The Natural – Bob Rochs

Bob Rochs was a consummate people person- forever loyal, devoted, passionate, and compassionate to both Longhorns and his family.

In the movie the “Natural” Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford) plays the role of natural baseball athlete who overcomes many obstacles to fulfill his dreams of reaching the big leagues. Bob Rochs was also a natural in his profession. Bob was a consummate people person who had the knack of raising money for U.T. His easy non-confrontational style was his secret to success. The U.T. athletic department knew that life at Texas would be tougher without him.

If you are not a serious Longhorn, you probably do not know that DKR stadium not only holds 100,000 plus seats , 100’s of suites, 100’s of concession, the UT Athletic department operation, Longhorn work-out facilities, and the T-association, but it is also the home of a sacred place where only longhorn lettermen and family can share fellowship. The room is filled with memorabilia, T.V.’s , a bar, tables, chairs, and couches. This room located in the Northwest sector of the stadium captures the history and heritage of Longhorn football. It is a place where respect has been earned and players from as far back as Coach Bible’s era can share stories with players from Coach Strong’s era.

When entering this room I reflect on the reasons I chose to be a Longhorn. Tommy Ford was my idol as a boy, and his part in the 1963 victory over Navy in the Cotton Bowl was the catalyst that changed my life. There were many young boys in junior high school and high school who after January 1, 1964 dreamed of wearing a Longhorn helmet. 6 years later these boys will form the nucleus for the 1969 and 1970 National Championship teams and the 30 game win streak.

The room is the Bob Rochs T-room.

Below is an Iconic picture of DKR presenting a 1963 National football championship football signed by team players to the Connally family. This picture was taken after President Kennedy was killed and Governor John Connally was injured. From L to R. -Bob Rochs , Governor Connally , Connally’s son , and DKR.

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Bob Rochs started his 50 year plus journey with Longhorn athletics as a student baseball manager for Billy Disch’s Longhorn teams in 1941 and 1942.  After the war, Bob returned to Texas in 1948 working part-time in the Athletic Department while he earned his Master’s degree.  Originally interested in a career in coaching, he accepted a permanent position as the associate business manager for the Athletic Department.  During Bob’s early years at Texas, when the business office was at Gregory Gym . Ed Olle, Al Lundstedt, Bob Rochs , and two secretaries did all the work says Bob daughter Mary Edward.

“ Daddy would stay and count money after a game, and I went with him to the bank to deposit it!”

During the following decades, he assumed various other roles such as Ticket Manager, Development Director, Secretary of the Hall of Honor, and Executive Director of the “T” Association.  His greatest honor was his induction into the Longhorn Hall of Honor.   

Although Bob never missed a football game for almost 50 years (he died driving home from his 49th consecutive OU game in 1994), Bob loved all sports. In baseball, basketball, swimming, golf, track and field, and tennis he could name every athlete on every team.  Bob was so popular with the athletes he was honored by the swimming team at the Annual Aqua Carnival and by the track team at the Texas Relays.

His friends and family say that everyone who knew him loved Bob Rochs- everyone , that is, but one person. After President of UT, Lorene Rogers, learned that Bob accidentally left 25 UT tickets in the telephone booth next to the UT ticket office , she wanted to fire him for negligence . It took the  the grace of God,  and prayerful supplications from  two powerful men -DKR and Frank Erwin- to save his job.   

Bob loved golf but was notorious for a wicked slice. Coach Gustafson the crusty Longhorn basketball coach and Bob’s best friend, said his buddy was “horrible.” Every time Bob hit a bad shot , Gus said Rochs would exclaim, “Oh no?”

That refrain echoed around the Austin Country Club golf course every Tuesday as Bob , Cliff , Charlie Munson and all his other friends shared good times and bad golf shots. I think Bob and actor Robin Williams shared the same horror in mastering the inner working of the golf swing. Click on video to right to listen to Robin explain the nuances of golf.

While golf frustrated Rochs, he was always eager to return each tuesday to play another round of Mission Impossible and experience deja vu. For Bob, playing golf was not the end game. Fellowship was. Bonding with special friends instead of striving for a great golf score was the best part of his golf game, and his friends knew that .

While not blessed with golf skills, he was blessed with a great memory for names and special moments.  Marion Pfluger said he knew more people at the University then anyone in the administration. All of the lettermen were part of his family, and he shared their stories in a style that captured the imagination of anyone who listened.

Unfortunately there are downsides to a great memory when the memories are not saved in writing. This is especially true when the person with the great memory is also the assistant business manager for all UT sports.

After Bob’s death David McWilliams and DeLoss Dodds learned this lesson the hard way as they struggled to resurrect the names on Bob Rochs donor list. Without the donor’s list the exercise of raising money for the Athletic Department was much more difficult. As Mary Edwards said about her father “all the information was in his head and not written down”.

Bob Rochs Legacy

Bob’s two greatest honors were his induction into the Longhorn Hall of Honor and the renaming of the UT Letterman’s lounge to the Bob Rochs T-room . At UT receiving the second honor is always harder to earn than the first. After Bob’s death many influential Longhorns requested his name be memorialized and as the Captain of the USS Enterprise use to say when he agreed with his staff – the UT administration said “make it so”.

What a perfect tribute to a great man’s life. The Bob Rochs “T-room” is now his earthly home. Its an inviting space where his presence is felt on game day, where he can once again treasure the special moments and special memories with the lettermen he so admired. It is with respect I enter the Bob Rochs T-Room at DKR stadium and salute this great man’s legacy with a Horns up.