History of Football in Texas in old photos, stories and legends This was football in Texas as our parents, grandparents and ancestors played it.

"At a time when “Friday night lights” shone only on white high school football games, African American teams across Texas burned up the gridiron on Wednesday and Thursday nights. The segregated high schools in the Prairie View Interscholastic League (the African American counterpart of the University Interscholastic League, which excluded black schools from membership until 1967) created an exciting brand of football that produced hundreds of outstanding players..." Read more Look inside

Born in Andrews, Texas October 2, 1980, Shaud Williams attended and later coached for Andrews High School between 1995–1998. He attended college and played football for the University of Alabama and played professionally for the Buffalo Bills, Florida Tuskers and the Omaha Nighthawks . . . more

Tiki realized a goal of playing collegiate football that would serve as a stepping stone to greater achievements. Tiki Davis was born on July 27, 1978 in Andrews, and grew up in Odessa Texas He is an actor, thought leader, coach, speaker and entrepreneur . . . Read more

Denton Fox

Born May 21, 1947 in Claude Texas, Denton Fox was a football cornerback who played college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders football team of Texas Tech University. He was recognized as a second-team All-American in 1969 . . . Read more

Very large photo of the Bandera Texas football team in 1938

Huge group photo of the Howard Payne football team with coaches in 1946

In 1921 the Daniel Baker College football team in Brownwood Texas posed for this photo. Their names are numbered and listed below the photo

Howard Payne Football Team 1909

Earliest known photo of the Howard Payne football team. Only a few of the players had helmets in this photo.

Howard Payne Football Team in 1923 Brownwood Texas

Players: Hodges, R. Harris, Flack, Caldwell, Stanford, Richey, Farmer, More, A. L. Kirkpatrick, Taylor, McAllister, Cook, Moore, Beasley . . . read more

Howard Payne Football Team 1924 Brownwood Texas

Davis, Stanford, R. Allbright, McAtee, Keaton, Moore, Henderson, Grady, T. B. Amis, Bissett, Mcallister, Scott, Hodges, Jobes, Nunnaly, Caldwell, Beach, Dheaney, Burns, Blinn and Cook.

T.B. Amis, J. Allen, Stanford, Wright, Boyd, Jobes, J.B. Shirey, Cook, Caldwell, M. Hodges, W. Hodges . . . read more see full size

Junior Lee Coffey

Played for Dimmitt High School Bobcats, University of Washington Huskies, the Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, and New York Giants.

Billy Joe "Red" McCombs

Born in Spur Texas in 1927. He was the owner of the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, and the Minnesota Vikings. A natural born entrepreneur, by the age of ten he was in business for himself.  McCombs was named one of Forbes magazine's top 400 richest Americans in 2005 . . read more

John Ayers was born April 14, 1953 in Carrizo Springs Texas. He played college football at West Texas A&M University in Canyon and went on to play as an NFL offensive lineman from 1977 through 1987 for the San Francisco 49's and the Denver Broncos.

Kelvin Clark was born January 30, 1956 in Odessa Texas. He is a former American college and professional football player who was an Offensive lineman in the National Football League

Roy Williams was born December 20, 1981 in Odessa. He attended Permian High School. He played college football for the University of Texas Longhorns and played professionally as a wide receiver in the NFL for the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, and Chicago Bears . . . more

Derrick Shepard was born January 22, 1964 in Odessa Texas. He was a wishbone quarterback for Odessa High School. He was converted to a wide receiver at the University of Oklahoma and played professionally for the Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, and Dallas Cowboys.

Chuck Dicus was born October 2, 1948 in Odessa, Texas. He is a former wide receiver and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Dicus played college football at the University of Arkansas and professionally two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the San Diego Chargers.

Legendary coach Hayden Fry was born February 28, 1929 in Eastland Texas. He played safety and quarterback for Odessa High School in the 1940s and returned to coach there from 1956 to 1958.

Curtis Bledsoe was born March 19, 1957 in Odessa, Texas. He is a former professional football player who played fullback, halfback, and running back for the Kansas City Chiefs

Marcus Cannon was born May 6, 1988 in Odessa Texas He is an offensive tackle with the New England Patriots of the National Football League . . . more about Cannon

Stoney Case was born July 7, 1972 in Odessa Texas. He is a former quarterback for the Odessa Permian Panthers and the University of New Mexico. He played professionally for three teams in the National Football League . . .

Daryl Hunt was born in Odessa Texas November 3, 1956. The son of educators, he was the first African-American to play football at Odessa Permian High School. He was a linebacker for six seasons for the Houston Oilers.

