Estes M. McDoniel was born on April 3, 1919, in Arkansas and went to school in Batesville. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in education from the University of Arkansas where he also received two letters in varsity football and three letters in varsity track. Mr. McDoniel also earned a Master of Education degree at Utah State University.
He began his teaching career in Arkansas for a short while before moving to Henderson, Nevada in 1943 where he would soon become the first football coach at Basic High School. Mr. McDoniel left his coaching job in 1944 to serve in the U.S. Navy during the war.
Mr. McDoniel returned to Basic High School as the assistant principal in 1953 for a few years before deciding to return to the classroom to work directly with students. In 1969, he took a four-year leave of absence to serve as the mayor of Henderson. Mr. McDoniel returned to Basic High School as the principal until his retirement in 1974.
Estes M. McDoniel Elementary School opened in 1987.
