Billy Hobbs ended up possibly the "kindest" aggie around. Here is part of his obituary.
Former Texas A&M and NFL football player Bill Hobbs, Class of 1969, was killed in an automobile accident in San Antonio on Aug. 21. 2004
Hobbs' funeral was held in San Antonio on Wednesday, Aug. 25 at Alamo City Christian Fellowship.
Associate Athletic Director for Media Relations Alan Cannon said he was impressed by Hobbs.
"He was a wonderful person," Cannon said.
Hobbs, 57, became a two-time, All-American linebacker at A&M, 1967 Southwest Conference Player of the Year, the Cotton Bowl MVP and National Defensive Player of the Year. He went to the NFL and played for the Philadelphia Eagles, spending some of his career with the San Antonio Wings afterward, Cannon said.
Sammy Tippit, president of Sammy Tippit Ministries, was a close friend of Hobbs and said Hobbs applied what he had learned in football to his work in ministry.
"Hobbs took the same competitive spirit to help people," Tippit said.
After his football career, Hobbs became a minister at Amarillo's San Jacinto Baptist, joined the Alamo City Christian Fellowship and recently traveled the world as a missionary.
Hobbs later started the Mercy Foundation, which he was also president of, Tippit said.
The Mercy Foundation is a family shelter for those in need of a place to go, whether it's single moms and their children or families who need help getting back on their feet. It is located in San Antonio and also includes a prison release program for men.
As well as helping people in the United States, Hobbs traveled outside the country to help others.
"Hobbs went to the hardest places and reached out in many ways to help people," Tippit said.
Hobbs and Tippit recently started working with orphans in Kenya, creating a vitamin supplement that is now being tested for its effectiveness.
They also visited orphanages and hospitals, spoke in schools, lunchtime fellowships, prisons and conducted 15 regional evangelistic meetings around the city.
"He cared about people and expressed God's love for people," Tippit said.
Hobbs was also scheduled for a trip to help people in Pakistan.
A couple years ago, Hobbs told Tippit, "My goal is that when I've completed my work with Sammy Tippit Ministries that those with whom I have worked will all be better people because of my relationship with them."
[This message has been edited by Forrest Greg (edited 11/28/2008 3:02p).]