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Have a Billy Pickard story? The Pickard Family wants to hear it

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Gabe Bock
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We've talked with the Pickard Family today and they have been blessed by the amazing stories that so many have shared about the life of Billy Pickard. We at TexAgs would like to do something to incapsulate those stories - your memories - and keep them as treasures that look back on "Pick" and his six decades at Texas A&M.

So let's do this ... if you ever had a moment involving Mr. Pickard, please post it here. We're going to get some former players, former coaches, former managers, etc. to add their stories to this one thread. That way the Pickard Family can take this thread, print it off and keep these memories forever.

To get us started, I received a few of stories from a couple of former A&M defensive players ... Lance Jackson and Derrick Frazier and Kevin Sumlin's reaction tonight during our post-practice interview when I asked him for his comments about Pick. Here are those stories:

By Lance Jackson:
Many of us former players no doubt have Mr. Pickard stories. We all have our favorite. But know this, all of us have a piece of gear, a keepsake from Pick. As a matter of rite of passage, Pick went out of his way to take care of his seniors. I have all of mine in a locker box in my mom's garage back home, including the fav, "Pick drawers."

He was known as a bit of a joker at times. Any cold, wet practice nights, Pick would come up with a one of a kind, hilarious stunt to loosen up the team. It would most likely be his birthday (Halloween). So one night, we are on Kyle Field getting reading for Arkansas week. We hear this awful squeal and rebel yell. From the old scoreboard side, this guy with a full cover Razorback mask on with nothing but a jock goes screaming down the middle of the field ... all 120 yards. Mr. Pickard of course!

Gig Em, Mr. Pickard! Here!

By Derrick Frazier:
It was my junior year...We were playing Texas later that evening and I came to the locker room very early that day because I was so excited about the game. Nobody was there but a few trainers and Pick. Pick walks up to me and says, "What's wrong, brotha?" I said, "Nothing is wrong ... just getting my mind right before the game." As typical Pick would say, "If you're not ready now, you probably won't be ready tonight, brotha...but I know you and you're ready." We ultimately sit down for another 20 minutes and talked life and football. I got up to leave and he said, "Brotha, you need a girlfriend because you got a lot of time on your hands to come and talk to me before a big game." As I laughed when I was walking off, he said, "Fraze (which was odd because he never called me by my name), thanks for the talk."

No, Pick. Thank you for the talk and the moments we shared with you. You will be missed, "Brotha."
Aggieland lost a great one.

Coach Kevin Sumlin:
"As you guys know, Billy Pickard is very special to our program. When I was here fifteen years ago he helped me moving in here for the first time, and helped me come back. A lot of people have started to figure out, I had him talk to our team before we left for road games or home games on Friday. Our guys really looked forward to that before we left, because he couldn't travel, or for home games.

"It's even more difficult because four days ago he wanted to come out to our first padded practice. He said, 'Ah I'll skip the first couple in their underwear, that's not real football. If you get me a chair, I'll come out Thursday.' And he did. He came out and sat at the 20-yard line. It's a tough deal but I know at least Thursday he was out here for his 51st spring football practice. He's touched a lot of people's lives here at Texas A&M a lot of players, a lot of coaches. It was tough to hear the news. He's meant a lot to this program and he will always mean a lot to it."

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There you go ... we got you started. Now, please share any and all stories that you may have.

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And if you are looking for a reference on just what Mr. Pickard means and meant to Aggieland, click on his archive and check out videos that we've done with him and about him over the past few years.

Billy Pickard archive: http://texags.com/t/2287/billy-pickard
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Tom Turbiville
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10:55p, 3/9/15
If you worked with Billy for any amount of time and never got at least a few good face-to-face chewing outs, well either he didn't care about you or you just weren't doing your job. Being in sports information, one often had to walk a fine line between helping the media do its job and being on the right side of Pick.Those two objectives often clashed to say the least. This was after A&M beat Texas in Austin in 1986. It was Coach Sherrill's policy that media was not allowed in the road locker room until Jackie personally gave the OK. However for this game, I knew that if A&M won, that there would be a big locker room celebration, including the formal invitation from the Cotton Bowl, and I knew that coach would not be thinking about the media then. Before the game started, I went to the locker room to ask Coach Sherrill, in advance, if it would be OK, if we won, to let the media in for the Cotton Bowl invitation. Problem is I could not find coach but Pick was in the locker room. I told Pick my dilemma and I asked him if he thought it would be OK. Billy said to me, "I can't tell you that, you need to get Jackie's OK." I eventually did find coach before kickoff and asked him but he said that he'd let me know after the game, if we won. Fast forward....A&M wins the game 16-3 and just like I anticipated, there's a big celebration going on in a packed small visitor's locker room. All the media is waiting outside the door, yelling at me to let them in. Jim Brock and the Cotton Bowl guys are headed in to give the invitation and Brock is telling me to let the media in to cover the invitation. Coach Sherrill is somewhere in the massive throng of people but I can't find him. The formal invitation is seconds from starting and the media is now angrily screaming at me to let them in to record it. Brock is motioning me to let them in. I made the decision, on my own, to let them in (yep I disobeyed my boss) I paid for that as I got a deserved royal chewing out from Jackie and was told to come to his office Monday morning. (Figured I'd be fired) When I got to his office, there was Jackie and Pick. I explained to Jackie about my thought process in letting them in, that he Cotton Bowl invitation should be publicized. He said "Did you ask Billy about it before the game?" I said "Yes, and Billy told me that I should not let the media in without your OK. Letting the media in was totally my decision." (By the way turns out Jackie had a very good reason to delay letting the media in, but I kept my job and Jackie never brought it up again) Now that's the story but here's the point of all this. At the time Billy and I were just co-workers who mostly butted heads because of the media factor. I was intimidated by him and mostly tried to avoid him. I think Billy thought that I might try to throw him under the bus and tell Jackie that Billy had OK'ed the media coming in the locker room. I didn't and Billy never ever forgot my honesty and loyalty to him that day and he himself told that story many times and told me how much respect he always had for me since that day, for telling the truth. From that day forward and every time I saw him for the next nearly 30 years, Billy and I were very very close. I did not intend for this to be a story about me, but rather how Billy rewarded loyalty and honesty with loyalty himself. I loved that man and I'm so fortunate to be just one of the many lives he touched.
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Atmpainter
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11:06p, 3/9/15
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I started working for the Field Staff in May of 2005. When I began, I was a wide eyed sophomore who was simply beside himself he was getting paid to be at Kyle Field and Olsen. The first week I was there, i heard story after story of the "mean old Doc," who was on vacation. When Mr. Pickard got back, I learned first hand what everyone meant. He seemed like an angry, bitter man that was never happy. He was quite quick to jump on you in a sec. However, something changed that summer. After working camps and seven on seven he suddenly seemed a bit more cordial.

