Another interesting player from Sweetwater is John Charles Layfield (Now goes by John "Bradshaw" Layfield?) who played college ball for Abilene Christion. Named All-American OL in 1989, drafted by LA Raiders. After a couple of years changes sports to wrestling. Won several championships in WWE.

The Sheik --- The player from Hamlin you were thinking of was probably Johnnie "Ham" Jones who played in the backfield and as receiver for the University of Texas 1976-1980. His teammate was Johnnie "Lam" Jones from Lampasas who also was a running back (Olympic 4/400m) and receiver. I think both went to the NFL but don't know the details. Both were speed merchants for DKR.

[This message has been edited by fossil_ag (edited 12/21/2005 10:53p).]

WestTexAg06 -- james?!?

Yes that's me, TXAMC. How do I know you?

no I remember Ham Jones from the mid 70's - I missed getting run over by him by one year. He was at Tx already the years I played ball at Anson. I'm pretty sure the guy I was thinking of was Bob Pearce. My cousin dated him in like 70 or 71. Definately wasn't Ham Jones. . . . Bob was taller.

WestTexAg06 - its matt t.

I love come to this board and reading posts like this one. I graduated from Winters HS but lived in Coleman,Anson, Coahoma, grandmother was from Stamford. I have great memories of growing up in that part of the wolrd. I nice to here the stories about people and places.

2nd page and no one mentioned Wahoo McDaniel, graduated Midland High 1956, played for OU, and then in the AFL. Then he gained fame as a professional wrestler.

Who can forget Dominic Rhodes, Colts' special teams returner/ backup RB to Edgerrin, who played on the state-runner up Abilene Cooper team in '96? Also, a lesser known Colt is Justin Snow, deep snapper. He hosts a youth football camp every year here at Cooper.

All due respect to Abilene Cooper in their success since startup and the fine players they have furnished colleges and universities in the state.

But I just gotta put in a plug for Abilene High in the olden days ... Pete Shotwell, coach, for 6 state titles (3 coming in '54,'55,'56) and a career total of 262 wins for the Eagles. Some great players and teams when Abilene was a one hs town. Now the pressure is on for both Cooper and the Eagles to match that record. Good luck to both.

Pierce Holt - defensive end for Angelo State 85-87, and was an all-pro for the 49ers during the back-to-back super bowls in 88 and 89. Anyone interested in football of any kind and living in San Angelo when Pierce played enjoyed watching the Rams during those years.

Also, I don't think I've seen Rex Tucker mentioned. Aggie offensive lineman 95-98, with the Rams now. Midland Lee Rebel.

Man, How did I forget about Pierce... His story is pure American dream stuff. He now lived on his ranch near Eldorado and supports ASU big time. Really a nice guy.

I remember Pierce Holt from my hours as a kid spent playing Tecmo Super Bowl on the original Nintendo. I sure did not realize he was a fellow West Texan. Cool deal.

[This message has been edited by WestTxAg06 (edited 12/31/2005 7:20p).]

britt haeger played LB for mojo and then for the Iggles.

Didn't Billy Joe Tolliver play out in West Texas? I thought maybe he was from Ballinger (isn't the Chevy dealership there named Tolliver?)...

Not exactly a stellar player, but not bad, had a decent career in the NFL if I recall.

Billy Joe Tolliver was quarterback for Texas Tech '85-'89 but his high school ball was played at Boyd, a small school in Wise County, east of Dallas. Drafted by San Diego in '89. Played for about 6 different teams in 12 years. He was a tough, outstanding QB.

quote:

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(isn't the Chevy dealership there named Tolliver?)...

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Yes, but the Tolliver dealerships in Sweetwater and Ballinger are owned by the Bailey Tolliver family from Haskell, who started with Bailey Tolliver Chevrolet in Haskell. Each of the three dealerships is operated by a different son.

quote:

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Billy Joe Tolliver was quarterback for Texas Tech '85-'89 but his high school ball was played at Boyd, a small school in Wise County, east of Dallas.

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Not to nitpick fossil, but Wise County is west of the D-FW Metroplex.

You are correct WestTx ... adjoins Tarrant Co to the northwest. "Eighter from Decatur, the county seat of Wise."

Edit: Tolliver now lives in Shreveport, I think and became a professional golfer after football career.

Someone feel free to correct me if I am wrong but I believe it was in '85 we were playing Tech at Kyle and in the first quarter knocked out the #1 Tech QB. We were not distressed by this event and relaxed as Tech sent in a freshman QB replacement ... and to the best of my knowledge that QB was a red-headed unknown named Billy Joe Tolliver and darned if he didn't turn in a Joe Montana performance and beat us on our home turf.

[This message has been edited by fossil_ag (edited 1/6/2006 11:09p).]

I was going through some old boxes today and ran across a program that might be of interest to you Odessa and Sweetwater folks. The date was November 12, 1945 and it matched the Odessa BRONCOs and the Sweetwater Mustangs at Sweetwater.

Quarterback for Odessa was a kid named Hayden Fry (143 lbs.) Notable others on the team were the Moorman boys, Billy and Bobby, playing ends; Byron Townsend (RH}; J.W. Thompson (FB); and Charles (Pug)Gabrel (RH).

