The Voice of Southwest Louisiana

By Crystal Leday
In the course of our
lives, we face challenges
that mold and shape us.
One of Todd McArthur's
first challenges began
just three weeks after
he was born. In 1963,
McArthur's mother and
five children were in a
non-collision accident
when the truck she was
driving flipped over
several times, ejecting
her 75 feet away, and
Pictured above: Todd McArthur experienced many
academic & physical challenges in elementary
school, but says, “Surrounding yourself with
successful thinking people will eventually help you
have self-discipline. Being a leader is not hard.”
Pictured middle: Todd McArthur, 1987 MSU Graduate
with a BS in Heath & P.E.
Pictured left: Todd McArthur, known as Coach T-Mac,
Master Fitness Trainer & Body Sculptor pictured with
wife Sheila, Master Fitness Trainer.
him lying in the middle of the highway.
It left her in a coma for over 90 days and
he suffered a severe head injury and both
hips broken. As he grew older, McArthur’s
right leg grew shorter than the left and
his academic functioning skills were
below average. Elementary educators
noticed his low performance in reading,
spelling, and writing, and suggested that
his mother and father place him in special
education services with the help of a
speech pathologist. His father continued
to tell him that he was little, but powerful
and could outperform the best, while his
mother chose to team up with the special
education services. That was when he
began to understand the
importance of mentors.
One significant mentor that
stood out to him during
the 70’s was Coach Rodney
Geyen, Head Coach, Pearl
Watson Middle School.
“He was so patient with
me and other students as
well. He gave me the chance
I needed. All I wanted was a
chance to be great, and he
gave me that,” said McArthur.
McArthur's athletic
ability grew as football
allowed him to release
frustration. He wanted everyone to know
that he was small yet powerful. He was
capable of doing anything he wanted.
Coach Rodney Geyen says, "When I first
met Mr. McArthur, Todd's father, he told
me that all of his sons were great, but Todd
was the toughest." With the help of Coach
Rodney Geyen, McArthur was allowed
to run on the junior varsity track team at
Lake Charles High School under the watch
of Coach Larry Hunter. He received their
instruction and allowed them to get in
his head as mentors. McArthur stayed
in the gym seven days per week. He did
whatever it took to be faster and stronger.
His goal was to receive a full scholarship
his senior year of high school, but that
didn't happen.
The summer of his senior year,
McArthur saw a guy training at Lake
Charles High and wanted to join so he
could stay in top shape.
“Little did I know that guy was Charles
Jefferson. He had just been drafted into
the NFL. The first week I just watched him.
The second week I started working out
with him. The third week we worked out
at McNeese with some of the players. While
there, coaches noticed me and I received
a partial scholarship to McNeese,” said
McArthur
McArthur's teammate and current
coach for McNeese, Lark Hebert said
Todd was a “good player who was very
friendly and liked everybody. He pushed
his position to play. He cared about his
team.” Hebert also mentioned that being a
mentor to our youth today is like having a
family. You have to put them first.
Another mentor that helped Todd was
NFL Hall of Famer Lester Hayes. McArthur
ran into Hayes during his career at
Pictured above: Todd McArthur, Coach
T-Mac, Commissioner of Dynamic Texas
Football Association (DTFA) sticks to policy,
guidelines and safety says Evon Boykins,
General Manager, DTFA.
Pictured at left: Charles Jefferson, 4th
round draft choice with Houston Oilers
& McNeese Hall of Famer with 19 career
interceptions tied by Todd McArthur.
Pictured below: Charles Avery was the
fastest wide receiver at McNeese and
longtime friend of Todd McArthur. He says,
"McArthur is a true friend and very hardworking.
Whatever he does, he succeeds
in it. We trained hard and went to camps
together. I was really fast and not many
people could cover
me, but he could. He
was a no-quitter. It's
always been the Mac
and Ave and it still
is. He is my Hall of
Famer."
McNeese and they
became good friends.
Hayes often offered
advice about football
and life in general.
“A very important
factor of success is
sweat. You don't have
to like practice. You have to love practice.
It takes love of what God has given you. I
fell in love with the Dallas Cowboys one
Sunday morning while watching Coach
Tom Landry draw up plays. He taught
football strategy and techniques. That was
a foundation of understanding football. It
gave me clarity on what I love. Clarity is an
important factor,” said Hayes.
Lester Hayes also mentioned that his
success was based on training seven days
a week during off seasons while other
players were only training 5 days a week.
His current team, the Modesto Broncos,
was the 2015 state champions.
“A very important focus I give to
youngsters is to not fall into a trap. This
trap exists in all 50 states. The trap is
drinking and smoking. Experimentation
has grown so much with our youth today. I
warn them to keep a close eye on negative
friends. Players will not get into physical
condition while drinking and smoking,”
said Hayes.
Hayes' best advice emphasized that
polishing our gifts will prepare us for
success and being prepared is key. “You
must polish it because if not it will rust and
rust turns to dust.”
Another teammate and friend of
McArthur's was Theron McClendon.
McClendon believes that success is
determined by hard work and dedication
in any field. His best advice is to be
compassionate with yourself. He wants to
teach the youth discipline. He yearns to
mold and shape those who want to work
hard and pass his skills on.
“Todd was hardworking.
He was willing to learn.
He was an underclassman
during my time, but he
understood how to work
hard. He had leaders in front
of him that he looked up to.
He also had good coaches to
teach him,” said McClendon.
McArthur led McNeese
as well as the conference
his sophomore through
senior year and ended with
19 career interceptions.
He had letters from the
Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, and Seattle
Seahawks, but God had other plans for
him.
In 1986, Todd went to a camp in
Houston and was asked to come back.
Only one thing was holding him back.
McArthur was employed at Popeye's under
the management of Sterling August and
JUNE 2016 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 3 • Number 11 Volume 3 • Number 11 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM JUNE 2016