We became friends after awhile and he would always share stories. Sunday stadium clean ups and staying to lock all the ramp gates after games with him. He was a man with routine and I respected that. He drank 3 keystone lights at night, I believe. No more. No less. We eventually got to the point that he would find me every day if we didn't see each other in the morning to give our standard greeting. It wasn't a "howdy" in our case. No, Doc and I gave each other an "up yours" making our arms into an L. It always came with a smile. I enjoyed seeing him over my 6 years working for the Field Staff.

So many memories came back yesterday when I heard the news. Pick always did his run before his nap in his office and one time I got a call to go get him because I was pouring and he was at the corner of PEnberthy and Tom Chandler. He was hunkered down in a portopotty until I got there. Drenched, he got in my truck, laughed it off, and said "atleast I didn't get hit by a truck!" No, that happened a few years later!

The last time I saw Pick we were watching the west stands imploded. He looked happy and reminded me how he had been there for every expansion of those hallowed grounds. I thought to myself it's not fair he won't get to see the finished product but, I know he will from an even better seat up above.

I'm going to miss seeing him Saturday's in the fall but, I will be answering here on April 21st for a man I am glad to have called my friend. Here.
Andrew Siegel '07
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aeroag14
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11:13p, 3/9/15
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http://texags.com/forums/25/topics/2607968


Already a few good ones in this thread
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DNC
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11:20p, 3/9/15
It was about 1960-1962 as best as I can recall. Lee Roy Caffey was a great Ag linebacker and played offense with Sam Byers at fullback. Lee Roy strained a muscle and was told to jog around Kyle Field while the team practiced (during the season).

Billy followed Lee Roy around lap-after-lap riding his butt about "having a girly hurt". Finally, Lee Roy looked Billy straight in the eyes and said, "Practicing hurt ain't half as bad as listening to you". Lee Roy went in and put on his pads . He was hell on wheels that day in practice.
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OPAG
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I was a walk on back in the late 70's. I mainly walked on to learn all I could about coaching, I had little talent though and was hoping to get an opportunity so show case it. My older brother had run track in the mid to late 60's. Pick came up to me on my the first day of spring practice, when you had your name taped on your helmet and and told me we had a track runner in the 60's that kind of looked like me with the same name and asked me if possible I might be related! Of course I was. He never forget me, even when I visited some ten years later, He remembered who the heck I was!!

He always treated us walkons with respect. Always knew my name always asked me how things were going. He knew i was a bit frustrated with just a lack of opportunity. Towards the end of spring practice they had a bunch of footballs to sign as we entered the locker room. I guess they used to auction them off at various events over the summer. I wasn't going to sign them, as "who am I" and i thought it was for scholarship guys. I started to walk by to go to my locker and I hear Pick call my name and say, "Hey, you need to come back and sign these footballs." I said 'Really Pick, nobody wants my signature!" He retorted. "That's not your decision to make, your part of the team, you sign the balls! Who knows, you maybe President of some big company or even this country some day and it may become the most valuable signature on them. Sign the balls!"

I signed the balls, of course my signature did not raise the value of those footballs that are floating around there somewhere, but I never forgot what Pick in his own unique way did to bolster this young mans sense of value during a time where I was really struggling with that aspect of my life, Some how Pick had a kind of six sense about that type of stuff. The man truly cared about people and his ability to remember what seemed like every single kid that came though that athletics program, at least up to the time I was there, was uncanny! A very unique and special kind of guy who I greatly appreciated.
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tunefx
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12:12a, 3/10/15
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Part II
During the 2014 football season my family, including my Uncle '55, were headed down to the Longhorn Tavern to quench our need for chicken fried steak. Our topic of conversation during our drive to Bryan was that of Aggie athletics and the individual impact of various players, coaches, and staff. Of course we tossed around every name any good Ag would think of. But there was one name that stood alone--Billy Pickard. We all agreed that his impact was of immense proportions--a lasting impact.

Five minutes later we walk into Longhorn. As we are seated I look up and see none other than Billy Pickard and his family. My Uncle and I were laughing at the coincidence of this series of events.

We ventured over to speak with Mr. Pickard. Although I must add that, at that time, I trembled a bit not knowing if this was a good time or bad time to speak with Mr. Pickard. Well, he graciously welcomed us and introduced us. We shared a laugh as we told him about the discussion in the car prior to arriving. Then in five minutes I think we talked about The Bear, Jackie, and an assortment of other topic. His optimism and positive energy about everything maroon was--I'm not sure how to put into words--off the charts.

Billy was full of grace, smiles, and laughter. It was a heartwarming day to run into him. A day I will never forget.

Part I
I moved to Aggieland as a youngster in '71. A few years later I was in middle school. Like all good adolescents we would spend our summers biking and playing outdoors. Fortunately, growing up in CS minimized most of the mischief we could get ourselves into. Except for one thing. Every summer we attempted to play our gridiron dreams out on Kyle Field. Nothing was better than tossing a football around Kyle in your early teens. Heck, we would climb all over Kyle "exploring" every nook and cranny when we weren't throwing the ball around--then again sometimes we were just "hiding out" from the "bogeyman."

"Get off the field!" "You boys get out of here!" "I'm going to call your parents!" are just some of the phrases that would ring out at us kiddos during those summer days. Our favorite hiding place? Between the old second deck and the new second deck--now gone but always remembered. As I recall sitting between decks I can only explain the feeling through other experiences such as sitting at Wrigley Field or seeing the Green Monster at Fenway. Each an indelible mark. As for the "phrases," to us that was just some old man having a bad day. Little did we know!

I would soon find out when I enrolled at A&M in '80 that those "phrases" came from the one and only Mr. Pickard. The funny thing is, he knew we were the local kids living out our dream. Sometimes, he let us play and other times we thought we were going to be shot on sight!

During my time at A&M I discovered how Mr. Pickard bled maroon. He was the epitome of what it meant to be an Aggie. Intense yet compassionate. Unwavering in dedication yet serving. A focus on success yet forgiving of failure. He was the epitome of "let's try that again" or "let's do it better this time." Churchill said, "Never, never, never give up." He also said "As long as we have faith in our own cause and an unconquerable will to win, victory will not be denied to us." Those quotes are idealized by Mr. Pickard in the way he conducted his life.

Epilogue
In the beginning, we feared Mr. Pickard. Then we leaned to love Mr. Pickard.

