Diehardblues
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My Uncle lost his battle with Cancer Friday morning. He was our family sports Icon .No one had more influence including his big brother, my father.
He was like an older brother to me as he was closer in age than a parent. He gave me my first golf clubs at age 9 and took me to my first Cowboy game at the Cotton Bowl.
He was an all state receiver recruiting originally by Bear Bryant at A&M but when he bolted to Alabama my uncle second choice was TCU. He played on the Frogs last Southwest Conference champion in the Cotton Bowl and the inaugural Bluebonnet Bowl. One of his biggest games was catching the tying TD against #1 Ohio St at the Horseshoe in their only blemish that year.
He had 2 team mates who went on to play for the Cowboys.most famous of course was Bob Lilly who became a family friend we later did business with and Sonny Gibbs , TCU QB who played for the Cowboys in 1963 and 1964. I had the privilege of meeting several players from that era .
My uncle was not drafted cause he had a turf toe his senior year but Vince Lombardi did offer him a tryout at training Camp but $1.000 wasn't enough money to move his wife and infant child.
Instead he begun sellling insurance and then created his own company which my father later joined and I worked at. He was a scratch golfer and made his living with the contacts from TCU, football and the golf course. He played at the Colonial Pro Am annually in the 60's and 70's. I followed his group almost every year which he played with greats like Arnie, Trevino and Casper. Again I was able to be around my many of these famous athletes.
My uncle provided me an enormous opportunity most were not privileged to experience and enjoy. I'm going to greatly miss watching and discussing sports with him. He captured a room like no other I've known. I was always so proud to discuss him and my experiences with him to friends and family. One of a kind!! My life will not be as exciting without him.
He was like an older brother to me as he was closer in age than a parent. He gave me my first golf clubs at age 9 and took me to my first Cowboy game at the Cotton Bowl.
He was an all state receiver recruiting originally by Bear Bryant at A&M but when he bolted to Alabama my uncle second choice was TCU. He played on the Frogs last Southwest Conference champion in the Cotton Bowl and the inaugural Bluebonnet Bowl. One of his biggest games was catching the tying TD against #1 Ohio St at the Horseshoe in their only blemish that year.
He had 2 team mates who went on to play for the Cowboys.most famous of course was Bob Lilly who became a family friend we later did business with and Sonny Gibbs , TCU QB who played for the Cowboys in 1963 and 1964. I had the privilege of meeting several players from that era .
My uncle was not drafted cause he had a turf toe his senior year but Vince Lombardi did offer him a tryout at training Camp but $1.000 wasn't enough money to move his wife and infant child.
Instead he begun sellling insurance and then created his own company which my father later joined and I worked at. He was a scratch golfer and made his living with the contacts from TCU, football and the golf course. He played at the Colonial Pro Am annually in the 60's and 70's. I followed his group almost every year which he played with greats like Arnie, Trevino and Casper. Again I was able to be around my many of these famous athletes.
My uncle provided me an enormous opportunity most were not privileged to experience and enjoy. I'm going to greatly miss watching and discussing sports with him. He captured a room like no other I've known. I was always so proud to discuss him and my experiences with him to friends and family. One of a kind!! My life will not be as exciting without him.
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