Everybody in the world has: Dale Robertson, “Oilers’ Earl Campbell: ‘We Just want to Hold Him under a Mile,’” Houston Post, Dec. 12, 1980.
As for the fiftieth reunion: Bettye Mitchell and Katherine Bynum, “Oral History Interview with Bettye Mitchell,” July 1, 2015, video, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth836696.
the district served a student population and We’ll forever say this: Adam Russell, “Desegregation Order: Tyler ISD Looks to Move On,” Tyler Morning Telegraph, July 18, 2015, tylerpaper.com/news/local/desegre-gation-order-tyler-isd-looks-to-move-on/article_8d8c0174-1998-5872-8635-76b507b9e618.html.
might as well use their diplomas: Tasneem Raja, “To Be Black at Robert E. Lee High School,” New Yorker, Sept. 19, 2017, newyorker.com/news/news-desk/what-is-it-like-to-be-a-black-student-at-robert-e-lee-high-school.
unthinkable for a black person: Author interview with Sam Biscoe (summer 2017).
University of Texas running back: Ricky Williams discussed the events in Tyler on the Dudley and Bob with Matt Show’s daily podcast, Austin radio station KLBJ, Jan. 18, 2017, klbjfm.com/media/podcasts/2017-1-18-pt2-former-nfl-player-ricky-williams.
A dash-cam video shows Williams: The video was posted to YouTube by KTBC Fox 7 Austin, Jan. 19, 2017, youtube.com/watch?v=LBgO_MR-G7uM.
We both reached out to: Roy Maynard, “Heisman Trophy Winner Ricky Williams Questions Police Stop in Tyler, Texas,” Tyler Morning Telegraph, Jan. 18, 2017, tylerpaper.com/sports/pro/heisman-trophy-winner-ricky-williams-questions-police-stop-in-tyler/article_d184fa59-9829-508b-8f17-86f61c559a7d.html.
A black guy walking during daytime: Dudley and Bob with Matt Show’s daily podcast, Jan. 18, 2017.
his sole line was scratched: Author interview with Witt Stewart, Oct. 2018.
But in his own quiet: Juan R. Palomo, “Affirmative Action Takes Athletic Twist,” USA Today, Apr. 10, 1997, 14A; “Bill May Hamper University Athletics, Some Say,” Dallas Morning News, May 17, 1997, 4A.
Obviously, Hopwood means that a lot: “Capitol Notebook,” Houston Chronicle, Mar. 7, 1997, 37.
he once had such momentum: Jason Cohen, “Earl Campbell’s Third Act,” Texas Monthly, Jan. 21, 2013, texasmonthly.com/articles/earl-campbells-third-act.
For a long time everything: Reid, “Earl Campbell,” 144.
This state wants to see you: Author interview with Rick Ingraham, July 2017.
It fell to Caesar Martinez: Author interview with Caesar Martinez, Oct. 2016.
I really want it bad: “Earl Campbell Press Availability transcript,” Sept. 9, 2012, TexasSports.com, texassports.com/news/2012/9/9/090912aaa_732.aspx.
INDEX
A
academic performance: and black athletes at UT, 95; and entrance requirements, 255; and recruitment of Campbell, 119
Adams, Boots, 172
Adams, Bud: background, 172–173; car “gifted” to Campbell, 189–191; criticism of Campbell, 225–226; draft and signing of Campbell, 186–187, 189–191; and Houston politics, 228–229; and Oiler’s practice facilities, 175; promotion of Phillips to head coach, 178–179; and racial conflict, 224–225
Ada Oil Company, 172
AFC Championship games, 208–210, 213–214
affirmative action battles, 255–256. See also civil rights movement
African and Afro-American Research Center, 125
Afro-American Studies program, 127
agents, 9, 185–186
air conditioning, 202–203
Akers, Diane, 153
Akers, Fred, 151–153, 155, 164
Akins, Marty, 130
Alabama, 102
alcoholism, 8–9, 43, 49–50
Alexander, Tim, 60–61, 163
Alexander, Willie, 189, 213
Ali, Muhammad, 174
Allen, George, 74–75
American Football League (AFL), 172, 173
American Indians, 150
American Legion, 69
American Nazi Party, 183
Anderson, John A., 17, 48–49
Angelo, Charlie, 231
apartheid, 74, 76
Apollo 11 astronauts, 174
