coach at Valencia High School, where he guided his team to the state championship in the Louisiana Interscholastic and Literacy Organization (LIALO) in 1969. He moved to Byrd High School as an assistant coach after Valencia was phased out as a high school during the school racial integration process in the early seventies. He was head football coach at Northwood High School from 1971-1973. He became assistant principal at Fair Park High School in 1974 and was named the school’s acting principal in 1976 before being named Parish Athletic & HPER Supervisor in 1977. He was active in church, sports and other community service. He served four years on the parish council of St. John Berchmans Co-Cathedral, where he was a Eucharist minister. He was also a member of the Shreveport Sports Foundation, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and numerous national, state and local professional organizations, in which he held office.

The death of Johnny B. Bilberry was “a total shock and certainly a great loss.” He suffered a sudden illness while playing tennis at Lakeshore Park tennis courts on Monday, January 2, 1984 and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Willis Knighton Hospital. He was preceded in death by his father, Jesse Bilberry, Sr. His survivors included his wife, Bernadette St. Martin Bilberry; mother, Mrs. Joe B. Bilberry; son, Johnny, Jr.; daughter, Hope; four sisters, and five brothers.

Though Bilberry was an All-American football player at Southern University and a football coach, he loved the game of tennis and was a strong advocate on its behalf. He always encouraged physical education teachers to expose students at all levels to lifetime sports. He wanted youth to remain physically active in recreational pursuits beyond their school years. Some described Bilberry as “a tough coach and administrator, but his greatest asset may have been his feel for people.”

Named in his honor, Bilberry Park and Recreation Center is located on Lakeshore Drive.

We salute Johnny B. Bilberry, Sr.!