For all of those that were lucky to meet Mr. Pickard, we've been fortunate and blessed.

Thank you for the memories sir! Thank you for being our Brother and our friend.

Like the old decks of Kyle, gone but always remembered.

May you rest in peace and may the Lord bless your family.
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lotoarmy
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My personal memory is pretty simple. Billy Pickard went out of his way one time to do me a big favor. That was in spite of not knowing me from Adam. He simply did it because it was right.
Last of the Old Army
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FriscoKid
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In reply to Tom Turbiville • 1:02a, 3/10/15
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Outstanding story
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FL_Ag1998
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6:01a, 3/10/15
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I never knew this happened during my graduation, but my mother passed along the following story...

" I'll always be grateful for how he responded in 1999 when I called asking about getting my husband into Reed Arena for our son's graduation. As soon as I explained that the oncologist had released him from the hospital to attend and he would be in a wheelchair, Mr. Pickard arranged for our older son to meet him at a specific door earlier than the scheduled opening of the doors, showed him the area we could wheel the chair to, and handed him a newspaper to sit and read and then use to put over the number of chairs we needed for family members. Just before the graduation started, he came and checked on us--to make sure my husband was okay and to congratulate us as Aggie parents. I sent him a special thank you card afterward, although I'm sure he thought he was just doing his job. "
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8900aggie
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8:11a, 3/10/15
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Here is a couple for you....I was fortunate to work with him and actually got the nerve up to ask for a story. Mr. Pickard, he asked me to call him Billy but I never could, thought for a moment. He said it was not odd to find ashes on Kyle Field since many people broke in and did it often. However, one time when Kyle Field was turf, Mr. Pickard was out walking before practice. Somebody had broken in and spread their ashes on the goal line. It must have been a cheap cremation because Mr. Pickard walked the goal line and found several pieces of the body. He found several teeth, a couple of fingers, and his biggest laugh came when he told us a toe with the toe tag still attached. Bob Davie was the defensive coordinator at the time and Mr. Pickard said he was livid! Davie said that they would not start practice until Mr. Pickard had vacuumed, swept, and anything else he could think of because they would not practice with any part of a dead body, ashes included, on the field.
The second one showed what a character Mr. Pickard could be. On those extremely rare occasions when he made a mistake, he did not hesitate to admit he was wrong. But the way he said he was wrong was classic. He would come outside your door, drop down on his knees, and come crawling in with his hands extended, begging for mercy, like he did something terrible.

He will be truly missed. RIP Mr Pickard
T&P for the family
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LGEllis
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10:50a, 3/10/15
I suppose I may be one of the few to never fear Pick. But I did witness the gruff that he put forward at times to cause it. I never feared him, because our first encounter when I walked on under coach Stallings, was so special. Coach Stallings told me to go see Pick about gear after I visited him concerning walking on. So off I go to the bowels of Kyle in search of Pick! I stopped a couple of people down there, and was escorted to his area. Imagine how nervous, and intimidated I already was when I encountered this marine sergeant looking guy, that was Very busy, and I was going to add to that load with another request. Despite that initial Pick look, he grabbed me and started showing me around, and gathering up my Stuff. His mannerism was fatherly, encouraging, and greatly appreciated by this scared little boy. He always called me his recruit, and had something funny, or friendly to say every time I was around him during the time I played, and when I returned for games or to meet new coaches. Later when I brought my son to visit, he made me feel like a former MVP, with the attention he gave us! What a very Special man, and a great AGGIE! Dr. Larry Ellis '73'.
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puff95
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12:59p, 3/10/15
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I was a student trainer from 91-95, working with Pick, Karl and Superdave.

The spring after my sophomore year Pick overheard me saying I needed to take summer school classes and was having a hard time finding a summer job to work around my schedule. He called me to his office and gave me what I had become kinda used to....a royal but chewing. It seemed I needed one of these every week or so, whether I deserved them or not. After standing there for seemed an eternity getting chewed out, Pick slammed the door and said he would be right back! I didn't dare sit, just stood there waiting. He came back a few minutes later. As usual after a good but chewing, he was in a great mood and told me I had a job and to come see the first morning of summer school. He gave me a job painting the old concrete wall that surrounded Kyle Field. I am pretty sure this could of been done by a crew of people in a short amount of time, but he knew I needed summer work. When it was finally done, he kept finding odd jobs for me to do. Thanks Pick!!!!

Pick also instilled in me being on time! The kids I coach today still here the things Pick taught me and many others....15 minutes early is on time, On time is late and late you are fired!

I will miss you Pick!

Here.

Steve "Puff" Bouldin '95
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atxag13
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4:35p, 3/10/15
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oldag76
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5:22p, 3/10/15
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I had the distinct pleasure and am proud to say that I was his first Assistant Trainer hired in 1976 shortly after his son Kevin was born. One of my funniest memories was when I was a Fish. I often went to the Training Room between classes and a salesman from McGregor happened to be there. Pick had taken over Equipment when Coach Bellard came in 1972 and was looking at a brand new helmet with a CLEAR LEXAN shell. Paint and logos on the inside, very cool. The salesman showed him how great it was by throwing it down on the floor really hard and watching the helmet bounce right back up. Pick was impressed.

That afternoon when Bellard arrived at the locker rooms Pick wanted to show him the helmet. After explaining it, he reared back and flung the helmet really hard, following through perfectly as it hit the floor. Unfortunately, he didn't get out of the way and it bounced right into his face giving him a really bloody nose. Coach Bellard just shook his head and turned around and went into the coaches dressing room.

Pickard never skipped a beat, cleaned himself up, put on a freshly starched white Trainer shirt and went to work.

The memories are flooding back from my 9 years with him. He opened so many doors for me........