Sweetwater notables were Doil and Max Feagan, Abe Lincoln (C), and Don Lambert (FB). Also, the Sweetwater RT was Lawrence Nelson who weighed 204 lbs and was the heaviest player on the two squads by 21 pounds.

I do not recall how that game came out but I rather suspect the Mustangs were steamrolled. Odessa won state in 1946 with the same players by beating Kyle Rote led San Antonio Jefferson.

[This message has been edited by fossil_ag (edited 1/18/2006 8:51a).]

Joe Barnes from Big Lake. He QB Tech in the early 1970 and played for the Jets and Bears before having great success in the CFL. Bud McSpadden from Iraan, played for the sips and had a good NFL career. Charley Johnson QB the Oilers and some other NFL team in the late 60s and early '70s. He was from Big Spring. Tom Brahaney from Midland played at Nebraska in the 1970s, then for the Cardinals in the NFL.

[This message has been edited by SW AG80 (edited 1/18/2006 9:27p).]

Sammy Baugh no longer lives on his ranch around Rotan. He is in an assisted living place in the Metroplex where his daughter lives. As recently as 18 months ago you could drive out to his ranch and sit and visit with him for as long as you liked. He loved it, and would autograph anything. His language was always quit colorful! Don't forget Jarrin' John Kimbrow from Haskell. One of the greatest Aggies and played in the NFL for awhile.

Dick Todd, All-American, Texas A&M '36-'38

Dick Todd was from Crowell in Foard County (almost Panhandle, almost North Texas.) Since Foard County adjoins Knox County on the north and since we have some members of this forum from Haskell and Knox City I figure this is close enough for some West Texas interest.

Dick Todd played for the '36-'38 Aggies as a halfback, held most rushing and scoring records for years, named All-American, played for the Washington Redskins and later was head coach there. I am sure Todd's success at A&M were a significant reason for the Kimbroughs, John and Jack, to join the Ags during that same time period.

In the 40s a book was published titled Dick Todd -- All-American, that in glowing terms described the success on Kyle Field of Todd and gave a good description of Texas A&M during that period. My little high school had a copy in its small library so apparently it had considerable distribution. That book was my introduction to A&M about 60 years ago.

I don't think I've seen his name yet...

Stoney Case graduated from Odessa Permian in 1989, had a great career at New Mexico, and then was drafted by Arizona. At one time I remember hearing he was Arizona's "QB of the future", but that was before Plummer got there. I'm not sure where Case is now, though.

Brit Hager was also a Permian product. He had a pretty good career at tu, then went on to play for the Eagles (I think).

***AG TAG*** (Since staff is apparently never going to give it, I'll grant it myself.)

Stoney played a while for the Lions, didn't he?

Yeah, someone mentioned "Stormy CHase", that's why you didn't see it.

Midland Lee has has several OL go pro. Some recent ones: KC Jones, Ryan Tucker, Rex Tucker. Eric Winston will soon be there.

Gary Gregory

Kermit Yellowjackets

I remember seeing Gary run down a running back from Fort Stockton. I don't know that I've ever seen a big man move that fast.

Played for Baylor in the 1970's (on the 1974 SWC championship team) and then played a couple of years with the Jets.

Somebody mentioned John Norman? What team did he play for? Last I heard he was selling used cars up in Lubbock. Don't think he went to the pros, pretty much flopped at tech.

David Leaverton, punter.
Midland High, UT, Redskins.
What a ******.

Need to add another Mojo Panther to the list: Darryl Hunt. Was AA middle linebacker at OU for two years (Class of '79), then played for the Oilers for about 7-8 years. Last I heard, he still lives in the Houston area (Missouri City).

Gig'em, Aggies!

Wasn't Darryl Hunt the first, or one of the first, blacks to attend Permian? I recall from reading Friday Night Lights something of that nature.

eric winston

Terry Orr - Abilene Cooper class of 1980,and tu class of 1984. Played a few years for Washington Redskins.

Wow! Fossil Ag

All of those Sweetwater guys you mentioned above were friends or aquaintances of my Dad '51. You even mentioned my Dad who went to A&M on football scholarship from Sweetwater.
Dugie Turner, Bulldogs' little brother, was married to Dads' cousin. Funny to read all this when I've heard him talk about them so often. I knew Frank Myers, San Angelo, when he was at A&M, nice guy, my brother was on the team with those guys.

Kinda one: Tony Franklin, born in Big Springs though played football at Arlington Heights in Ft. Worth.



[This message has been edited by TERRY L (edited 3/6/2006 4:57p).]

[This message has been edited by TERRY L (edited 3/7/2006 8:28p).]

Terry ... Your dad would also probably remember "the great flood at Big Spring" that occurred in about 46 or 47. Sweetwater was playing BS there for either District or Bi-District Championship and the game was supposed to be close, close. Everything was looking great for the Mustangs until they took to field and discovered mud was ankle deep. (As usual it had not rained for months in West Texas.) The Big Spring players were grinning like possums because they had practiced a couple of days before the game in the mud. (That was the benefit of having a big natural spring near the football field ... everything was fair in west Texas football in those days.)