Dr. Charlie Nix was born on August 6, 1953, to Carol G. Nix and Harding C. Nix, in Hugoton, Kansas. He attended Hugoton High School and graduated in 1971. Charlie attended Emporia State University in the fall of 1971 to play tennis. He then transferred to Kansas State University in the spring of 1972. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in the spring of 1975. Charlie also received his Masters of Science in Physical Education from Kansas State University in the spring of 1978.
After receiving his Masters, he taught a various Kansas schools and eventually ended up in Leoti, Kansas, where he met his wife, Suzanne Berning Nix. Charlie and Suzanne got married on August 4, 1982. In 1986, Charlie and Suzanne moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, so he could pursue a Doctorate from the University of Alabama. Their first child, Lon, was born on July 26, 1988. In 1990, the Nix family moved to DeKalb, Illinois, where Charlie became an Assistant Professor of Physical Education at Northern Illinois University. Charlie and Suzanne’s second child, Nolan, was born on May 31, 1991. Then in 1992, Charlie received his Doctorate in Physical Education from the University of Alabama.
In 1994, the Nix family moved to Ruston, Louisiana, where Charlie taught at Louisiana Tech University. Charlie and Suzanne’s youngest child, Maggie, was born on January 25, 1995. Four years later the Nix family moved to Starkville, Mississippi, where Charlie taught at Mississippi State for two years.
In 2001, Charlie and his family moved to Fannett, Texas. He became the Chair of the Department of Health and Kinesiology at Lamar University. Charlie was diagnosed with prostate cancer on October 22, 2003, and he underwent various treatments over the next ten years until he passed away on March 22, 2014.
Throughout his life he was an avid sports fan. Charlie played tennis as often as possible with a few of his colleagues from Lamar and his family. He loved to support his favorite sports teams including K-State, Alabama, the Atlanta Braves, and the Lakers.
Charlie was highly respected and loved by his family, colleagues, students, and friends and was always there to help them whenever needed. Teaching was always important to him and he always wanted to see his students succeed. He loved working with children of all ages and earlier in his life was a grade school teacher/coach and also coach of his kids’ youth sports teams. Charlie was very involved in all aspects of his kids’ lives, and he and Suzanne placed a premium on raising them with integrity.
Survivors include his wife, Suzanne Nix of Fannett; children, Lon Nix, Nolan Nix, and Maggie Nix, all of Austin; mother, Carol Nix; sister, Nancy McIntire and her husband, Brent; and nephew, Matthew McIntire, all of Mesa, Arizona.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 755 South 11th Street, Beaumont, Texas 77701 or MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, Texas 77210.
Charlie is loved and will be greatly missed.
Charlie’s family would like to extend a special thank you to his family, friends, and colleagues for all of their love and support over the years.