David Heath '76
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tamu90
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5:48p, 3/10/15
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As with every one there are countless Pickard stories to tell. Hopefully someone is compiling them though it will take the family years to read them all. Again, Mr Pickard made you feel welcome from the day you walked into the training room. He wanted to know who you were and where you were from and he would likely know someone from your home town. Sure there were the days when you did something to incur the wrath of Billy Pickard. Never a fun thing He would dress you up one side and down the other. I think that was mostly Greg Evans fault. After the yelling that was the end of it. The next he saw you, he would put his arm around your neck in a half head lock and ask how you were. It did take me several years to figure out Leo Goertz's name was not "g** damn it Leo". He was especially good at shouting that into the walkie talkie. I always wondered where Leo was when that squawking began. The road trips were always an adventure. Pickard did not ride the comfy charter or the plane with the team. He road on the cramped small campus bus with the managers and trainers. He was the forerunner of the talking GPS units. He sat in the front seat with map in hand instructing the oblivious student driver on directions. I cherish the memories of the road from the infamous diesel gasoline debacle in Tyler on our way to Fayetville to needing to stop at McDonalds to get Kevin chocolate chip cookies. As I continued through the program, I was put in charge of Kevin. I was to make sure he got to golf practice and various other activities and always make sure he was fed. One weekend Mr Pickard and his wife were going away and he left me to watch his son. Me, a young 20 something in charge of a 10-12 year old for an entire weekend? I thought maybe he had not thought this one through completely. He had and Kevin survived. Obviously Pick saw the best in people whether they did or not. I finished my time as a student athletic trainer but continued to work under Mr Pickard at Kyle Field while I completed my studies and applied to medical school. He took a great personal interest in my future. Every day he asked how the process was going. Had I completed my applications? How were the interviews? When will you be accepted? Of course, he had no doubt that I would be accepted. He did have a vested interest though because I had to promise to be a Family Physician so I could return to take care of him in the nursing home. Thing is , he never got old. At the end of the conversation he would ask if anything he could do to help me. This is the person he was. When I was finally accepted, I believe he was happier, more excited than I . Arm around my neck, head lock and a big congratulations. He showed he cared for you as an individual no matter your status. Always with that big smile as he pulled up his maroon pants with white belt that were clearly too big for him for 100th time. So very honored our paths crossed in this life. Rest in peace, "My brother" Gig'em

Warren L Conway '90/'95
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keithc1971
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8:41p, 3/10/15
Billy Pickard was a man I really liked & respected. Billy Pickard was the "go-to-man" when I was Head Yell Leader during the 1970-71 school year at A&M. When I met with Coach Gene Stallings about working out with the football team during August two-a-days & traveling with the football team during the season, Coach Stallings told me to check with Billy Pickard for all the necessary details. Mr. Pickard told me where I needed to be & when I needed to be there. He was one of the most helpful people I have ever known. I will truly miss this great Texas Aggie.
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LesterCox
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9:54p, 3/10/15
In the spring 1967 Randy Matson broke his shot put record at Kyle Field. Pick had me stand over the indentation where the shot landed while he went to the training room. He came back with plaster and made a mold of this hole . After the plaster dried he picket up the "casting" grass and all and headed back under the stadium. I guess this is one of the many Aggie treasurers in Picks collection.
Later that May my father was killed in an automobile accident and when I returned to campus Mr. Pickard had the Catholic Church hold a Requiem Mass in memory of my father. These are only a couple of my memories of Billy Pickard.

Lester Cox '69
football Manager
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67walkon
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10:33p, 3/10/15
As a walkon Pick scared the crud out of me but he loved me so I loved him. Nobody ever loved Aggieland more which is a huge part of why I love it so much. Thanks Mr. Pickard!
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aggie1357
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12:39a, 3/11/15
Mr. Pickkard sat me down before the season of '81 which was my freshman year after just graduating from Yoakum High School when I was first trying to walk-on and said "Mudd you don't know what you are getting yourself into, you're not big enough, fast enough or strong enough to play this game - well we kept going back and forth and I wouldn't take "No" for an answer, he then said tell you what Mudd, go on and get through your first semester of engineering and if you still think you want to do this come back in the spring and we'll have another talk,,,,,well the spring arrived and I was at his office the first day of classes. He walked in and saw me and walked right past me and didn't say a thing. 20 minutes later he came back and away we went haggling and hashing out why I had no business trying to play football for Texas A&M, little did I know this was the test Mr. Pickkard put all walk-ons through as he tried to thin us out before we ever hit the field. Well I told him I had did what he said to do and here were my grades and that I still wanted a shot. He picked my grades up, looked at them and said Mudd, I can't figure out why you want to do this to yourself and you are only going to get out there and get hurt. Well time went by and it was during our '85 season when we won conference about mid-way through the season and we were really catching fire and playing well and he came by out of the blue and walked up to me face to face no more than 1 foot apart and he said, Mudd, you know you actually might amount to something one day, and he just winked at me and then went on his business. It was a great feeling and we were friends from then on. Mr. Pickkard was a special guy and he made us all tougher and better than we thought we could ever be. We love you Pick, Dennis Mudd
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12th Man
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12:52a, 3/11/15
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These stories are fascinating, and they underscore that we just don't make men like Billy Pickard any more. God rest him.
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tamu76
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11:11a, 3/11/15
AG
I met Mr. Pickard in July 1972. He called me his only 'walk-on' manager because I just walked into his office during my orientation weekend and ask if they needed any football managers. It turned out Mr. Pickard was taking over the Equipment Manager position in August because Mr. Meeks was retiring. Each of them thought the other was getting the football managers for the 1972 season and it turned out that I just walked in at the right time because they didn't have any student managers and two-a-days were about 3 weeks away. Great lesson of "Never be afraid to ask" for everyone in my family.

There are many stories that all football managers and trainers can share about Mr. Pickard, like Randy Matson picking Mr. Pickard up and stuffing him in a athletic tape dispenser trash can and Mr. Pickard throwing his four-inch ring of keys on the Astroturf like he did for many games because of a referees call he didn't agree with until one time it broke and keys went everywhere. Of course, we got yelled at by him, "Get these keys picked up before the referee calls a penalty on us".

But my story that mostly involved me happened during two-a-days in 1974. Coach Bellard had decided that it would be a good idea to have the maintenance guys put together a 3-story scaffolding tower so he could watch both ends of the field when we were divided up into offense and defense. So each day, the managers would have to roll this tower back to the side of Kyle and chain it to the South End wall. On the third day after practice, we rolled it to its position next to the wall and just about when we got it in position, the asphalt had a small dip in it and the wheel on one corner came out. I guess the maintenance guys thought the weight of the scaffolding would hold the wheel in. So the tower starts leaning and there wasn't any way that 5 managers were going to be able to hold this tower up so we jumped out of the way and just let it fall.

It landed on a car parked nearby right at the driver's side window and crushed the roof down to the top of the seats and all of the windows exploded out. Since I was the head manager my Junior year I had to go tell Mr. Pickard what happened. Now going to see him when he is busy in the training room after practice taking care of injuries and such was not a good time to confront him. But I had no choice. So I walked in and told Mr. Pickard that I needed to show him something outside and the response I got was "I don't have time now, can't you see I'm busy". So I said again, "No, Mr. Pickard you have to come see this." Finally I convinced him to come outside and we walked down to the south end of Kyle with him, huffing and puffing the whole way that he didn't have time for this and when we turned the corner, Mr. Pickard turns to me and says "Roy Boy, that car is Coach Wilson's new car that was just delivered from the Chevrolet dealer for him to drive home. The keys are on my desk and he hasn't even seen the car yet. Now you go into the coach's locker room and explain how you demolished his new car because I'm not going in there to tell him." The car had 26 miles on it.

