professional sports – Texas History Notebook

Eddie LeBaron

Edward Wayne LeBaron, Jr. was born January 7, 1930 to Edward Wayne LeBaron and Mabel Sims LeBaron. His grandfather Oscar LeBaron was a farmer who had moved his family to California from New York. Eddie was small in stature but was a gifted high school athlete at Oakdale High School near Modesto. He was also on the young side for his class year, entering high school at the age of 12 and graduating at 16. He signed with College of the Pacific, now known as University of the Pacific, in Stockton, California where his coach when he was a freshman was Amos Alonzo Stagg. At that time, Stagg was 84 years old and in the last year of his amazing career as an athlete and coach.

Dr. James Patrick Evans

Dr. Evans was born August 5, 1930 in Dallas, Texas to James Cook Evans and Johnie Alma Henson Evans. His father was a teller at First National Bank. Dr. Evans was one of two sons of the couple. He grew up in Dallas. After high school, he headed for Whitworth College, a small Presbyterian school in Spokane, Washington on a football scholarship. Whitworth, now known as Whitworth University, has been a member of several athletic conferences over the years, usually competing in a small college division. Various biographical articles note that while at Whitworth, Evans suffered a knee injury which ended his playing career. However this led him to the path he pursued in sports medicine as he remained with the team as athletic trainer.

Upon completing his undergraduate work, Dr. Evans returned to Dallas where he enrolled in a physical therapy school at Grady Vaughn School of Physical Therapy, a part of what was then known as Baylor University Hospital. Upon completing his studies there, he began to work at the hospital as a physical therapist. His supervisors suggested that he should consider becoming a doctor and heeding this advice, he was accepted into University of Texas Southwestern Medical School where he earned his medical degree.

Y. A. Tittle

Yelberton Abraham Tittle, Jr. was born in Marshall, Texas on October 24, 1926 to Y. A. Tittle, Sr. and Alma Allen Tittle. He was the fifth of six children. His father was a mail carrier. Y. A. grew up in Marshall and was a natural athlete, participating in several sports. Biographies mention that he wanted to be a football quarterback and tried to emulate Sammy Baugh. When he found out that Baugh practiced passing by throwing a football at a suspended tire, Y. A. did the same.

Tex Erwin, Major League Baseball Player

Ross Emil “Tex” Erwin was born December 22, 1885 in Forney, Texas to Hiram P. Erwin and Laura Ann Boles Erwin. Tex’s father Hiram was a farmer and carpenter according to various census and newspaper reports. Hiram was also once tried and acquitted of the charge of murder in 1899. The charge was related to a downtown Dallas shooting which had occurred in 1898. Hiram had testified that the victim had threatened him on numerous occasions, which might have had an impact on the verdict. In addition, the victim had previously also had stood trial for murder and had been acquitted. During Hiram’s trial, some of his testimony was apparently used to implicate him in a somewhat related arson case, for which he was also tried. In the latter case, Hiram was convicted, received a new trial and was again convicted in the second trial. There are no other mentions in Texas newspapers of legal issues other than these. Hiram died in 1927. Laura survived him by more than thirty-five years until she died in 1964. She and Hiram are buried in Dallas.

Jack Pardee

John Perry “Jack” Pardee was born April 19, 1936 in Iowa to Earl Charles Pardee and LaMeda A. McNary Pardee. The father’s profession is listed as farmer. When he was still a boy, Jack’s family moved to Christoval, Texas in sparsely populated Tom Green County. Christoval high school played six man football and Jack was a standout player on the team in his high school years.