Argovitz, Jerry, 186
Arlington Sam Houston High School, 63
Armadillo World Headquarters, 123
Armco Steel, 183, 234
arthritis, 243
Asleep at the Wheel, 177
assassinations, 11, 71, 91, 106, 121
Associated Press, 95, 100–101, 105, 108, 114–115, 240
Astor, W. Kirk, 76
Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl, 2, 132, 139
Astrodome, 4, 173–175, 179, 208, 210, 228
Astroturf, 174
Athens, Texas, 35
Atlanta Falcons, 200, 236
Austin, Stephen F., 12
Austin, Texas, 120–125
Austin American-Statesman, 93–94, 121, 127, 216, 256
Austin Gay Pride Parade, 122–123
autographs, 137
awards and honors of Campbell: Campbell’s number retired in Houston, 237; coin toss at Longhorns home opener, 257–260; Earl Campbell Banquet, 250–252; Earl Campbell Day (Tyler, Texas), 22, 189; Hall of Fame induction, 50; MVP award, 9; NFL Rookie of the Year award, 9, 64; structures named for, 32, 61; “Superman” nickname, 8; Texas hero status, 12; Tyler homecoming, 41. See also Heisman Trophy
Azoff, Irving, 218
B
Baker Hotel, 142–143
“The Ballad of the Urban Cowboy: America’s Search for True Grit” (Latham), 184
Baltimore Colts, 187
Banks, Jimmy, 107
Baptists, 32–33, 38, 149
barbecue, 29, 173, 178, 182
Barrett, Gregory, 19
Barron, David, 55, 65
Bates, Kathy, 180
Bates, Stan, 81
Battle of the Sexes, 174
Baylor University (Bears), 96, 165
Baytown Works, 183
Beasley, Tomekia, 48
Beasley family, 48
Beaudoin, Doug, 245
Beaumont, Texas, 177
Bee Gees, 211
Bell, Henry, 49, 112, 118–119, 167, 189, 250
Bell, Henry, Jr., 166
Bell, Henry, III, 15
Bell, Nell, 118
Bell, Ricky, 185
Bellmont Hall, 241
Bennett, Lonnie, 131
Bennett, Phil, 165
Bertolt Brecht Memorial Guerrilla Theatre Troupe, 123
Berwanger, Jay, 169
Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The, 4, 180
Bethea, Elvin: and Campbell’s impact on Oilers, 212; and contract dealings with Adams, 191; and Oilers losing streak, 172; and Oilers training facilities, 175; and players’ strike, 221, 231–232; and playoffs loss to Steelers, 214; and racial makeup of Oilers, 189
Bevo, 95, 258–259
Bible, Dana X., 81–82, 83, 84
Big Tex, 158
Biles, Ed, 232
Bingham, Gregg, 175, 197, 198, 231–232, 246
biracial committee (Tyler, Texas), 38–40
birth of Campbell, 14–17, 21, 23
Biscoe, Sam, 26, 250–251
Black Boy (Wright), 32–33
black colleges, 110–111
“The Black Side of Football: The Salience of Race” (Brower), 187–188
Blair, Sam, 115
Bledsoe, Gary: on Campbell’s impact on race issues, 148–149, 257; on impact of desegregation, 33–34; on racial issues at UT, 126, 130, 133, 134
Blount, Jeb, 55–56, 60–61
Blount, Roy, 193
Boca Raton News, 103
Boerne, Texas, 199
Bohls, Kirk, 7, 152, 192
boots, 179
Boston College (Eagles), 148–149, 157
Bourgeois, Andy, 194, 203
boycotts, 121–122
Boys State (camp), 69
Brazile, Robert (“Dr. Doom”), 189, 222
Bread and Roses School, 123
Brewer, Anita, 93
bribes, 12, 110, 116
Bright, Greg, 8
Brokaw, Tom, 220
Brooks, Joan, 65
Brooks, Sara, 45
Brower, Jonathan, 187, 188
Brown, Art, 90
Brown, F. B., 26
Brown, Jim, 7, 63, 145, 205, 207, 254
Brown, John, 90
Brown, Mack, 258, 259
Brown v. Board of Education: constitutional reasoning behind, 75; and desegregation in Tyler, 36; resistance to, at UT, 76–77, 85, 87, 125–127; resistance to, in Tyler, 23–24, 27; on separate-but-equal doctrine, 76; and suburbanization, 45
Brownwood, Texas, 199
Brubaker, Bill, 230, 231
Bryant, Paul “Bear,” 102
Buchholz, Brad, 168, 190, 201
Buie, Judi, 176–177
Bullard, Robert, 203
Bullington, Orville, 75
Burka, Paul, 37, 38
Burrough, Ken, 173, 189, 214
Butkus, Dick, 53
Butler, John Sibley, 133, 136
Butler, Robert, 132
C
Caldwell, Bill, 147
Caldwell, Texas, 16
Callahan, Verlin, 254–255
Campbell, Alfred Ray (brother), 35, 56, 125, 205