John Arendell, Marshall Ferguson, Rich Fagan, Roy Neblett, Brick Cameron, Stonewall Jackson, Roy Geren, Lynn Roberts, Bob Rutherford,Homer Titus, Newt Bruington, Jim Mace, Frank Booher, Bass Syler and Jay Shelton Claude Caver and Cain Jones

Robert Leslie Goode was born June 5, 1927 in Roby Texas. He was a running back for the Washington Redskins and the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. more about Goode

18 members of the Lockney High School Football team posed for this group photo with their coach in 1939 . . . see full size

Born August 29, 1976 in Floydada Texas. He is a the head coach of the Stephen F. Austin State University . . . more about Colby Carthel

Born in Dimmitt, Texas July 6, 1952, Carthel started his coaching career in 1975 under legendary coach L.G.Wilson at Floydada High School in Floydada, Texas . . . more about Coach Carthel

Born November 5, 1924 in Anson, Texas, legendary head coach and athletic director L.G. Wilson coached at Floydada High School from 1968 to 1982 . . . more on Coach Wilson

Former NFL safety David Terrell was born in Floydada, Texas July 8, 1975. He attended high school in Sweetwater . . . more about Terrell

Born February 20, 1977 in Lockney, Texas. Washington is a former NFL running back . . . more about Damon Washington

In 1935 the Lockney Longhorn football team posed for their team photo in Lockney Texas. The players names and even nicknames are attached to this rare find

The Floydada Whirlwind football team in Floydada Texas in 1922 with some of the players names noted

Born in Plainview Texas January 10, 1988, Jamar has won football honors in High School, College and Professionally. He played for Plainview High School, Texas Tech, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles and for the last several years with Calgary Stampeders.

Arland Thompson

Born in Lockney September 19, 1957, Arland attended Plainview High School. He is a former NFL player who turned scientist after his retirement from football in 1987 . . . read more

Lawrence McCutcheon was born on June 2, 1950 in Plainview, Texas. He graduated from Plainview High School in 1968. McCutcheon is a former running back in the National Football League. He is also an actor having played himself in the TV series Wonder Woman . . . more McCutcheon

John Kimbrough

Known as the "Haskell Hurricane" when he played for the Texas A&M Aggies football team. The Aggies were an undefeated 1939 national championship team when he played fullback. In 1940 he finished second to the University of Michigan's Tom Harmon in Heisman Trophy balloting. According to his College Football Hall of Fame biography, Jarrin' John was a punishing 6 ft 2 in tall 210 lb running back known for breaking tackles with his high knee action who was honored with induction into that organization in 1954

On the team (and probably in the photograph): Gill Alfred Barnett, Wesley Line, Frank Covert, Elmer Boatler, James Little ... read more see full size

In 1950 the 2nd grade class in Sweetwater Texas had a football team called the Mini Colts as can be seen in this team photo with their teacher / coach

In this amazing old photo 16-year-old Frankie Groves, the first girl to play High School Football in Texas suits up to play for Stinnett Texas in 1947. It was on a frigid November 14 against arch-rival Groom High and against the wishes of many in her own hometown, that Frankie Groves became the first girl to play high school football in the State of Texas . . .

On the ground, left to right: J. D. Wynn, Henry Lawson, Franklin Butler, Max Walthall, Francis Bearden, Jimmy Williamson. Sitting, Troy Davidson, Robert McKinnon, Jack Lovin, Clifton Hill, Howard Alford, Paul Sparkman, Joe Tyson, James Barker, Fred Redwine... read more

 Born January 5, 1938, E.J. Holub grew up in Lubbock, Texas, He spent the last years of his life in Midland . . .  more about Holub

Eric Hipple was born in Lubbock September 16, 1957. He is an author and former professional football player. Hipple played for the Detroit Lions from . . . read more

Linebacker Landon Johnson was born in Lubbock Texas March 13, 1981 and attended Lubbock's Coronado High School . . . more

Curtis Jordan was born in Lubbock Texas January 25, 1954. He attended Monterey High School and Texas Tech University in Lubbock. He is a restaurateur and former NFL player . . . more about Jordan

Born Jerry Don Gray in Lubbock Texas in 1962, Gray attended Lubbock Estacada High School. Today, he is a football coach and . . , more about Jerry Gray

Born in Lubbock Texas February 10, 1959, Gentry graduated from Lubbock Dunbar High School and Baylor University. He was drafted into the Chicago Bears in 1982 where . . . continued

Denton Fox

Born May 21, 1947, Denton Fox was a football cornerback who played college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders football team. He was inducted into the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame. In 2001, he was inducted into the Texas Tech Athletic Hall of Fame. . . . Read more

Here's a great old photo of the Shallowater Mustangs . . . See anyone you know? see the article for list of players

Sonny Cumbie

Born Sonny Jack Cumbie August 8, 1981, Cumbie was the starting quarterback for Texas Tech in Lubbock Texas during the 2004 season, where he led the nation in passing . . . continued

Ruby was born in Lubbock, Texas June 9, 1922. He was an offensive and defensive tackle for the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers in the All-America football Conference . . . read more

