Chris Gilbert was laid to rest yesterday in a spiritually filled and uplifting service. All who attended were there to celebrate the life of a remarkable man who completed his earthly journey touching countless lives with his helping hands. The photo below shows the 1968 Team Captains—Bill Bradley, Chris Gilbert, and Corby Robertson. Yesterday at Chris's celebration of life all were together again, with Chris present in spirit. Corby, who shared a wonderful, heartfelt story about his teammate, friend, and business partner, and Bill Bradley whose giving heart knows how to bring a smile to the soul.

The other photo is from yesterday's service- left to right, Chris Young, Donnie Wigginton, Bill Bradley, and Billy Dale

The Marfa Giant By Professor Larry Carlson and the Giants that followed

(Robert Guevara at 280 pounds was possible the Largest Longhorn to play football for Texas from the inception of Texas football until the 1980's)
Before Guevara, Texas linemen in the 1950s and 1960s typically topped out in the 240–260 range. Even the biggest stars of the Darrell Royal era — Jerry Sisemore, Bob Simmons, Bob McKay, were in the mid‑250s. Guevara’s size was considered extraordinary for the time.

Larry's full story about Robert is at https://texaslsn.org/the-marfa-giant/
Below is a edited version to fit the TLSN newsletter format. 

When Robert Guevara signed a letter of intent to play football with the national champion Texas Longhorns in early 1970, he was the biggest thing to come out of Marfa. .
 
Consider this: When UT aimed for its fourth straight Southwest Conference title in Guevara's first year of eligibility, 1971, the Horns' best player on a stellar defense was, like Robert, a tackle. His name was Greg Ploetz and he would be honored as the SWC Defensive Player of the Year. Ploetz was 5-10 and weighed 205.

The nicknames came easily and naturally wnen the towering teenager from the small town arrived at the Forty Acres. Darrell Royal, himself, the deified head coach, likely with an assist from funnyman publicist Jones Ramsey, dubbed Guevara, "The Marfa Giant."

"Coach (Mike) Campbell called Robert "Man Mountain Guevara," Jerry Sisemore, the biggest Longhorn — at 6-4, 260 — until Robert joined the squad, kiddingly referred to Guevara as "Cloud." Translation: He was so big that a teammate standing near him during a late afternoon practice might get the benefit of a fleeting bit of shade. Jay Arnold still often refers to his late teammate as "The Marfa Mad Dog." 

One part of the college game that did not come easily to Guevara was the change in weather. Guevara told Jay that Marfa was cooler and much drier than his new college home. He thought Austin was like a steam bath.

Robert is #70 on the Marfa football team

When Robert first got here, he was homesick for Marfa and his dumplin', Rose, who would later become his wife," Giles says. "Not knowin' any better, or bein' told otherwise, he thought usin' the phones in the coaches office was a perk of his scholarship...when the first month's bill came in, there was a thousand dollars worth of calls to Marfa. We thought Coach (Bill) Ellington was gonna have a conniption."

Guevara decided to return home before his senior season at UT. He then married Rose Marie in August 1973 and earned a degree from Sul Ross State University. The Presidio County Sheriff's Department in Marfa was where he began a long, distinguished career in law enforcement. Decades later, he retired from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department where he worked as a game warden.

Robert passed away in 2008 at 57 years old, survived by Rose, the kids and a dozen grandchildren.

In the land of big dreams , big sunsets and ranches bigger than Yankee states, big heroes and legendary figures never die. They stand sentry in the wondrous nighttime skies, they ride shotgun with the ever present wind. The lore remains, even grows.

The Marfa Giant lives on.
 
(TLSN's Larry Carlson is a member of the Football Writers Association of America. He teaches sports media and electronic media writing at Texas State University and lives in San Antonio.)This is a new Paragraph block. Change the text.