Campbell, Ann (mother): background in Tyler, 42–44; and college recruitment process, 99, 111, 113–114, 116–119; death, 247; discipline in the Campbell household, 28–29; and Earl’s academic struggles, 61–62; and Earl’s childhood coaches, 54, 57; and Earl’s childhood friends, 58–59; and Earl’s Heisman Trophy, 162, 166–167, 170, 192; and Earl’s open-mindedness, 240; Earl’s respect for, 132; and Earl’s retirement, 237; and financial struggles, 49–52; home built for, 191–192; and naming of children, 14–17; regard for Royal, 143–144; and rose cultivation in Tyler, 43–44, 47
Campbell, Bert (“B. C.”/father), 9, 28, 42, 49–50
Campbell, Christian, 239, 242, 244, 251
Campbell, Earl: birth of, 14–17, 21, 23; celebrity of, 30–31; charity work of, 29; decision to retire, 237; family background, 8–9, 41–44, 139, 215; father figures to, 9, 139, 215; humor of, 30; leadership of, 156–157; marriage, 202 (see also Campbell, Reuna [wife]); meat businesses, 239, 242–243; memory problems, 8–9, 246; modesty of, 137; naming of, 14–17; nicknames of, 44, 194–195; perfectionism of, 129, 259–260; physicality of, 9–10; and poverty, 14, 26, 50–51, 120; prescription drug addiction, 243–245; pride of, 259; privacy and shyness of, 29–31, 204; ranch owned by, 247–248; running style, 7, 11; songs about, 207–208; “Superman” comparison, 8, 240; Texas hero status, 12; toughness of, 245. See also awards and honors of Campbell; injuries and health problems of Campbell; specific topics throughout index
Campbell, Evelyn (sister), 56, 112
Campbell, Herbert (brother), 26, 47, 56, 247
Campbell, Julius (great-grandfather), 42
Campbell, Linda (sister-in-law), 35
Campbell, Margaret (sister), 17, 45–46, 56
Campbell, Martha (sister), 45–46, 56
Campbell, Mike, 147–148
Campbell, Reuna (wife): and Earl’s decision to retire, 237; and Earl’s poverty in college, 120; and Earl’s relationship with Kinzie, 17; introduction to Earl, 53; marriage to Earl, 202–203; and poverty of Earl’s childhood, 50–51; suburban home in Austin, 11, 239; and trajectory of Earl’s career, 245
Campbell, Ronnie (brother), 56
Campbell, Ruby (sister), 56
Campbell, Steven Rob (brother), 56
Campbell, Timothy Bob (brother), 56
Campbell, Tyler (son), 31
Campbell, Willie (brother), 26, 56, 247
Campbell family name history, 16–17
Canadian Football League, 88, 206
Cannon, Billy, 173
Cannoneers, 64
Carolina Panthers, 205–206
Carpenter, Rob, 193, 207, 232, 233
Carrington, Ben, 254
Cartwright, Gary, 93, 115, 143, 145, 180
Carver High School, 68
Casper, Dave, 222
Cawood, David, 155
CBS Sports, 166
celebrity of Campbell, 30–31
charity work of Campbell, 29
cheer squads, 34, 54
Chenier, Clifton, 123
Chicago Bears, 212
Chicken Ranch, 4, 6
chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, 217
chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), 245–246
Cincinnati Bengals, 175
Civil Rights Act, 91, 107, 159
civil rights movement: Campbell’s contribution, 256–257; and desegregation in Tyler, 37–38; and LBJ’s influence on Royal, 107–108; and picketing of UT football, 94–95; and racism in Austin, 121–122; and recruitment of Campbell, 116; shift in activism in the 1970s, 206; and trajectory of Campbell’s career, 11; and Tyler, Texas, 16; and UT’s resistance to integration, 125–127
Civil War, 18, 74, 226
Clark, Charles, 40, 52
class divisions, 23, 28, 203–204
Clayborn, Raymond, 161
Clyde, Nelson, IV, 64
Coach: The Life of Paul “Bear” Bryant (Dunnavant), 102
Coal Miner’s Daughter (film), 211
Coates, Ta-Nehisi, 7
cocaine, 218, 220–221
Coffey, Junior, 85–86
Colacello, Bob, 219
Coleman, Ronnie, 209
Collier, Thomas, 128
Collins, Ann. See Campbell, Ann (mother)
Collins, Lizzie, 42
Collins, Reuben, 42, 49, 247
Colored People’s Day (Texas State Fair), 158