After an impressive HS record, Williams accepted a scholarship from Texas Tech University and started as a defensive end in his 2nd year. He led the Big 12 Conference with 21 tackles . . . more about Williams

Powell was a linebacker for the Miami Dolphins from 1969 to 1973.  He played in three Super Bowls. After retiring from football, Powell worked as an insurance agent for 35 years and retired from the company in 2012. Powell died in a Lubbock hospital. . .   more about Powell

Chance Mock was born in Lubbock, Texas December 10, 1981. He played professionally for the Austin Wranglers in the Arena football League . . . more about Mock

Mason Walker Crosby was born September 3, 1984 in Lubbock Texas. He is an American football placekicker for the Green Bay Packers of the National football League . . . continued

Val Joe Walker was born January 7, 1930 in Tahoka, in Lynn County, Texas, he grew up in Seminole in Gaines County, A gifted athlete, he was a defensive back in the National Football League . . . continued

Born and raised in Midland, Texas, Goodley attended Midland High School, As a senior, he was named first-team All-District 2-5A and first-team All-Permian Basin  . .  read more

Tom Brahaney was born in Midland, Texas in 1951. He played football for Midland High School and college football for the University of Oklahoma . . . more about Tom Brahaney

Born in Midland, Texas in 1982. Benson attended Robert E Lee High School in Midland. He is a former University of Texas and NFL running back.  . . more about Cedric Benson

Born Edward McDaniel in 1938. His father, nicknamed "Big Wahoo", worked in oil the fields and moved to several towns before settling down in Midland, Texas. While he was in middle school, in Midland, one of his baseball coaches was George H. W. Bush. . . . read more

Born in Midland, Texas in 1983, Eric Winston played high school football at Robert E. Lee High School. Today, he is an offensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL . . more about Winston

Born and raised in Midland, Texas, James Zachery was a professional football player, musician, actor and song writer until his murder by a criminal gang. . . read about his career and murder

The Matador Texas High School football built a tower of athletes for this amazing photo in 1918

Born in Matador, Texas in 1947, Powell was a graduate of Spur High School. He was a linebacker for the Miami Dolphins from 1969 to 1973 and played in three Super Bowls. more about Powell

Born in Motley County, Texas in 1902 Tilson was a football player and coach for the Washington & Lee Generals from 1922 to 1940. Tilson never forgot his ranching heritage. In 1932 he bought a 426 acre . . . read more.

Amazing photo of the Sweetwater High School Football Team in 1913

In 1950 the 2nd grade class in Sweetwater Texas had a football team called the Mini Colts as can be seen in this team photo with their teacher / coach

John Ayers was born April 14, 1953 in Carrizo Springs Texas. He played college football at West Texas A&M University in Canyon and went on to play as an NFL offensive lineman from 1977 through 1987 for the San Francisco 49's and the Denver Broncos.

Born August 29, 1976 in Floydada Texas. he was the defensive coordinator for his father and former West Texas A&M University head coach, Don Carthel, from 2006 to 2012 in Canyon Texas.  . . . more about Colby Carthel

Model T's lined the end zone to watch this football game at West Texas State Normal College in 1921

Sometime in the 1910s these three tough-looking and one who looks like he's wondering what he got himself into when he joined the WT College Football Team posed for this crystal clear photo

Sonny Cumbie

Born Sonny Jack Cumbie August 8, 1981, Cumbie attended Snyder High School in Snyder, Texas, and was a three-sport letterman in football, basketball, and baseball . . . continued

Born November 5, 1924 in Anson, Texas, legendary head coach and athletic director L.G. Wilson graduated from Abilene Christian College in 1950, where he played football, baseball, and basketball. . . . more on Coach Wilson

Sammy Baugh was born March 17, 1914. A famous football player, rancher and actor, he played football for Sweetwater High School, TCU, the Washington Redskins and coached for Hardin-Simmons in Abilene . . . more about Baugh

Eleven players on the Abilene High School football team in 1923.

View full size

1923 Abilene High School Football Team on the Way to Fort Worth

McMurray College Coach R M Medley with players Taylor, Osborn Park, Isaacs, Bowers, Tharp, Miller, Newton, Asst. Coach Pratt, Corbin, Roberts, Edwards, Brown, H V Hodges, Patterson, Mitchell, Hunt, Wharton, Hale and Pool in 1927.

McMurry College Football Coach R. M. Medley with players Campbell, Hale, W. Hill, Fitzgerald, Farmer, Hunt, Bigby, Bowers, West, Young, McCandless, Brown, Donaldson, Peeples, Wood, Self, Newton, D. Hill, Ledbetter, Harkrider, Murphy, and Meader in 1924

The 1923 Abilene High School yearbook featured this on the page dedicated to the football team

Resources:

West Texas History & Memories

Early Life in Texas County by County

Books about Texas People and Places

Amazing People from Texas County by County