Longhorn Women Sports Pioneers

Sports pioneers are risk-takers. Without their vision, nothing gets started. True visionaries move programs forward through determination and a focus on the future, not the present. Where others have failed, pioneers can introduce new ideas and clear obstacles that have stopped everyone else. And while they face the same challenges all coaches deal with in an athletic department—budgets, recruiting, and “turf” wars—they also have to overcome the added difficulty of building or transforming a program from the ground up. Many of the most influential sports visionaries from the 1950s through the 1980s were women. Before women could be recognized as athletes, athletic directors, or coaches, they first had to secure equal rights. Donna Lopiano’s story is a powerful example—her oral history podcast is available in TLSN’s archives. Identifying the pioneers in Longhorn sports is a subjective process, and I understand it may invite criticism. I accept that. This list includes 51 Longhorn pioneers, 14 of whom are women. For the full list of pioneers—men and women—with photos and accomplishments, please visit https://texaslsn.org/texas-longhorn-sports-pioneers/ 1917 – Anna Hiss – The driving force behind women’s physical education at UT. She built the academic, cultural, and physical foundation that made women’s athletics possible long before Title IX. 1937 – Betty Jameson – Attended the University of Texas, linking her directly to the UT golf tradition that later included Harvey Penick, Betsy Rawls, and Pat Weis. 1947 – Jane Patterson – Enrolled in the Physical Training for Women program and participated in WRA activities, including swimming. She was part of the early group of women who received structured swimming instruction at UT. There were no varsity opportunities at the time, but she belonged to the first coached swimming groups on campus. 1947 – Betsy Rawls (1947–1950) – Transferred to the University of Texas at Austin and earned a physics degree (Class of 1950). While at UT, she trained under Harvey Penick, tying her directly to the Texas golf lineage. 1957 – Pat Weis – Coached at Texas from 1957 to 1993, helping grow the program from a club sport into a national power. 1967 – Betty Thompson – Director at The University of Texas at Austin. 1975 – Donna Lopiano – Women’s Athletic Director who built UT into what many considered the model women’s athletics program in the nation. 1976 – Rheta Swindell – Basketball player who represents the modern era and the beginning of women’s excellence in Longhorn basketball. 1977 – Jody Conradt – National champion and the architect who helped set the standard for other winning women’s programs at Texas. 1980 – Jill Sterkel – Olympic gold medalist in swimming and later a Longhorn swim coach. 1982 – Chris Plonsky – Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director, Chief of Staff, and Senior Woman Administrator at The University of Texas at Austin. 1982 – Terry Crawford – One of the most influential coaches in women’s track history, at Texas and nationally. She helped connect the AIAW era to the early NCAA years and the rise of Texas as a track powerhouse. 1993 – Beverly Kearney – A dynasty builder who led Texas Women’s Track & Field and Cross Country from 1993 to 2013, turning the program into a national powerhouse over two decades. 1998 – Carolyn Graves – Olympian, pioneer, and a key builder of the highly successful Texas Rowing program.

Horns helping Horns focus's on former Longhorn student athletes, managers, and their immediate families when tragedy strikes.

https://texaslsn.org/?give_forms=givewp-donation-form-2

On April 28th 2017, I made Facebook contact with Dang Pibulvech. He had recently suffered a stroke, and his ability to talk and walk was impaired, but he can type. He used my inquiries about his years at Texas to cleanse his soul of some past demons. He said "he still loves Texas" and has great sorrow he did not accomplish his goals to make Longhorn soccer great. His quote, not mine, is that he was the "WRONGHORN". Coach Pibulvech at 49 was one of the all-time winningest women's soccer coaches in NCAA history. He ranks 18th on the NCAA's list for career victories with a record of 197-155-23 in 20 seasons as a head coach. During his collegiate career, Pibulvech led his teams to six NCAA Final Four appearances, nine NCAA Tournaments, and coached 25 Division I All-Americans. Pibulvech was a three-time West Region and two-time Central Region Coach of the Year as awarded by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). He said that starting a Division I-level soccer program at three universities and interacting with athletic administrations, alumni, parents, players, and fans was almost impossible to reconcile. Each program he led, except for his first two, faced the typical challenges of a start-up. He learned that building a successful program takes more than coaching skills—it demands strong people skills and the ability to adapt. His aggressive style with players, lack of finesse with parents, limited understanding of what motivates American athletes, rocky communication with the athletic department, poor media instincts, his efforts to quell angry fans, and his impatience were all traits ill-suited to launching a team. Without these qualities, his career became a roller coaster of small highs and big lows, and eventually, Texas and other colleges let him go from his coaching role. It took him years to understand that losing does not dictate self-worth and intrinsic character. Instead, he said, “No coach should gauge their success in winning on a once-in-a-lifetime national championship, but instead should gauge their success in building a program that gives the team a lifetime of chances to win the national title.” Texas golf Coach Pat Weis agreed with Coach Pibulvech when she says, "Winning simply cannot be your only goal. One team and only one team wins." No wiser statement could ever be made. In 2025, TLSN received word that Texas’s first NCAA soccer coach had serious health issues. One of his friends contacted TLSN and said: “Some sad news to share with you all. Dang is in a sad state. He is bedridden and has lost most of his mobility. He can’t walk, sit up, or use his arms and hands.” He lives in squalid conditions in a small room with a live-in caregiver. TLSN offered to help him financially, but no one from his family or friends ever responded to our offer. I understand that his family used GoFundMe to raise money to assist Dang. Dang's whole Longhorn story is at https://texaslsn.org/an-interview-with-dang-pibulvech-2023/ Horns UP!