So naturally, I followed orders, found Coach Wilson and told him what had happened. I still can't believe that Mr. Pickard made me do that.

RIP Mr. Pickard

My whole family loves you for who you were. You will never be forgotten. Every time the football managers get together for many generations, you will also be there because one of our stories will always involve you. Thank you for all you have done for my family.

Roy Boenig '76
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Aggiefrank96
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12:44p, 3/11/15
I have pondered what to write for the last few hours. This morning a man who made a huge impact on the person I am today left this world. He is now able to drink a few brewskies and play some golf.
I will forever remember the lessons that he taught me. When Billy Pickard hired me he sat me down and told me "I don't celebrate all of that secretary day stuff. If you do a good job I will tell you; I don't need a holiday to tell you that you do a good job."
I was not an Aggie w...hen I came to work at Texas A&M in 1996 but Mr. Pickard fixed that! I can now say I bleed maroon. I read the Junction Boys book my first month on the job. By the end of the season I had met almost everyone who was living in that book. Every time he introduced me he smiled.
I heard him chew many a ass but at the end of most chewings he patted them on the back.
I have felt lost for most of the day because the man that was once my boss who I am proud to call my friend didn't come in today for his daily chat. You could always set you clock by Billy Pickard. On our daily visits we talked about the weather, the Aggies, and his kids. He would always tell me what they were all up to. Billy Pickard was a hard nut to crack but once I got in he was family.
There is a lot of knowledge of Texas A&M Athletics that went to rest this morning at 12:05 am.
I will forever be grateful for the opportunity that he gave me many years ago.
We lost a friend but his family lost so much more. Over the next few days, weeks and months I will keep them in my thoughts.
To Linda, and all the Pickard kids, and grandkids thanks for sharing him with all of us.
Rena Frank
Assistant to Billy Pickard
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FriscoKid
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12:46p, 3/11/15
AG
I love these stories
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AgCat93
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3:04p, 3/11/15
AG
I have two stories to share - one when I was at A&M, the other happening in the last month.

One afternoon I got a phone call at my dorm room at Cain Hall from someone at the training room. I was told that Pick wanted to talk to me in his office ASAP. It was pouring rain that day so I threw on my rain suit and walked in the deluge from Cain over to Kyle.

Pick's office in the old training room had windows on 3 sides so folks usually knew who was in there if the blinds weren't lowered. The blinds weren't lowered that day so anyone in the training room saw and probably heard what transpired.

As soon as I walked in the door, Pick brought me in his office and had me sit on the small couch he had in there. The office door then nearly slammed shut. For the next 10-15 minutes I got ripped a new one up one side and down the other about my grades. Pick had begun checking grades for the managers and trainers and mine weren't so hot. So, it became necessary for him to call this to my immediate attention for corrective measures. Message received and in all CAPS.

After his rant, Pick switched gears. He said he made some calls and had secured the services of Dr. Karl Mooney, then the Academic Athletic Adviser, as well as his tutorial staff. Pick was committed to make darn sure I had all the tools I could possibly have to right the ship. That act spoke volumes of how committed he was to ensure those under his tutelage succeeded. Problem is, I stubbornly didn't realize it until many years later.

Story 2 - For a long time, I had this nagging urge to send Pick a letter and update him on how I was doing, as well as thank him for the opportunity to work for him and show him the appreciation he richly deserved. I made the time to do this in January and sent the letter, not expecting any sort of reply. A month ago, I opened my mailbox to find an envelope from the A&M Athletic Department with the initials "B.P." in the upper left hand corner above the return address. Pick sent a handwritten reply on card stock stationery thanking me for my great letter and apologizing for his "hen scratch". I am incredibly fortunate to have done this when I did, especially now that he's gone.

All of us who were student managers and trainers under Pick had at least one time when we caught hell from him. To some, these tail chewings were very petty but Pick had a method to his madness: to make sure we learned the value of hard work, doing the job right the first time, showing integrity in our work, and making certain this package of traits translated to our professional careers and family life after we left A&M. I am certain my work ethic is a direct result of working for this great man.

My deepest condolences to Linda and Kevin and the rest of the Pickard family.

God Speed, Wilford F. Pickard, Jr.

Brian Herold
Football manager, 1989-1990

Photo of Pick and me in 1989, my fish year.

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Tom Turbiville
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5:05p, 3/11/15

In 2008, I got to host a forum with Billy, RC and John David at the Exploring History Series for College Station. It was fascinating. Thanks to Anne Boykin for finding the You a Tube. Enjoy.

Here's what Billy said about loyalty (In Sept 2008 in reference to the hiring of Mike Sherman): "I go home and tell my wife Mike is going to be a super coach. She said 'every time you come home with a new coach, that's what you tell me'. I said you know what? That's exactly right because if I'm going to work here, I'm going to be 100% loyal. If I ain't loyal, go find another job. Disloyalty -- there's nothing worse, in the schoolhouse or anywhere you are. If you can't be loyal to who you work for, go find another job!"

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GrammFamily
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10:02p, 3/11/15
I came to football practice one day and was sitting in the lower bleachers and Billy came up and told me that I wasn't supposed to be there and I needed to leave. He said he was sorry to have to tell me that, but it was the coach's orders. So anyway, I didn't realize I wasn't supposed to be there, so I left. The next time I saw Billy, he told me that right after that had happened, Coach Slocum asked him to find me and bring me to the locker room. "Jesus, I just ran him off!" he told Slocum. We laughed about it, but that was what was great about Billy. For Billy Pickard, rules were for everybody.
- Phil Gramm
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Matt Watson
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2:46p, 3/12/15
I apologize in advance for the lengthy post. MW

With the passing of Mr. Pickard just after midnight on March 9th, Texas A&M lost an icon that stood shoulder to shoulder with ANY in our history. There are so many stories from interactions with Pick that are being told and remembered, but there are countless more that are equally as meaningful, humorous, stern, loyal, or kind that won't be heard or remembered. Personally, there are so many stories that fill my heart and mind and an infinite amount that have slipped my memory, but all have played a part in making me who I am today. Little did I realize when I started writing, calling, and driving down to College Station as a high school senior to harass Pick into allowing me to become a student manager for A&M as a freshman in the Fall of 1990, that I would be set on a career path to make a living serving the University and football team that I loved. Pick took a chance on me in 1990 and then again in 1997 when I was blessed to be brought back to A&M to work full time as the assistant equipment manager. For that alone I am eternally indebted and grateful. What typically gets overlooked when spending so much time with someone like Mr. Pickard, is the affect they have on you as a person. 12:38am Monday morning was a day many of usthat worked with Pick knew would come, we just didn't know when, how, where, or why it would happen.

