First, let me know what you’ve been doing for all of these years since you played in the NFL?
Well, I’ve been in the music and entertainment business for most of my life here in Dallas. I play the banjo and sing DixieLand and country music – been doing that since high school and my days at SMU.
After my season in Pittsburgh in 1955, I tried to play for a few more years after I went to the service, then came back to Dallas and worked on some homebuilding business. I got married in ’62 – been married now for over 58 years. After that I was able to open up a music venue called the Levee here in Dallas – it was a very popular spot for years. I played the banjo and we had a group – the Levee Singers – and we played every night.
You also do some sculpting?
I had an interest in art all of my life but I was always too busy with other things to pursue it. But about 10 yeas ago a friend of mine from SMU and I took a night course on sculpting. Harlan Crowe – a popular guy here in Dallas saw some of my work and commissioned me to do a 24-inch statue of GW Bush – a guy we both admired. As God would have it – as things started to slow down with the music- the younger generation found our music less appealing – the interest in art got bigger.
I was commissioned again to do some larger statues for a developer who had an interesting idea to put them on the properties of the houses he was selling to make the places more classy. So I’ve been doing that now – I don’t even have to go to an office – I do it all right here at home.
Was the post-NFL adjustment difficult?
It wasn’t really hard. I did as much as I could – tried as hard as I could – and had a good year with the Steelers in 1955. I was in ROTC so after that year I served in the Air Force for two years at Boiling Air Force base in DC. We had four or five All Americans there from Notre Dame and other places and we played football together for a couple of seasons. I went back to the Steelers after that to try and make the team but I was the last cut on the last day of camp in 1968.
I played in the AFL in Dallas for the Texans for one year but was also busy working on the night club and singing and playing the banjo there. So I had no trouble leaving the game – I was busy with other stuff. Now I have three kids and nine grandchildren – I am fortunate to have a great family – most of who are here in Dallas.
Were you surprised to be drafted by the Steelers in 1955?
I was surprised. I did really well my junior year at SMU – Raymond Berry was there on the other side and me and another guy split time as starters my senior year. So I was surprised they drafted me so high – in the third round. I was invited to the Chicago All-Star Game – I really enjoyed that season.
What do you remember most about that 1955 season in Pittsburgh?
I don’t remember much now – Jim Finks was our quarterback then and he was a good quarterback. Kiesling was a great coach – didn’t talk too loud at guys. And Ray Matthews was the star then.
I was able to start right away. I didn’t catch a lot of passes – but I caught a few and one touchdown. I got paid $7,500 then – Frank Varrichione – the first round pick – he got paid $10,000. So $7,500 was a lot of money then! Not like now when they are getting paid millions!
What made you a good wide receiver?
I had good hands – I caught the ball well. And I thought about the patterns – I ran precise patterns. At SMU Raymond Berry and I would stay after practice and catch balls – practice catching them one-handed – just getting real comfortable catching – keeping my eye on the ball and hands wide.
Raymond wouldn’t just run the ball back – he’d spring across the field after every catch. No one worked harder than he did – I’m really proud of how good he became.
What happened when you got back to Pittsburgh after the service?
Jack McClairen was there when I was in 1955 – when I got back he was ahead of me. He was a really good wide receiver and real good guy too.
One funny story by the way I remember about Pittsburgh. The fans were really rough on the team then. We hadn’t done anything in a long time. Well when you’d go into the tunnel at halftime we’d always have to wear our helmets, because the fans would throw beer bottles at us. They were great fans – they just wanted to win.
Do you follow the game today?
I follow Dallas a little bit – I watch the games but I don’t go to them and pay for those tickets – they cost too much money!
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