Recently Chris Plonsky reminded the Longhorn Nation stating , "we had the pleasure of working with a production group on the story of Texas football letter winner Fred Bednarski, a WWII concentration camp survivor whose family relocated to Texas. He was the first sidewinder/soccer-style kicker in American football, playing for legendary coach Darrell Royal, who was the Longhorns' new coach. Fred Bednarski made the first three-point soccer-style kick in collegiate football history against Arkansas a team that included future Texas coach Fred Akers.

This 30-minute story is beautifully done and represents what America means to those who take the opportunity and maximize it. It's worth becoming a supporter of your local PBS station to see quality programming like this. https://texaspbs.org/shows/the-kicker The book is a small‑press, Texas‑based biography, often sold locally or through the filmmakers connected to the documentary. Because it wasn’t published by a major house, it doesn’t show up in standard catalogs."

In the book the following comment is made,

"IN THE CONCENTRATION CAMP EVERY NIGHT ENDS THE SAME, AS THE ENTIRE FAMILY GETS ON THEIR KNEES AND RECITES THE LORD'S PRAYER.......... IF ONE DAILY ACT DEFINES THE BEDNARSKI’S, IT IS THE RECITATION OF THIS PRAYER. THEY BELIEVE IT, AND THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL BE DELIVERED FROM THE EVIL FORCES THAT HAVE UPROOTED THEM FROM THE VILLAGE IN OCCUPIED POLAND, WHERE THEY WERE LOADED INTO CATTLE CARS ON THE TRAIN THAT HAS TAKEN THEM TO AUSTRIA, NEARLY 1,000 MILES AWAY."

Another fascinating part of this story is that Fred's younger brother was Ivan Putski. He was all over the '60s and '70s TV "sets," back when you had rabbit ears or tin foil to get three channels.

He was a rough, tough "wrassler" in the mold of Fritz Von Erich, Wahoo McDaniel, Pepper Gomez, and Johnny Valentine. Ivan Putski was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. TLSN has also chronicled Fred's history in detail at https://texaslsn.org/jon-dasilva-the-fred-bednarski-story/

Below photo is Fred's brother Ivan Putuski

When both professional and amateur internet users compile a list of the top 10 greatest Longhorn athletes of all time, why is a track star never included?

The men’s track program dates back to 1895, has produced 41 NCAA individual champions, and has been led by legends such as Clyde Littlefield, co-founder of the Texas Relays.

The men’s track program dates back to 1895, and has produced 41 NCAA individual champions. The Longhorns have also produced many Olympians.

Track is defined as a team sport but in reality, it is an individual sport with team consequences. So I asked former Longhorn team trainer and retired CPA guru and Longhorn sports aficionado Gary McIntosh to come up with a list of track and field finalists with only one to stand on the top 10 podium of Longhorn greatness.

Here is Gary's list to stand on the top 10 podium with golf, tennis, football, basketball, swimming, diving, and baseball, contenders.