The flood of emotions and memories brought on by Mr.Pickard's passing has shed some much needed light on a "company man" and a true servant of Texas A&M. Many of us that worked with him daily are surprised something didn't take Pick from this world sooner. Like the time witnessed by Leo Goertz when Pick cut through a live extension cord on the sideline of the Cotton Bowl with his all metal training scissors, sending sparks flying but leaving him unscathed. He has been hit by a car while jogging at the corner of Wellborn and Joe Routt only to bounce back up looking like he had been in a fight and very sore but ultimately ok (he was in his 70's mind you). There was also the time in Lubbock while loading the Ryder equipment truck backed down the steep incline at Texas Tech's stadium in the early 90's when the parking break popped sending trunks rolling down towards the playing field along with the truck itself and Pick standing behind trying unsuccessfully to stop the truck with his own hands as if he were Superman (luckily Sly Calhoun was able to jump in the cab and reengage the brake before Pick was pulled under the truck). Mr Pickard also had a knack forseemingly challenging the wrath of God by standing at the top of the 3rd deck on the west side of Kyle Field during a lightning storm (a la Lieutenant Dan on the shrimp boat in Forrest Gump) to get a closer look at where the system were heading in relation to the Brazos River and the airport to ascertain when we could resume football practice (this was well before
lightning meters and policy protocol were in place). Through all of this and more, Mr Pickard pressed on, all at the service of Texas A&M.

Mr Pickard could have a humorous and joking side many would not know about unless they interacted with him regularly. One of my fondest memories seeing Pick let his guard down was on a manager/trainer bus returning from Houston around the Fall of 1993. Many of us were having a fun time at the back of the bus and Pick came to sit with us for a while. I took this opportunity to ask him several questions:
Me: "Mr Pickard, what was Junction like??"
Mr Pickard: "Hot."
Me: "Who is your favorite coach that you've worked for??"
Mr Pickard: "Always the current one. "
I quickly realized that at this point in time, he was not going to truly answer any questions that inquiring minds were wanting to know. During this same visit at the back of the bus, we also had a Walkman playing. The song "Whoomp! (There It Is)" came on and we all, including Pick, began singing the chorus over and over again "Whoomp! (There It Is), Whoomp! (There It Is)" Can you imagine witnessing Billy Pickard singing over and over "Whoomp! (There It Is)??" We all were rolling in laughter!
Mr Pickard was a mentor and a father figure to myself and countless more student managers and trainers as well as a confidant and trusted advisor to many head coaches, athletic directors, and players. He was an infinite source of knowledge and history and one that I was blessed to have direct access to for over 25 years and one I will miss and most certainly wish I could consult with in the future.
Monday was a strange day around Kyle Field with the realization that for the first time in over 50 years, we would never see Pick roaming the ramps and breezeways of the stadium or the hallways of Bright ever again. He was aHUGE presence even at the age of 81 and he will be missed dearly.

I wish to thank the Pickard family, especially his wife Linda, for sharing Mr Pickard with us for so long. The sacrifices she had to have made over the years to allow him to be the "company man" he wanted to be, but also the "company man" WE needed him to be. To us he was "Mr Pickard," "Pick," or "Doc." To her he was just "Billy" and in the end that's who he needed to be.

A&M is a better place for having Mr Pickard. We will miss you Billy

Matt Watson'95
Head Equipment Manager - Texas A&M Football
Student Manager, '90-'95
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12th Man
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In reply to Matt Watson • 3:43p, 3/12/15
AG
quote:
I apologize in advance for the lengthy post. MW

With the passing of Mr. Pickard just after midnight on March 9th, Texas A&M lost an icon that stood shoulder to shoulder with ANY in our history. There are so many stories from interactions with Pick that are being told and remembered, but there are countless more that are equally as meaningful, humorous, stern, loyal, or kind that won't be heard or remembered. Personally, there are so many stories that fill my heart and mind and an infinite amount that have slipped my memory, but all have played a part in making me who I am today. Little did I realize when I started writing, calling, and driving down to College Station as a high school senior to harass Pick into allowing me to become a student manager for A&M as a freshman in the Fall of 1990, that I would be set on a career path to make a living serving the University and football team that I loved. Pick took a chance on me in 1990 and then again in 1997 when I was blessed to be brought back to A&M to work full time as the assistant equipment manager. For that alone I am eternally indebted and grateful. What typically gets overlooked when spending so much time with someone like Mr. Pickard, is the affect they have on you as a person. 12:38am Monday morning was a day many of usthat worked with Pick knew would come, we just didn't know when, how, where, or why it would happen.

The flood of emotions and memories brought on by Mr.Pickard's passing has shed some much needed light on a "company man" and a true servant of Texas A&M. Many of us that worked with him daily are surprised something didn't take Pick from this world sooner. Like the time witnessed by Leo Goertz when Pick cut through a live extension cord on the sideline of the Cotton Bowl with his all metal training scissors, sending sparks flying but leaving him unscathed. He has been hit by a car while jogging at the corner of Wellborn and Joe Routt only to bounce back up looking like he had been in a fight and very sore but ultimately ok (he was in his 70's mind you). There was also the time in Lubbock while loading the Ryder equipment truck backed down the steep incline at Texas Tech's stadium in the early 90's when the parking break popped sending trunks rolling down towards the playing field along with the truck itself and Pick standing behind trying unsuccessfully to stop the truck with his own hands as if he were Superman (luckily Sly Calhoun was able to jump in the cab and reengage the brake before Pick was pulled under the truck). Mr Pickard also had a knack forseemingly challenging the wrath of God by standing at the top of the 3rd deck on the west side of Kyle Field during a lightning storm (a la Lieutenant Dan on the shrimp boat in Forrest Gump) to get a closer look at where the system were heading in relation to the Brazos River and the airport to ascertain when we could resume football practice (this was well before
lightning meters and policy protocol were in place). Through all of this and more, Mr Pickard pressed on, all at the service of Texas A&M.

