While in school in Texas I was rather large for my age at 6' tall weighing in at 175 pounds.
Being a large guy in good physical shape in school gets the attention of the Football coach quickly.
In Texas you need a guardian angel on your side if you play any sport. Folks took football very serious in my home town for many reasons.
At North Junior High School and Richfield High School was invited to join the football and track team. My mind was not on sports back then but due to my size folks just thought I should be on a sports team.
In football and track at North was good at knocking guys down, running, getting the football away from others and catching the football. On the track team I was fair at running the 100 yard and 440 yard dash and managed to Letter in both football and track at North.
Decided not to play football or run track in High School since I did not go to Waco High where all my North friends went, but ended up going to Richfield where all my former rivals went. Since I had a choice did not go out for sports. The second week of what we referred to as 10th grade in high school it was suggested I should go out for sports since had played at North.
My mind was made up, no more sports for me, but that was not to be. One day while getting my books out of my wall locker a large shadow loomed over me. Turned around to see a very tall man wearing a red RHS ball cap, red RHS polo type shirt with Head Coach over the pocket, and gray shorts. This guy was not scary but seemed to have this ability to get you to do what he wanted. Coach said he did not see me on the football field over the last two weeks, smiled, then suggested I be on the field that day. Was not quarter back material but did manage to play as an offensive guard and as a defensive end over the next three years at Richfield and managed to letter in football and track.
During my six years of football was not hurt that many times in practice or in games. The other teams did manage to stomp my hands, give me a scar on the chin and in general bang my body up, but nothing got broken.
Know I had an angel watching out for me with a sense of humor who liked football because I did not get hurt that much and was able to tackle people twice my size and weight, cause fumbles and even intercept a pass or two. We got a star for each fun tackle, fumble or interception made, my helment had lots of stars on it.
Heck, while playing for North intercepted a pass playing against LaVega at LaVega, while running for the touch down, my pants were tugged loose by the player trying to tackle me. Made the touch down with a smile, a jersey and a jock strap on!
Was not that good at sports folks but my guardian angel kept me safe and sound in those days of sweat and pain and must have been the reason for my lettering in football and track at North and Richfield.
As the years (1964-1969) sped by had a great time playing football and running track even though my teams did not win every game or every meet but we did ok.
Texas Football is a big deal and you better have fun playing and you hope you win. In the last game of the season our team played well and we all had fun knowing our time in high school sports was drawing to an end.
The only picture taken of me in that game was of me as a defensive end about to tackle an opposing player (he scored) as he was about to make a touchdown. It was a cold and damp that night, and there was a mist hanging low over the field. In the picture that made the Waco Tribune the next day, you could see how much fun both teams were having...smiles and frowns.
Who knew I would not get the football or track scholarship I wanted and that college football and track could be or seem to be life threatening causing me to go for an ROTC scholarship.
Based on information received my first year at Tarleton State College, left football, track, and ROTC for MCC in Waco for police science. The Viet Nam war was still on so after a year at MCC it was time for me to move on to other exciting times in other places around the world as a police officer in the U.S. Army, but that is another story. #42
Being a large guy in good physical shape in school gets the attention of the Football coach quickly.
In Texas you need a guardian angel on your side if you play any sport. Folks took football very serious in my home town for many reasons.
At North Junior High School and Richfield High School was invited to join the football and track team. My mind was not on sports back then but due to my size folks just thought I should be on a sports team.
In football and track at North was good at knocking guys down, running, getting the football away from others and catching the football. On the track team I was fair at running the 100 yard and 440 yard dash and managed to Letter in both football and track at North.
Decided not to play football or run track in High School since I did not go to Waco High where all my North friends went, but ended up going to Richfield where all my former rivals went. Since I had a choice did not go out for sports. The second week of what we referred to as 10th grade in high school it was suggested I should go out for sports since had played at North.
My mind was made up, no more sports for me, but that was not to be. One day while getting my books out of my wall locker a large shadow loomed over me. Turned around to see a very tall man wearing a red RHS ball cap, red RHS polo type shirt with Head Coach over the pocket, and gray shorts. This guy was not scary but seemed to have this ability to get you to do what he wanted. Coach said he did not see me on the football field over the last two weeks, smiled, then suggested I be on the field that day. Was not quarter back material but did manage to play as an offensive guard and as a defensive end over the next three years at Richfield and managed to letter in football and track.
During my six years of football was not hurt that many times in practice or in games. The other teams did manage to stomp my hands, give me a scar on the chin and in general bang my body up, but nothing got broken.
Know I had an angel watching out for me with a sense of humor who liked football because I did not get hurt that much and was able to tackle people twice my size and weight, cause fumbles and even intercept a pass or two. We got a star for each fun tackle, fumble or interception made, my helment had lots of stars on it.
Heck, while playing for North intercepted a pass playing against LaVega at LaVega, while running for the touch down, my pants were tugged loose by the player trying to tackle me. Made the touch down with a smile, a jersey and a jock strap on!
Was not that good at sports folks but my guardian angel kept me safe and sound in those days of sweat and pain and must have been the reason for my lettering in football and track at North and Richfield.
As the years (1964-1969) sped by had a great time playing football and running track even though my teams did not win every game or every meet but we did ok.
Texas Football is a big deal and you better have fun playing and you hope you win. In the last game of the season our team played well and we all had fun knowing our time in high school sports was drawing to an end.
The only picture taken of me in that game was of me as a defensive end about to tackle an opposing player (he scored) as he was about to make a touchdown. It was a cold and damp that night, and there was a mist hanging low over the field. In the picture that made the Waco Tribune the next day, you could see how much fun both teams were having...smiles and frowns.
Who knew I would not get the football or track scholarship I wanted and that college football and track could be or seem to be life threatening causing me to go for an ROTC scholarship.
Based on information received my first year at Tarleton State College, left football, track, and ROTC for MCC in Waco for police science. The Viet Nam war was still on so after a year at MCC it was time for me to move on to other exciting times in other places around the world as a police officer in the U.S. Army, but that is another story. #42
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