Happy Birthday to an old timer Don Perkins

An awfully good player in a very different time. Think he was around 5th all-time in NFL rushing yards when he retired. Of course, the game has changed a great deal over the years, and while his stats no longer look that impressive, they were extremely good for the era. I believe he was all-pro three times and made multiple Pro Bowls. I suppose he was the Cowboys' first offensive "star." He was a fullback when fullbacks still functioned as runners in a dual backfield -- kind of a Jim Taylor type. And he is a truly first-class individual.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PERK
AND THANK YOU

Happy Birthday Perkins.

how old is he? surprised he is still around.

The first really good RB in Cowboys history. I saw him play in the Cotton Bowl in the 60s when I was a little kid. He was never super fast but was a great short yardage runner and had excellent cutbacks. Very tough too. I think he’s one of the original Ring of Honor members.

Shake_Tiller said:

An awfully good player in a very different time. Think he was around 5th all-time in NFL rushing yards when he retired. Of course, the game has changed a great deal over the years, and while his stats no longer look that impressive, they were extremely good for the era. I believe he was all-pro three times and made multiple Pro Bowls. I suppose he was the Cowboys' first offensive "star." He was a fullback when fullbacks still functioned as runners in a dual backfield -- kind of a Jim Taylor type. And he is a truly first-class individual.

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I loved his baratone voice.

When he was a broadcaster after his playing career, I just liked him even more.

As a fan starting in the mid-60s..

my family went to the games together. My mom would fix basket lunches and we all cheered and backslapped each other at every chance.

My mom was an adament Don Perkins fan and loved Willie Townes. Townes' nickname was 'Baby Cakes'. She would stand and scream "Perkins up the middle" and Meredith would comply more likely than not and give Perkins the ball.

Same thing with Townes playing DL. Mom would scream "Make me some Baby Cakes" and Townes would flush out Fran Tarkington or Billy Kilmer and get a tackle.

Those are fond memories for me as a Cowboys fan.

So we're the splinters from the wooden bench seats in the Cotton Bowl. We had to spread blankets on the seats to not eat your clothes.

That is light years ago compared to ATT Stadium now. But some things never change.

Now we have Zeke up the middle and Tank from the flank.

.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Don Perkins!

Doomsday101 said:

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Thanks for the video. I'm an old timer here. but still have no clear memories of Perkins.

Doomsday101 said:

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Before my time. But from the gentleman older than me that care to dissect his worthiness, kudos!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Perkins! DC4Life!

Happy birthday Don Perkins!

I was worried when he retired but Calvin Hill filled in nicely.

Go Cowboys!

RGV_C_Los said:

Happy birthday Don Perkins!

I was worried when he retired but Calvin Hill filled in nicely.

Go Cowboys!

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Yeah about Calvin.

I met Hill one time at a car wash.

I lived in Dallas and was going to school at SMU. I lived in some apts with a roommate next to the Cowboys practice field out on Forest Hill Ln.

There was a self service car wash across the street from the practice field and I was washing my car.

I had a Chevy SS 396 Camero and Hill pulled in the car wash with a Chevy Camero Z-28.

It was his rookie year and he had obviously bought himself a toy.

He got out of his car, admired my car and asked me if I had any quarters. I gave him some and he turned to go back to his car.

I said "thanx Calvin for your play".

He smiled and continued on.

Big tall skinny guy with hands the size of a ham.

Never forgot that.