Don Meredith Museum in Mt. Vernon...

[trickblue]

For some reason we have the district X-Country and Track Championships in Mt. Vernon every year. Atlanta has won it for 21 straight years, but we can't seem to get it here...

Recently, the Don Meredith Museum opened in Mt. Vernon, so I took a chance at a visit. My son finished third in this legendary track program btw...

Yes, he is my favorite all-time Cowboy and is VERY under-rated in our success. I still cringe when I see video of "The Q" wearing his number.

For those that don't know, "Jeff & Hazel's Boy" was a major talent and our first Superstar QB. Roger Staubach credits him with the emergence of our dynasty. The folks that run this place all know him and are very nice. They will talk your ears off, but in a nice way. I felt very at home and part of the family. It's a good visit if you are in the area. They are really proud of him and he comes back often to help them out with fundraisers.

Thought you guys might like these...

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[Hostile]

Oh my gosh some of that gives me chills.

 

[trickblue]

It is a great visit...

The folks there are so down home...

The guy running the place asked to take us out for a cup coffee but we didn't have the time...

I told him about cowboyszone and the respect we have for Don. They were so gracious. He had been there the week before the dedication. He said that Roger, Randy, Eddie, and Bob Lilly had been there among other Cowboys.

He comes back home from New Mexico quite often...

Don is a legend as an athlete here in Texas. He was also an all-state basketball player. Mt. Vernon won the Dr. Pepper Classic against all other teams in the state back in the day (think Hoosiers, this town is less than 2,000). That was like the State Championship at that time. The curator said he has never forgotten his roots and is always available to help raise money for the community...

I have been trying to get him to do some questions for us but he is so reclusive. The curator said that that's just the way he is, very humble and elusive unless it involves a charity...

Unfortunately his health isn't good these days. He was scheduled to be in Dallas last year with many legends, but he suffered a stroke. He has recovered but is now more cautious than ever. He is still married to his high school sweetheart...

 

[Hostile]

Regarding Don's health. You might remember that a couple of years ago there were reports he had died. I was so glad those reports were false.

 

[ZeroClub]

Thanks for posting this!

Very interesting stuff. The photos are wonderful.

 

[Duane]

That pic of Landry and all the QBs is awesome.

 

[sago1]

I fully admit that the picture of all our QBs from LaBaron to Aikman along with Landry brought tears to my eyes. It's just a shame that so many Cowboy fans only want to remember Staubach & Aikman but it was really LaBaron & particularly Meredith who founded the Cowboy dynasty. When our new stadium is finished, I wish Jerry would include a similar picture/painting of all those great QBs together again -- including Romo of course. I also hope that Jerry invites all former Cowboy players to the opening of the new stadium. Understand the gathering together of 2 of our former SB-winning teams before the Packer game & the introduction of those players to the fans was awesome. We need to always remember those players and the current Cowboy players also need to meet those players and remember they are a part of a great dynasty.

 

[THUMPER]

Incredible pics TB and thank you for sharing them. The pictures of the Ring Of Honor players and the Cowboys QBs brought me to tears. The one with Don, Otto Graham, Joe Dimagio, & Jackie Robinson (I was able to identify them all without looking at the names below the pic ) is another great shot.

Meredith was a great QB and would have put up awesome numbers had he gone to a good team when he came in. But starting with a new franchise who didn't have a chance to participate in the draft set us back for a long time. He was one of the toughest guys I ever saw play as he got crushed over and over in the early years until we could build an O-Line to protect him.

He had a strong arm and a lot of courage and was a pretty good runner when he had to. I was devastated when he retired after the 1968 playoff debacle against the Browns as I never had as much confidence in Morton (a wonderful person but not a great QB) and I thought it put us back again losing Meredith at a time when we were poised to go all the way.

I also loved him on MNF and they have tried ever since to duplicate the chemistry they had when Dandy Don, Howard Cosell, and Frank Gifford were in the booth together. The banter between Meredith and Cosell is what MADE MNF great. Dandy Don was always able to hold his own against the bully Cosell and I think Howard respected him for that.

Thanks again for sharing these.

BTW your kids are cute.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Great pics TB. Thanks so much for posting them.

Very good stuff indeed. Many of my all time favs in there.

 

[WoodysGirl]

That pic of Landry and all the QBs is awesome.

Yeah that was great. The only problem is that Troy was never one of Landry's QBs. Troy was a Jimmy era pick, right?

Trick, I'd read/posted a couple of articles about the Don Meredith museum. So glad you were able to attend and get pics. They have a lot of good stuff there.

 

[THUMPER]

Yeah that was great. The only problem is that Troy was never one of Landry's QBs. Troy was a Jimmy era pick, right?

True but Landry said that he was all set to select Aikman in the draft since we had the first pick and desperately needed a QB. It truly was a no-brainer pick that year. While at UCLA Aikman said that he was excited at the prospect of playing for Coach Landry.

But no, Troy never played under Landry.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Those were wonderful pictures! Thanks so much for posting them.

I have a few memories of Meredith as a Cowboy QB, particularly the Ice Bowl, but my clearest and fondest memories of him were on MNF. The sound of his voice was warm and funny and so down home. When I hear it my mind goes back in time to being a kid growing up in the 70's watching Monday Night Football with my Dad. He is one of my all-time favorites.

Who could ever forget his twangy rendetion of "Turn Out The Lights"?

 

[hardcorebob]

Thanks for sharing your pictures with us trickblue!

 

[Chocolate Lab]

That pic of Landry and all the QBs is awesome.

That's what I was going to say, too. I've never seen that one.

Great job, Trick. Very cool.

Galloway always says that as much as he loves Roger and Troy, Meredith is the best QB the Cowboys have ever had... Or at least his favorite. And he's not kidding.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

Oh man I would LOVE to have the QB photo with Landry and his guys. What a very cool pic.

Though, Aikman didn't play for Landry.

 

[Angus]

Many, many thanks, TB.

 

[Yeagermeister]

We saw the billboards and thought it was pretty cool. Maybe on our next trip we can stop and see it.

The thing that struck me about the qb picture is Coach Landry didn't sign it.

 

[Doomsday101]

Very nice pics thanks for sharing them. When I was talking with John McClain he told me that Meredith was in very poor health

 

[Dodger12]

Incredible pictures Trick. Thanks for posting them. Like everyone else, the picture of Coach Landry and his QB's is a classic and just gave me goosebumps. It also makes me feel old.

That was the hey day of MNF when Meridith, Cosell and Gifford were in the booth. At times, the game was almost secondary. I can still hear Don Meridith singing "Mama don't let your babies grow up to be Cowboys..." or "Turn out the lights....the party's over...."

 

[Rockytop6]

Thanks Trick...

I love those pictures. I wish the mods would sticky this as it needs to be up awhile. I wish I knew how to save it and keep it. I looked at the Landry/QBs picture and it really took me back. I saw every one of the 6 QBs play. Those are special pictures.

I'm glad to know about the museum in Mt. Vernon so I now plan to visit the museum when I can.