Dr. Billy Jack Talton, Professor Emeritus at Louisiana Tech University and a world-renowned figure in powerlifting, died peacefully at his home in Dubach, Louisiana, on June 18, 2025, with his loving wife, Carolyn, by his side. He was 85.
Born to Oltavone and George Talton on March 16, 1940, in Minden, Louisiana, Billy Jack played football and graduated from Minden High School. During this period, he became interested in lifting weights to gain strength. In 1958, legendary coach Joe Aillet recruited Billy Jack to play football at Louisiana Tech University, where he excelled as an athlete and continued his passion for weight lifting.
Upon graduation, Bastrop High School hired Billy Jack to teach and coach where from 1962-1967. Here, he developed the idea of competitive powerlifting as a motivator to include not only football players but also other students who perhaps were underserved by other high school sports.
Following his tenure at Bastrop, Billy Jack continued coaching at Captain Shreve High School from 1967 to 1970. Between 1970 and 1972, he coached at Northwestern State University while pursuing a doctorate.
He went on to join the staff at Cedar Creek High School, where he coached and taught from 1972 to 1974.
Louisiana Tech brought Billy Jack back in 1974, where he became a faculty member in Health and Physical Education. Soon afterward, several students approached him about forming a university powerlifting team. The team competed in its first national collegiate championship in 1976 and, by 1987, won its first National Championship. With a team that evolved from the Dungeon Dogs to the Iron Dogs, Billy Jack would build Louisiana Tech into a national powerlifting powerhouse. At the same time, he led the team to 22 national championships until his retirement in 2001. In 2012, the fitness room in the Lambright Sports and Wellness Center was named the Billy Jack Talton Fitness Room in his honor.
Recognized as the “Father of Powerlifting,” Billy Jack served in many areas within the sport, including National Meet Director, IPF International Official, Official for the Paralympic Games, International Official for the Special Olympics, and a host of powerlifting administrative positions. A ten-time Collegiate Powerlifting Coach of the Year honoree, he was recognized as the founder of Louisiana High School Powerlifting, inducted into the Ark-La-Tex Sports Museum Hall of Fame, named an inaugural inductee into the USAPL Louisiana Hall of Fame, honored as the USA Powerlifting Federation 1st Annual Coach of the Year, and inducted into the US Powerlifting Hall of Fame.
A true pioneer beloved by the hundreds upon hundreds of students he mentored and coached through the years, Billy Jack remained in close contact with scores of athletes who soared to incredible heights under his tutelage. Always willing to regale groups, small and large, with stories from his legendary career, his signature intensity, dry wit, and robust laugh remained a gift to those around him. His life pushed limits with a legacy built upon profound strength, tenacity, grit, and the pursuit of excellence.
Billy Jack is survived by his wife of 62 years, Carolyn Flanagan Talton; daughter Tanya McGowan White (husband Ricky); son Billy Jack Talton, II (wife Vickie); granddaughter Evangelina Talton, grandson Sean McGowan (wife Katie); grandson Brian McGowan (wife Calyn); grandson Trey Talton; sisters Susan Byrd (husband Larry) and Sharon White (husband Jimmy); nephew John McLemore; nieces Jennifer Cox (husband Ronnie), Patricia Phillips, Carolyn Frances Crouch, Ann Crouch, and Kristen Fairchild; great-granddaughters Sammi McGowan; Juliette McGowan and Caroline McGowan; and the family of Vickie Talton – Bertha Leticia Mejia (mother), Carlos Rameriz, (brother), Vanessa Lopez (sister) and Isauro Vasquez (brother).
Visitation is scheduled for Friday, June 27, 2025, from 5 P.M. to 7 P.M. in the Temple Baptist Church Fellowship Hall located at 1515 S. Service Road W in Ruston, Louisiana. Visitation will resume on Saturday, June 28, 2025, beginning at 1:00 p.m. with the service to follow at 2:00 P.M. Officiating the service will be Dr. Reggie Bridges and Bro. Dale Oden. Following the service, all are welcome to attend the burial at Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens on Highway 544 in Ruston under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes in Ruston, LA.
Serving as pallbearers are Bo Harris, Dr. Butch Dunn, Wade Hooper, Taurus Johnson, Gordon Boogarets, Jack Talton, Sean McGowan, and Brian McGowan.
Through the Louisiana Tech Foundation, Memorials honoring Billy Jack Talton will be sent to the Louisiana Tech University Athletics Museum.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.