The other night at Gordon Wood stadium a reunion took place. I had received a call several weeks ago inviting me to attend. They said they were going to bring in representatives of all the State Championship teams of Brownwood and it was a much-appreciated invitation. I didn’t know what to expect. I knew that the reason for it was to take pictures for the game program on Homecoming this year and they wanted to show the former State Champions. Well, about thirty-five or so showed up and what a great reunion it was! It was just great fellowship and getting to see people you hadn’t seen in many, many years. It was a really, really good night.
Kudos to the ones who put it on. One of the highlights for me, and I guess for the players too, was getting to walk down the Walk of Champions onto the field. We heard the roar of the lion, the music, the introduction, etc. Those old players had never experienced that. I hadn’t either. I got goose bumps! The other great thing about the event was that Coach Burnett allowed the Brownwood Lion football team for 2022 to come out and sit in front of the ex-players and get their picture taken with them. I thought it was a very special moment as it was kind of a bonding of the old and the new.
It was just a wonderful night. I got to see so many terrific players. The thing in common that all of them had were the State Championships. No one with any history in Brownwood will ever forget the teams of 1960, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1978 and 1981. Those were seven outstanding teams. The best? They were all my favorites. Each team had some great players but also lots of over-achievers who just played real good. I got to look the other night and see these players gathered together as not only grown men, but now getting to be old men, and drift away with some of the greatest memories of my life. I didn’t, but I should have gone to each one of them and simply said ‘thank you.’ They were truly the best Brownwood has ever seen. Lawrence Elkins was there, I believe the best all-around athlete I ever witnessed. And so was Mike Kinsey, defensively the best of the best. But, I don’t want to start a list because I will leave somebody out. I just know it was a special night for me and I don’t think I am the only one.
The only downer was that there weren’t any young men in that group. That means it’s been too long of a wait here in Brownwood. Way too long.
Until next time, so long everybody.
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‘Out of the Box’ with Dallas Huston is published each Monday morning at BrownwoodNews.com. Dallas was the radio voice of the Brownwood Lions and Howard Payne Yellow Jackets for more than 55 years. He currently is Pastor of Center City Baptist Church and hosts a Men’s Bible Study in Brownwood on Monday evenings. Your comments are welcome at [email protected].