TLSN has captured Gary's list, story, photos and more of some of the greatest Longhorn track and field athletes of all time at the link https://texaslsn.org/fans-comments-on-longhorn-track-golf-swimming-with-gary-mcintosh-list-of-great-longorn-track-and-field-athletes/

Gary says, "Billy, from our childhood years and the Border Olympics, Texas Relays, and the old West Texas Relays, Ralph Alspaugh, Hollis Gainey, Jerry Thompson, Charley Parker, Charlie Thomas, and

Eddie Southern were great Longhorns.

Gary also mentioned,

Charles Jacobs – Early Sprint Pioneer (1908) - One of UT’s earliest national‑caliber sprinters.

Dean Smith – Sprints (1952) - Olympic gold medalist and legendary stuntman.

Mark Boswell – High Jump - World Championships medalist for Canada.

Johnny “Lam” Jones – Sprints (1976) - Olympic gold medalist.

Byron Robinson – 400m Hurdles (2016) - Olympic finalist.

Marquise Goodwin – Olympian and NFL receiver

James Lott, one of the most remarkable two‑sport athletes ever to come through Texas — and one of the greatest high jumpers in NCAA history.

Ivan Wagner was a stand out in track and basketball winning the 1997 NCAA Outdoor High Jump title with a personal best of 2.30m (7' 6½"), one of the best jumps in Texas history.

three great javelin throwers, Einer Vihjvalmson, Dag Wennlund, and Patrick Boden.

Shot putter Ryan Crouser record setter and gold medal winner

Middle distance runner Leo Manzano(1500m) - Olympic silver medalist (2012).

- NCAA champion hurdler Winthrop Graham,

Eric Metcalf long jumper and football great Eric Metcalf

Trey Hardee – Decathlon - World champion and Olympic silver medalist. - One of the greatest American decathletes ever.

Shot putter Ryan Crouser was the name most often mentioned in this hypothetical and unscientific survey of the best Longhorn track and field athletes of all time. Ryan is a Olympic gold medalist and world record holder. He is ranked No. 1 all-time among Texas athletes by Ainsworth Sports and is widely regarded as the most dominant thrower in the history of the sport.

The 1963 Football National Championship season featured many close calls and tight games that favored the Longhorn Nation.

Royal’s Longhorn teams before 1963 had already reshaped the program’s culture, but the 1963 squad was the one that finally broke through the psychological barrier and won it all. That team was the crystal ball—foreshadowing the greatness Longhorn football would reach under Coach Royal’s guidance.

During Bud Wilkinson’s tenure at Oklahoma, Texas often lost to the Sooners. But under Darrell Royal’s leadership, the Longhorns began to shift the balance, and in 1963 they defeated the Sooners convincingly for the first time in many years. On the other hand, Texas dominated Texas A&M throughout the 1950s and into the early 1960s. For the Aggies, 1963 seemed like the ideal moment for payback after years of losses. They were at home, playing on a field many believed had been altered to hurt the Horns more than the Aggies. Texas A&M came within a single play of winning the game twice but fell short both times.

In the 1963 game, a questionable ruling that the Aggies’ interception was out of bounds cemented the national championship for the Longhorns.

I vividly remember watching the 1963 Texas–Texas A&M game as a boy at my grandparents’ home in Falfurrias, Texas. I cried when it looked like A&M was going to beat the undefeated Longhorns. Texas could have—and probably should have—lost if Aggie John Brotherton had held on to his interception of a Longhorn pass late in the fourth quarter instead of attempting a lateral. Texas recovered the ball and went on to win the game. As a boy, I looked up to John Brotherton and spent countless days of my youth watching football games at his home in Mineola, Texas, during his high school years. John has since passed away, but I believe he carried a lifelong regret over the decision to lateral the ball—a choice that cost the Aggies a memorable upset. Go to the 1:58 mark in the YouTube video and watch what I consider one of the two most significant plays for the Longhorns during the 1963 season. I’ve also captured the full story of the 1963 season—along with some very special photos—at https://texaslsn.org/1963-social-and-football-highlights/

Above photo - 1963 A&M, Ford, Stockton, Harris, Lammons, Carlisle for a Longhorn touchdown.

Bottom photo is the 1963 National Championship ring.

Volume X newsletter #4 2/20/2026