A Cowboy's Life: A Memoir
250
A Cowboy's Life: A Memoir
250eBook
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Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781617499043 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Triumph Books |
| Publication date: | 08/01/2008 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 250 |
| Sales rank: | 648,978 |
| File size: | 3 MB |
About the Author
Bob Lilly was the first draft choice of the then-new Dallas Cowboys in 1961. During his 14-year career with the Cowboys, he was named All-Pro seven times and played in 11 Pro Bowls. In 1980, he became the first Cowboy inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After his retirement from football, he pursued his love of photography, and in 1984 published Reflections, a book of his photographs. He lives in Sun City, Texas. Kristine Setting Clark is a University of San Francisco graduate and a feature writer for the San Francisco 49ers' Gameday magazine. She is the author of Legends of the Hall: 1950's; St. Clair: I'll Take It Raw; and Undefeated, Untied, and Uninvited. She lives in Northern. Roger Staubach is the former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys who led them to two Super Bowl victories. He was elected into the football Hall of Fame in 1985.
Read an Excerpt
A Cowboy's Life
By Bob Lilly, Kristine Setting Clark
Triumph Books
Copyright © 2008 Bob Lilly and Kristine Setting ClarkAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-61749-904-3
CHAPTER 1
My Dad, My Hero
I was born in the town of Olney, Texas, on July 26, 1939, but grew up in the small community of Throckmorton, Texas. Throckmorton is located about 120 miles west-northwest of the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
My dad, John Ernest "Buster" Lilly, has always been my most loyal and avid fan. My close relationship with him began at a very young age. He is the person responsible for introducing me to the game of football. But before I begin talking about the humble beginnings of my gridiron career, I would like to tell you a little more about my dad — his character, his values, and the kind of man that he was — for it was he who helped build the foundation for the man I would become.
My dad had a difficult upbringing. He was one of five children when his parents decided to divorce. His mom and siblings were so destitute that when he completed the seventh grade he was forced to drop out of school in order to contribute to the family's financial needs.
Dad had a motorcycle that he rode to and from work every day. One day while riding to work, a truck struck him down. The driver was intoxicated.
The blow was so violent that it completely crushed my dad's femur. The doctor had no alternative but to insert a steel plate into the leg where the femur had once been situated. Traction was not an option; after the surgery, Dad's leg shrank about an inch and a half. He was forced to wear an elevated shoe for the rest of his life.
Shortly after the plate had been inserted into his thigh, the leg became badly infected at the insertion site. The doctor performed a surgical procedure on the leg, allowing it to drain. My dad continued to walk with a severe limp for many years.
It wasn't until I began playing for the Cowboys that my dad got a new lease on life. Dr. Marvin Knight was the team's doctor, and I told him about the ongoing problem with my dad's leg. Dr. Knight scheduled an appointment to evaluate the extremity of my dad's injury, and the findings indicated that immediate surgery was necessary.
The steel plate that had been inserted into my dad's thigh had become infected, and the infection had penetrated into the bone marrow. Dr. Knight removed the plate, but in order to totally clear the leg of infection, he had to literally chisel out part of my dad's femur. With the infection gone, his leg no longer required draining, and the healing process finally took over.
Throughout this entire ordeal my dad continued to be strong, both physically and spiritually. To this day, I believe those qualities contributed to his survival.
As a child I never realized how strong my dad really was until I visited him at his shop one day. He removed a Ford V-8 engine from a car with his bare hands because his winch had broken. From that point on I had a great deal of respect for my dad. I made sure never to cross him and always behaved obediently ... well, except for one time.
We were eating at the dinner table. As the conversation of the day commenced, my mother said something to me that I didn't agree with. I responded by talking back to her. All of a sudden I felt this pain in my head. My dad had thumped me with his big finger and nearly knocked me out! From that moment on, I knew exactly who the boss was and that I had to play by his rules. Needless to say, I never talked back to my mom again.
In 1947, when I was eight years old, my dad took me to my first Throckmorton High School football game. We attended every game that season, and I fell in love with the sport. That same year he gave me my very first football.