Mr Pickard could have a humorous and joking side many would not know about unless they interacted with him regularly. One of my fondest memories seeing Pick let his guard down was on a manager/trainer bus returning from Houston around the Fall of 1993. Many of us were having a fun time at the back of the bus and Pick came to sit with us for a while. I took this opportunity to ask him several questions:
Me: "Mr Pickard, what was Junction like??"
Mr Pickard: "Hot."
Me: "Who is your favorite coach that you've worked for??"
Mr Pickard: "Always the current one. "
I quickly realized that at this point in time, he was not going to truly answer any questions that inquiring minds were wanting to know. During this same visit at the back of the bus, we also had a Walkman playing. The song "Whoomp! (There It Is)" came on and we all, including Pick, began singing the chorus over and over again "Whoomp! (There It Is), Whoomp! (There It Is)" Can you imagine witnessing Billy Pickard singing over and over "Whoomp! (There It Is)??" We all were rolling in laughter!
Mr Pickard was a mentor and a father figure to myself and countless more student managers and trainers as well as a confidant and trusted advisor to many head coaches, athletic directors, and players. He was an infinite source of knowledge and history and one that I was blessed to have direct access to for over 25 years and one I will miss and most certainly wish I could consult with in the future.
Monday was a strange day around Kyle Field with the realization that for the first time in over 50 years, we would never see Pick roaming the ramps and breezeways of the stadium or the hallways of Bright ever again. He was aHUGE presence even at the age of 81 and he will be missed dearly.

I wish to thank the Pickard family, especially his wife Linda, for sharing Mr Pickard with us for so long. The sacrifices she had to have made over the years to allow him to be the "company man" he wanted to be, but also the "company man" WE needed him to be. To us he was "Mr Pickard," "Pick," or "Doc." To her he was just "Billy" and in the end that's who he needed to be.

A&M is a better place for having Mr Pickard. We will miss you Billy

Matt Watson'95
Head Equipment Manager - Texas A&M Football
Student Manager, '90-'95
Friend

A wonderful tribute to an amazing man, Matt. Thank you for sharing this.
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DRCLAT
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5:15a, 3/13/15
While there are numerous stories that I could share about mytime working under Mr. Pickard, there are two encounters that stand out in my
mind for the message that they contained. The first took place one morning when
my roommate and I were out jogging. Cutting across the parking lot of Kyle
Field at about 6:30 am, we saw Mr.Pickard with a trash bag picking up trash. As we approached, I asked what he
was doing knowing full well after I said it that I was going to get a typical Pick
answer and wishing I could take the question back. He did not let me down.
"What the hell does it look like I am doing, I am picking up trash"
was his reply. He then said that he was not going to have people coming to his
stadium and see it this way. Jogging on,I thought that here is a man who could have sent out the stadium crew or the
student trainers and managers to clean up the premises but the pride that he
had for his facilities would not allow for it to wait. That pride and the
willingness to see that everything was is in order is something that I carry to
this day. Looking back on it, Kyle Field was his stadium for over fifty years. The second event involved caring for each other. There wasan athlete who had lost his Grandfather and did not have a suit to wear to the
funeral. Mr. Pickard stepped in and took the young man to get a suit for him to
wear. Later that week, we were talking with Mr. Pickard about what he had done.
During our conversation it was not the act but the conviction in Mr. Pickard's voice
about taking care of each other that struck me. As student trainers and
managers, we all feared the wrath of Pick. He had a way of dressing you down (
a nicer way of saying chewing you out) to where you would really question your
worth but turn right around and build you up again. Despite his gruff demeanor,
we knew that he did care about each and everyone of us. My condolences go out to Linda, Kevin and the entire AggieNation for his loss. Texas A&M has lost a icon. Rest in Peace Mr. Pickard. David Chaney LAT
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skins74
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10:47a, 3/13/15
AG

When I was a Big Brother in the Big
Brother / Big Sister Program, I was matched with a kid that wanted to be
a trainer for athletics. It was just before football season and I
thought it would be cool if he could see the facilities at Aggieland so I
called Mr. Pickard's office and I was put through to him. I told him
the situation and he asked if I came to games. I told him everyone of
them. He told me to bring the kid to the next game and he would have
him as his guest on the sidelines. He told me to be at the locker room
door at a certain time knock which I did. Two student trainers met us
and took the kid with them. He got to watch the taping and pregame
preps and then they gave him a trainers shirt to wear on the sidelines.
He stood with the team the whole game and I picked him up afterwards.
It was such a cool thing for him to arrange a day that meant so much to a
kid who would never have such an opportunity otherwise. He was a
great and generous man and it saddens me that he is gone.



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bearmurchison93
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9:09p, 3/13/15
Mr. Pickard had one of the biggest influences in my life both personally and professionally. His reach and affect on young men and women did not end when he left this Earth. His lessons and influence are still being taught by his former trainers, managers, and players to young people today. I have been a football coach for 20 years and I can attest that Mr. Pickard's lessons are still being taught by those he influenced. Humility, loyalty, hard work, being on-time, and the most important lesson he reinforced to me, to prove my worth and be valuable to "my team" each and every day. It is not cliche to say he embodied every quality that Aggies hold dear. If you asked the countless number of kids I have coached in the past 20 years, you will find these lessons being taught on a daily basis.

One of the most memorable stories I have of Mr. Pickard is when we played in California in the Disney Pigskin Classic. After unloading the plane (all equipment and everyone's luggage) we made our way to the hotel and began laying out equipment so we could get the players on the buses and get to practice. A very animated Mr. Pickard came into the ballroom and ordered six of us to follow him. Without question we piled into the back of a pick-up and began barreling down a California freeway. Mr. Pickard is in the back of the pick-up with us (I'm talking Nissan space cab truck from the 90's, not an extended bed) still offering no explanation. One of the trucks with luggage, golf clubs (and most importantly football equipment) had blown three of the back four tires and is stranded on the side of the freeway next to a huge drop off. There we are, Mr. Pickard, Leo, and a host of managers and trainers on the shoulder of a California highway transferring luggage and equipment between two trucks. To put things in perspective, this was the early 90's when people in California were shooting at each other on the freeway. I was more worried about him trying to step out and stop traffic on a six lane freeway that him trying to lift luggage and equipment. Practice was being delayed and he was going to move heaven and earth to make sure that Coach Slocum was able to practice as scheduled with as little disruption as possible. With Pick's "encouragement", all equipment made it to the practice field on time and practice went off as scheduled.

