Hostile
The Duke
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There was a parade in Dallas, Texas honoring the great Tom Landry. The parade was called "Hats Off to Tom Landry." It is estimated that 100,000 people showed up and lined that 1.5 mile long parade route. It took 90 minutes to cover that distance.
The mayor was there. So was the Governor. 75 of Landry's former players and coaches road in cars covering the route with him. Former Commanders Head Coach George Allen also rode in a red convertible and later coached in a flag football game of former Cowboys and Commanders. Once upon a time Allen had been a bitter rival, now he was paying tribute to the man. There were 4 marching bands and 86 floats. Crazy Ray marched and waved to the fans.
Finally the man of the hour and his wife Alicia. He rode in a classic blue 1954 Buick Skylark Convertible. He wore a blue sport coat and his ever visible fedora.
When the parade arrived at City Hall, former players took their assigned seats. And then an amazing thing happened. Duane Thomas, perhaps the most mercurial player in Cowboys History and a man who had butted heads with Landry many times, came jogging through the crowd and took a seat with the other players. He had heard about the tribute and knew he had to be there.
President Bush and Mrs. Bush sent a telegram that was read to the crowd. So did Billy Graham. So did Giants owner Wellington Mara. Roger Staubach co-chaired the event and spoke to the crowd, praising Landry as the best coach in the NFL. He told a joke that he attributed to Don Meredith. "If Tom Landry were married to Raquel Welch, he'd still expect her to cook."
Bob Hope called a phone at the end of the parade route and his call was piped to the crowd over loud speakers. He said, "Seeing Tom Landry without a hate is like seeing Tammy Faye Bakker without makeup."
The ever stoic Landry, broke down and cried. He called the day the most meaningful of his life. He said to the crowd, "I might not see you all again. I may never be in another parade, never be in another press conference, but when I see you on the street I'll sure say Hello." He then spent time shaking hands and hugging his former players and coaches.
And then...he was gone.
http://thesunsetbisonband.com/Archives/1989TomLandryParade/1989 (2).jpg
The mayor was there. So was the Governor. 75 of Landry's former players and coaches road in cars covering the route with him. Former Commanders Head Coach George Allen also rode in a red convertible and later coached in a flag football game of former Cowboys and Commanders. Once upon a time Allen had been a bitter rival, now he was paying tribute to the man. There were 4 marching bands and 86 floats. Crazy Ray marched and waved to the fans.
Finally the man of the hour and his wife Alicia. He rode in a classic blue 1954 Buick Skylark Convertible. He wore a blue sport coat and his ever visible fedora.
When the parade arrived at City Hall, former players took their assigned seats. And then an amazing thing happened. Duane Thomas, perhaps the most mercurial player in Cowboys History and a man who had butted heads with Landry many times, came jogging through the crowd and took a seat with the other players. He had heard about the tribute and knew he had to be there.
President Bush and Mrs. Bush sent a telegram that was read to the crowd. So did Billy Graham. So did Giants owner Wellington Mara. Roger Staubach co-chaired the event and spoke to the crowd, praising Landry as the best coach in the NFL. He told a joke that he attributed to Don Meredith. "If Tom Landry were married to Raquel Welch, he'd still expect her to cook."
Bob Hope called a phone at the end of the parade route and his call was piped to the crowd over loud speakers. He said, "Seeing Tom Landry without a hate is like seeing Tammy Faye Bakker without makeup."
The ever stoic Landry, broke down and cried. He called the day the most meaningful of his life. He said to the crowd, "I might not see you all again. I may never be in another parade, never be in another press conference, but when I see you on the street I'll sure say Hello." He then spent time shaking hands and hugging his former players and coaches.
And then...he was gone.
http://thesunsetbisonband.com/Archives/1989TomLandryParade/1989 (2).jpg