Dad did a lot of scouting for the Throckmorton football coaches. One day Coach Mercer, the head football coach, gave my dad an old, worn-out varsity football, and Dad brought the ball home to me. I was so excited to receive that ball. The fact that it was old and worn out didn't mean a thing. What was important was that it was my football. From that day on, my dad would play catch with me every chance he could. In sixth grade I finally got the opportunity to go out for football. Back then I was tall and very lanky. Our junior high football coach was Coach Morton. He stood about 6'5" and weighed about 250 pounds. A man that size was considered quite big in those days.
One day, as he was demonstrating how to perform a forearm block, he accidentally hit me in the nose. He hit me so hard that I nearly executed a full backflip. You have to remember that back then our helmets were made of leather, and the face mask had not yet been invented. There was nothing blocking my face except my nose.
I ended up falling flat on my back. I hit my head on the ground so hard that my eyes literally crossed. The first thing that came to mind was, "I really don't think I want to play this game. It hurts too much!" But as I slowly pulled myself up off the ground and regained my bearings, I decided to give it one more try.
Because I was so tall and thin, I sometimes appeared awkward. Many times I can recall my dad telling my mom, "If that boy is planning to play football, he is going to have to grow some and fill out a little more."
It took me three years, but I finally did it. By ninth grade I was 6'4" and weighed 180 pounds. I was still somewhat spindly, but I was very strong. I could run forever and never get tired. Football was still my first love, but my preference at that time was basketball. I was fortunate enough to play both.
After each game I rode home with my parents. My dad was my biggest fan. His words were always encouraging. Whether I had played well or not, he always knew the right thing to say. He never spoke down to me or spoke in a negative manner.
One afternoon my parents came to see me play in an eighth-grade basketball game. As the clock was ticking down and after repeatedly yelling to my teammates, "Gimme the ball, gimme the ball!" the ball was finally in my hands. I guess I became a little anxious and somehow began dribbling toward our opponent's basket. It was similar to what happened to Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall during the Minnesota Vikings–San Francisco 49ers game years back.
Jim had recovered a fumble made by the 49ers' Billy Kilmer and ran 66 yards to the 49ers end zone, thinking he was scoring six points for the Vikings. Instead he ran in the opposite direction and into his own end zone. Jim ran into the end zone untouched and threw the ball away in jubilation. The ball landed out of bounds, which resulted in a safety for the 49ers. Fortunately for Marshall, his Vikings still won the game.
In my case, it was the second half of the game, and time was running out. I sprinted down the court, executed a great layup, and scored two points. But like Jim Marshall, it was two points for the other team. Unfortunately for us, and unlike the Vikings, we ended up losing our game.
At the end of the game, Coach Morton turned to me and said, "That was the dumbest thing I have ever seen!" He really didn't have to tell me that; I already knew it. I felt like I had let the team down.
Needless to say, I was pretty quiet on the drive home. I was not particularly proud of what I had done. That night my dad came into my room to say goodnight. He sat down on my bed and began to talk with me. He always found a way to bring up the game — whether we won or lost — without having to say a negative word.
In a soft-spoken voice he leaned over and said, "Son, did you get a little mixed up out there today?"
Not wanting to discuss it, but knowing that he meant well, I replied, "Yes, sir, I did."
He smiled, patted me on the shoulder, and said, "Well, don't worry about it. You're only in junior high school, and it's not going to have any effect on your career."
He always knew what to say and how to say it. I loved that quality in him.
My freshman year finally came, and I began playing football for the Throckmorton High School Greyhounds. It seemed as though I had waited a lifetime to be old enough to play for their team. I had a great freshman season, and by the time I became a sophomore, I weighed in at 210 pounds. I hadn't finished growing yet, though, and as a junior my weight increased to 220 pounds.
At that point my high school football and basketball careers began to take off. By the end of my junior year I was voted All-District and All-Bi-District in football, and I was All-District, All-Bi-District, and had an All-State honorable mention in basketball.
