'Coach’ wins

Longevity in the Odessa community played to J.E. Pressly's favor Saturday as the 84-year-old won a second term as an Odessa College trustee.

Known simply as "Coach" to most, the incumbent defeated 55-year-old challenger Roy Hunton for the Place 4 position with a low-cost campaign that raised no issues except Pressly's desire to continue his track record.

Out of 391 cast votes, Pressly received 240 votes, 61.38 percent, and Hunton had 151, 38.62 percent.

Happy about his re-election, Pressly - a former U.S. Marine and baseball and football coach - said his long history in Odessa and popularity weighed in on the results.

"I haven't done anything wrong that I know of," he said. "I'm just glad I got it, but at the same token, it's good to have an opponent."

Hunton was disappointed with the loss and said he's frustrated by Pressly's lack of vision.

"I think it's pretty sad when somebody can't even say the reason why they're running," he said. "It speaks poorly of good decision-making - education isn't something to be taken likely.

"Anybody who has the presence of mind to say that everything is perfect and going hunky dory is not operating with a vision of leadership," he said.

Despite losing the election, Hunton said he would use his experience in business and vocational education to influence the educational process.

"I'll continue to be supportive any way I can," he said.

Ray Ann Zant, Place 5, and Gary Johnson, Place 7, were unopposed in their individual campaigns for re-election.