Comanche, Texas, 199
Committee on Selective Admissions, 80
Concerned Parents, 39
concussion protocol, 62
Confederacy, 18, 74
Confederate statue controversies, 256–257
Conley, Gator, 183, 211, 219, 220
Connally, John, 74
Conroe High School, 63, 240
conservatism, 73, 96, 124, 146, 256
contract negotiations, 185–186, 190–192, 223–224, 229–230
Cooke, Jack Kent, 230
Cooksey, Frank, 89
Cooley, Denton, 218
Cooley, Louise, 218
Cooper, N. B., 39
Cosell, Howard, 1–4, 201, 245–246
Cotton Bowl, 109, 157–159, 170
Council of Colored Parents and Teachers, 27
country-and-western music, 123–124, 138, 141, 211
Courting of Marcus Dupree, The, (Morris), 33
“cowboy chic,” 175–177, 180, 217
“cowboy schlock,” 217
Cox, Lanier, 82
Cozza, Carm, 167
Crawford, Marty, 250
Crockett, Davy, 12
Culp, Curley, 174, 188, 189, 191, 197
Cunningham, Ray, 150
Cunningham, Sam “the Bam,” 102
Curry, E. A., 95
the Cut, 52–53
Cutter Bill Western Wear, 176, 218, 234–235
D
Dabbs, Ken, 68–72, 93–94, 109–117, 120, 146, 169
Dabbs, Marguerite, 112
Daily Texan, 85, 126, 168
Dale, Billy, 105
Dallas (television series), 4, 203
Dallas Cowboys: and Campbell’s dominance, 197–198, 234; contrasted with Houston Oilers, 195–196; and North Dallas Forty, 187; and race-based hiring, 187; and racial tensions, 188; rivalry with Oilers, 212–213; Super Bowl victories, 60
Dallas Express, 23
Dallas Morning News, 23, 54, 151, 152
Dallas Times Herald, 142
Danceland, 194
Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, 72
Daugherty, Duffy, 104
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, 59, 65, 129
Davis, Ernie, 90
Davis, Jefferson, 74
Davis, Norris, 128–129
Debbie Does Dallas, 180
Delta Diner, 122
Democratic Party, 5
demographic shifts in Texas, 5, 15, 227
Deneuve, Catherine, 177
Derrick Dolls, 1, 3, 176, 217
desegregation and integration: Campbell’s attitude on racial issues, 30, 33; “full integration,” 72; impact of football on racial attitudes, 61, 65; impact on Campbell’s career and life, 12; impact on Tyler rose industry, 45; influence of Campbell’s play on racial attitudes, 133; legacy of, in Tyler, 248; and public opinion, 73; resistance to, in Tyler, 23–29; and Royal’s background, 89; and Shivers, 147; and Sweeny High School, 68; and Texas news media, 23; and Texas politics in Campbell era, 4–5; of Tyler school system, 33, 34–35, 35–41, 54–56, 249–250; UT’s resistance to, 72–87
Detroit Lions, 188
Dickerson, Eric, 116, 141–142
Dillard, Andy, 53
Dinerstein, Joel, 204, 206
disciplinary problems, 28–29
discrimination, 135
diversity, 227
“Dixie,” 21–22, 39
Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, 72
Dominguez, Pete, 147
dormitories, 85
Dorsett, Tony, 185, 216, 244, 246
draft, 179–180, 205–206
“drop foot,” 243
drug use, 220–221, 235, 243–245
Dudley, Dale, 253
due process, 38
Dugger, Ronnie, 146
Dunnavant, Keith, 102
Dupree, Marcus, 145
E
Earl Campbell Banquet, 250–252
Earl Campbell Day (Tyler, Texas), 22, 189
Earl Campbell Meat Products, 239, 243
Earl Campbell Parkway (Tyler, Texas), 32
Earl Campbell Stadium, 61
Eason, Bo, 10
East Austin, 120–121, 128
East Texas, 20, 182. See also Tyler, Texas
East Texas Fair, 26
East Texas State Teachers College, 23
East Texas Tuberculosis Sanatorium, 15
Ebony, 29
Economics Research Associates, 159
Edmonton Eskimos, 89
Eisenhower, Dwight, 146–147
Ellender, Rich, 211–212
Elliott, Phil (fictional), 187, 188–189
Ellis, Jimmy, 121
emancipation, 17, 18
Emmett Scott High School, 23, 26–27, 34, 56, 248, 250
endorsement deals, 186–187, 204, 255
Ennis, Michael, 217–219
entrance exams, 80, 94
Equal Protection Clause, 75–76
Erickson, Roky, 123
Erving, Julius, 53
Erwin, Frank, 74, 96, 103, 113, 145–146, 152
Erxleben, Russell, 161
Esquire, 184, 218