It is important to mention the loyalty, confidence, and dedication that my dad gave to me throughout my entire high school football career. He never missed any of my games — not one. Like the U.S. Postal Service, neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow kept him from attending. He wasn't only my dad; he was also my hero.
Toward the end of high school, some of the senior athletes began receiving letters regarding athletic scholarships. These letters of intent were sent by college coaches from around the country who had been scouting these boys with the hope of luring them to their own athletics programs.
My plan was to graduate from high school and join one of the branches of the armed forces. I was hoping to make a 25-year career out of the military and then retire. Upon retirement, I could do whatever I wanted with the remainder of my life.
But in December 1955 something happened that changed my plans drastically ... and my life forever.
CHAPTER 2The Letter
In December 1955 I received an unexpected letter from future Hall of Fame charter member Sammy Baugh, who was my dad's all-time football hero. Sammy played quarterback for Texas Christian University, where he was an All-American. While there, he picked up the nickname "Slingin' Sammy" from a Texas sportswriter.
During the Depression era of the mid-1930s, he placed TCU (which at that time was a very small college) on the national gridiron map. He led them to a muddy 1936 Sugar Bowl victory over Louisiana State by a score of 3–2 and a 16–6 win over Marquette in the 1937 Cotton Bowl, the first Cotton Bowl game ever played. He was also one of three MVPs of the game.
In 1937 he signed with the Washington Redskins for the unheard-of amount of $8,000, making him the highest-paid player on the team. He helped revolutionize the game of pro football by making the forward pass a routine play from scrimmage. His incredible accuracy led Washington to two NFL championships, and he is the only NFL player ever to lead the league in passing, punting, and interceptions in the same season.
At one point Sammy wasn't convinced that football was his best sport. He figured he could extend his professional sports career if he switched to baseball. Future Major League Baseball Hall of Fame member Rogers Hornsby, then a scout for the St. Louis Cardinals, signed Sammy, who had also been an outstanding third baseman at TCU.
After being converted to shortstop, Sammy was farmed out to the minor league teams of Columbus and, later, Rochester. He also had trouble hitting a curveball. Realizing that he would never be the player that he hoped to be, Sammy returned to professional football.
After retiring from the NFL, Baugh accepted the head-coaching position at Hardin-Simmons University in 1955, which is where his unexpected letter comes in.
Upon reviewing my high school game films, Sammy wrote me a letter expressing interest in recruiting me for Hardin-Simmons, with the understanding that I had to have the grades to get in. Here's what the letter said:
Robert:
Just wanted to let you know that as we were scouting your team, and while we were reviewing Throckmorton's game films, we were very impressed with your performance on the field.
If you continue to improve and have a great senior year, we would like to offer you a football scholarship after graduation.
P.S. In order to get into Hardin-Simmons, you will need to keep your grades up.
Up to that point I had attended class (but without any enthusiasm), studied a little, and played sports. I was probably a C student, but after reading that letter it occurred to me that maybe the armed forces weren't my only choice after all. It wouldn't have been all that bad, but now I had the opportunity to attend college. If I could get my grades up, I would be the first one in my family to go.
I began to take studying seriously. It amazed me what I could accomplish by studying just one hour a day. I went from being an average student to an above-average student, and it really wasn't that difficult to achieve.
In 1956 I completed my junior year at Throckmorton High. That same year, the state of Texas suffered a severe drought — one that would continue for the next six years. My dad had always made his living in the farming business. Because he was nearing bankruptcy, our family was forced to make a life-changing decision.
Dad contacted his family in the Hermiston and Portland areas of Oregon and told them of his predicament. His family was more than happy to help him out and found work for him in a place called Pendleton, Oregon.
My dad sold everything we owned, including our home of seven years. He built a homemade trailer, and we took off for Oregon. I guess we resembled the Beverly Hillbillies, but with one big exception: the Lillys were moving to Pendleton, not Beverly Hills.
We finally settled into our new home — a home with neither a television nor a telephone. But still, it was home.
I completed my senior year at Pendleton High School. The transition from Throckmorton High to my new school was a little slow in the beginning, but I eventually made a whole new group of friends. But even more important, I became a starter on the Pendleton High Buckaroos football team.
