Bobby Lackey
Please accept our sincere condolences as we pray for your hearts to be comforted and that the peace of God covers you all during this time. May your family memories give you a legacy of love as you recall how much your father Bobby was loved by all who knew him. Roger and Becky Van Burkleo
Bobby Lackey spent part of his childhood living in a labor camp before moving regularly from rental to rental with his family.
“Neither of his parents could read or write and athletics was his ticket,” John Lackey said. “He had eight brothers and sisters and was the only one who went to college, and the only way was a football scholarship
A good friend of mine throughout our high school years. May he rest :pray: in peace.
Rogelio roger Tijerina – September 03 at 01:03 PM
As a freshman at little ole Edcouch-Elsa, I played basketball against Bobby. Didn’t have a chance in hell against him. I called Bobby over a year ago and talked about valley sports and UT sports. We had several friends in common and was good to spend some time with someone we looked up to, even idolized. I feel honored to be in the same RGV Hall of Fame with him.
Bobby Henson EEHS ‘58
Bobby was such an idol to me. I would sit with him and talk sports for many hours. Such a great man! May he now be in heaven with his beloved Judy. Prayers for all of the family! Dennis Jones – September 03 at 11:44 AM
Bobby’s Honors
The multisport star had multiple facilities renamed after him within Weslaco ISD.
In the mid-1970’s Weslaco High School named their gymnasium after Lackey, later renaming the football facility after him in September 2002.
“Weslaco’s favorite son” contributed to the community serving as a member of the city council from 1964 to 1969. As well as becoming a member of the Weslaco ISD School Board from 1968 to 1974.
The Weslaco High School athletic program also honors the top male athlete with the Bobby Lackey Award every year.
Bobby Lackey was inducted into the UT Hall of Honor in 1977, the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, and the Texas High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
Bobby Lackey and Garland Kennon in 2018.
A three-year starter at quarterback and punter for Weslaco, Lackey earned all-state honors in 1955 after leading the Panthers to a 13-0 mark before a 20-7 state semifinal loss to Hillsboro. He also played in the THSCA All-Star Game. Lackey went on to play at Texas, where he quarterbacked the Longhorns to a share of the 1959 SWC title (coach Darrell Royal’s first at UT) and led the team in scoring in both 1958 and 1959. He also became the first UT player on the cover of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (Nov. 9, 1959), when he was featured walking up the tunnel at the Cotton Bowl after a win over Oklahoma.
To the Lacky family, our deepest condolence. Bobby was a family friend by our father. We were blessed to have him as a friend. We have wonderful memories of him! Rest in peace from Robert, Jhonny ,and Dalia Reyna!
BILL LITTLE COMMENTARY: A NEW ROYAL DAY
Nov. 11, 2012
Part of Bill Little’s comments about Bobby Lackey is below.
Bill Little, Texas Media Relations
Lackey……, remembers the time when he decided to run a quarterback “bootleg” and scored a touchdown on the play. After the game, Royal asked him to come to his office the next day.
“That was a good play,” Darrell had said. “But don’t do that again…it is not in our playbook.”
Soon, however, Lackey said the play was incorporated into the Longhorns’ regular attack. End of Bill’s comments.
What a wonderful person Bobby was for sure. So sad to hear of his passing. Our prayers sent to the family. God bless you. You have great memories of an amazing man and he will live on in you.
Phyllis Madden Russell – September 02 at 04:29 PM
6-foot-4 Lackey eventually became the starting quarterback, leading the Longhorns in scoring and punting for two seasons and was a daring runner whose passing won several games for the Longhorns, according to his profile on the RGV Sports Hall of Fame.
As the starting quarterback in 1958, Lackey led Texas to a #4 ranking after winning the first five games, including a win over #2 Oklahoma – its first win over a team ranked that high since 1941. Texas victory broke O.U.’s six-year stranglehold. Bobby Lackey’s seven-yard T.D. pass to Bob Bryant and Lackey’s PAT with 3:10 left won the game. The Horns had lost 9 of the last ten times to the Sooners.
Bobby was a next door neighbor in Weslaco when we were growing up. His brother Joe and I were best friends in school. The Lackey’s were a great family. Bobby will be missed by everyone who knew him. RIP my dear friend.
Jack Hales – September 02 at 05:02 PM
In 1959, Lackey quarterbacked a Texas squad that would win a share of the Southwest Conference Championship and compete for the national championship. After climbing as high as #2 in the rankings, their highest ranking since 1941, the Horns were upset by #18 TCU. Texas finished the season ranked #4 in the country. During the final regular-season game against Texas A&M, Lackey led the Longhorns on a game-winning 90-yard touchdown drive. He shared the 1959 lead for rushing touchdowns in the Southwest Conference with Don Meredith and three others.
Bobby was the first Longhorn to be on the cover of the Sports Illustrated magazine.
The Longhorns went to the 1960 Cotton Bowl, where they faced off against #1 ranked and National Champion Syracuse. There Lackey threw what was, at the time, the 2nd longest touchdown pass in Cotton Bowl history, a 69 yarder to Jack Collins. The only longer Cotton Bowl touchdown pass at the time was an 87-yard pass thrown two quarters earlier to Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis in the same game. Unfortunately, the Longhorns lost that game 23-14.