There are countless young men who came to Aggieland searching to find their way in the world. Their role was different - manager, trainer, player, graduate assistant, but they all shared a passion for sports. Mr. Pickard helped these young men by demanding hard work, being fair, accepting nothing but the best effort from them (never excuses), and making young men grow up. It is only with time that we are rewarded with the gift of perspective. Sometimes it takes that gift to realize exactly how valuable the people in your life really were in making you the person you are. I hope that by continuing to pass along the values that he helped to instill in me that I am honoring his legacy as a teacher and in some small way saying "Thank You". Thanks for everything Pick.

Phil "Bear" Murchison '93
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7:05a, 3/15/15
AG
I have attended the Kickoff Camp for about fifteen years along with about 120 former students. At the Kickoff Camp in about 2008 or 2009, I was sitting in Hagner Auditorium in the Bright Center waiting for a meeting to start. I was a little early and only a few others had arrived. Billy Pickard came in and sat beside me. We started talking because he had just been involuntarily retired by Bill Byrne who was seeking to cut costs. (Mike Sherman rehired him right after that). Anyway, Billy was talking about cleaning out his office and he said "I'll have to figure out what to do with the rings." I said "what rings?". Billy said that often when Aggies die they send a canister of their ashes to be scattered on Kyle Field. He said that A&M really doesn't approve of it and has no sanctioned or authorized procedure, so the Athletic Department just sends the canister of ashes to Billy and tells him to handle it. Billy said he had developed a little ceremony to commemorate the deceased Aggie and when he scatters the ashes, it is not uncommon for an Aggie ring to fall out of the canister of ashes. Billy said he always picks up the ring and keeps them in a jar on his desk. Billy was worried about what to do with those Aggie rings when he left A&M. Fortunately, he never left A&M.
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mdaxcell
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3:01p, 3/16/15
AG
This past week, since Mr. Pickard passed away, has been one in which I have reflected upon him quite a bit and the impact he has had on me. I was fortunate enough to attend his viewing onThursday and the Memorial Service on Friday. Both events were very well done and fitting of a man who had an impacton the lives of so many. The viewing had some great pictures and memorabilia from his life that were very special. At the Memorial Service, Dr. Rick Rigsby delivered a great sermon and two of Mr. Pickard's sons did a wonderful job talking about their father. The events were first class and fitting for a man that had done so much for so many peopleover 50+ years working at Texas A&M. I pray that God brings peace and comfort to his wife Linda and theentire family.

I spent a number of years in the mid to late '90's in several roles in which I worked with Mr. Pickard. I was a Student Trainer ('94 to '97), a Student Manager (Fall '98 and Spring '99), and I worked several summers and semesters doing whatever Mr. Pickard needed to be done (delivered Athletic Department mail, moved things, painted things, etc.). Mr. Pickard gave me a job when I needed one and allowed me to stay around, well after my 4 years as a Student Trainer were up. I didn't deserve everything he did for me, but I am very appreciative that I had the opportunity to work for him, learn from him, and experience everything I did while I was at A&M, because of him.

I have many Pick stories, as does anyone that worked for him, but I will share the story of one of the first times I was chewed out by Mr. Pickard, because I think it illustrates one of the traits people loved about him. My Fish year as a Student Trainer we played UH in our second road game of the season in the old Astrodome. We had already played LSU in Baton Rouge, so theoretically we already knew everything we needed to do as far as preparing for the team arrival, getting all the ice and water down on the field and the like. I was wrong, because it was also my responsibility along with the other Fish Trainer, to ice down soft drink and Gatorade for the Coaches' locker room. At the first road game in Baton Rouge, one of the upper classmen had done that task. So, when the coaches arrived at theAstrodome, there wasn't anything cold to drink in their locker room. Well as you can imagine, Pick was extremely upset that the Coaches were not taken care of. So he found us on the ramp taking stuff down to the sideline and chewed our asses, up one side and down the other. We were both "deer in the headlights" as he ripped us and did not say anything, other than "we were sorry and we would take care of it". Needless to say, we ran as fast as we could back to the locker room and iced everything down so the Coaches would have something cold to drink. We then went back to taking care of the rest of our responsibilities during the game. Since several folks saw and heard Pick chew us out, it didn't take long for the other Student Trainers to find out what happened, and at some point, one of the upper classman told Pick the situation. After the game was over and we were getting the locker room packed up to head back to College Station, Pick pulled both of us aside and apologized for yelling at us for something we didn't know we had to do. He put his arm around my neck and basically told me "now you know and you better make sure it gets done next time." That was not the last time I was chewed out that year or over the next several years, but it has stuck with me for one reason. Pick would chew you out if you make a mistake, but he was also willing to admit when he was wrong if he made a mistake. I have not met many folks in my life that are willing to apologize. It is one of the traits that I will always remember about him. I will remember him fondly and will enjoy telling Pick stories with all the wonderful folks who I met working for Mr. Pickard, as long as I live. I got to do quite a bit of that last Thursday and Friday. God Bless you sir.

Here.

Matt Axcell '98
Student Trainer
Student Manager
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Tommy doesn't have an account but the former A&M and NFL player asked us to put this on the site...

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Bob Long and I were both hurt and standing together under Coach Stalling's all seeing "Tower." Coach Stallings didn't like anyone standing around if they were hurt. I think Bob and I thought we had found us a safe place and Billy came up next to us. He was grinning. I think he figured out what we were up to.

About that time, I guess Coach Stallings had noticed we were nowhere around. He looked down at Billy and asked, "Where is Maxwell and Long? With that same grin he had to be honest and pointed toward us. Coach asked, "What is wrong with them?" Billy described my pull muscle and Bob's dislocated shoulder. "Well, *%^&", came a rumbling from above. Then came a moment of silence. Then with his megaphone in hand now, he said to Billy, "Can Maxwell roll?" Billy said, "What did you say coach?" I said.."Can Maxwell roll?" This wasn't looking good. Billy said, "Yea, he can roll." "Can Bob run?" "Well, yea, I guess." Coach then said, "Well, take Maxwell and Long over on that empty field and I want Maxwell rolling and Long running around him while he rolls." You got the picture.

Well, Billy led us over and still with that half grin he said, "Well, boys, you heard the coach. Tommy, start rolling." All I can remember is laughing as Bob cracked one liners about the absurdity of our new assignment. After about 3 one hundred yard rolls, I was sick. About that time, Billy came over to see how we were doing. I told him that I thought I may throw up. I remember asking Billy, "How long will we have to do this?" Billy said, "I don't know, but you better start rolling a lot slower!! That proved good advice and before too much longer we rejoined the team. As I recall, I was at practice the next day. Who would have ever thought that there was healing power in rolling.

Texas A&M sports will miss Billy Pickard. The foremost representative of an era has died. Thanks for caring for us, Billy.
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