I was now 17 years old, stood 6'5?, and weighed somewhere around 225–230 pounds. I ran a 10.6 in football cleats, which was considered to be a pretty good time for a guy of my size and weight.
I went out for football, basketball, and track and did well on every team. I was All-State in football, Second-Team All-State in basketball, and I made it to the state finals in track. I didn't win anything in track, but I sure enjoyed participating in the sport.
After graduating from Pendleton I received many college-scholarship offers, actually more for basketball than football. But in the end I chose football. And even though I chose not to attend Hardin-Simmons, I will always attribute my successes to Sammy Baugh, for it was his letter that gave me the incentive and the initiative to improve my grades and to attain a college scholarship.
Little did I realize that my connection to Sammy Baugh would continue for four more years and extend beyond his letter of 1955. I was offered a football scholarship to his alma mater, Texas Christian University.
CHAPTER 3Texas Christian University
My God-given skill, athletic ability, and good grades allowed me the privilege of picking the college of my choice. After reviewing various offers from numerous institutions, I decided to visit the University of Washington, Oregon State University, the University of Oregon, and Idaho. None of them seemed to gain my attention. Even Texas A&M coach Bear Bryant offered me a football scholarship, but I wasn't interested, nor did I take the time to visit the campus.
But in the summer of 1957 I received a penny postcard from Allie White, assistant coach to TCU head coach Abe Martin. White and Martin were prepared to offer me a four-year scholarship to play football at Texas Christian University. I decided to take them up on their offer and visit the Texas Christian University campus, and I eventually signed on as a TCU Frog, realizing my dream of playing football for TCU.
When I was a child my dad had taken me to TCU football games to watch his hero, Sammy Baugh, throw those long passes downfield. Even after all those years, that purple blood was still flowing through my veins. But college life was quite different from what I had expected.
When I arrived at the TCU campus for the fall semester I didn't carry much with me — just one suitcase. My wardrobe consisted of a couple pairs of blue jeans, a few T-shirts, and one suit that I had worn to my high school graduation. Bringing a car to school wasn't even a consideration, as we didn't have the money for that type of luxury item.
Dorm living left a lot to be desired. The building I was supposed to live in had been condemned. Most of the screens and some of the windows had been knocked out by previous tenants. Even though this was a horrific excuse for suitable housing, it continued to accommodate the 34 members of TCU's freshman football team for the remainder of the season.
The building was finally torn down after my first year, but for the time that I was there, I felt pretty much at home — that is, until the rest of the student body showed up.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from A Cowboy's Life by Bob Lilly, Kristine Setting Clark. Copyright © 2008 Bob Lilly and Kristine Setting Clark. Excerpted by permission of Triumph Books.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Contents
Foreword by Roger Staubach,Acknowledgments,
Introduction by Steve Sabol,
First Quarter: The Early Years,
1. My Dad, My Hero,
2. The Letter,
3. Texas Christian University,
Second Quarter: From Nobody's Team to America's Team,
4. A Cowboy First,
5. Coach Tom Landry: A Man for All Seasons,
6. The Birth of the Cowboys,
7. Putting the Team Together,
8. Stepping It Up,
9. Tragedy Strikes,
10. Improving the Team with Technology and the Flex,
11. Post-Merger Successes,
12. We Can Do Everything but Win the Big One,
13. Our Season to Shine Becomes a Season of Sadness,
14. Quarterback Controversy and Changes Afoot,
15. Duane Thomas Makes the Scene,
16. Winning the Big One,
17. Farewells,
18. Games I Will Never Forget,
Third Quarter: Characters, Heroes, and Great Leading Men,
19. The Originals,
20. Players Year by Year,
21. The Coaching Staff,
Fourth Quarter: Life after Football,
22. Battle Scars,
23. Postgridiron Employment,
24. The Ring of Honor and the Hall of Fame,
25. The Camera's Eye,
Appendix: Stats, Accolades, Honors, and Achievements,
Sources,
About the Authors,
Photo Gallery,
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