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Chris Samuels – Could we have helped?
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CHRIS SAMUELS- A REFLECTION POINT
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Over the last seven years, chronicling the history of Longhorn sports has been a passionate part of the TLSN mission. That passion has not waned. On the contrary, it is stronger now than in 2014.
That said, Longhorn sports history is not the primary mission of TLSN. Instead, TLSN Board members’ – Jim Kay, Benny Pace, Beth Coblentz, Spanky Stephens, and Billy Dale – goal is to raise and distribute funds through a 501(c)(3) to assist qualifying former Longhorn student-athletes, trainers, managers, coaches, and their immediate families.
The TLSN Board has fulfilled this role formally for three former student-athletes and informally (before tax-exempt) 8 others. All qualified for assistance.
With deep sadness and reflection, I read about the circumstances surrounding the death of Chris Samuels. I don’t know if Chris was seeking help but could not find it, or maybe he knew there was help (TLSN) but refused it.
However, what I do know is that TLSN had resources available to help Chris. Contributions from the heart of donors to assist those who built the Longhorn Brand.
My guess is that Chris was not aware of TlSN’s mission. If that is true, the Longhorn Nation needs to remedy that travesty. More needs to be done to inform all who qualify that there is an organization whose sole mission is to help former Longhorns.
Unfortunately, for legal reasons, the U.T. Athletic department cannot use its email list to inform all of the TLSN mission. So communication will have to be done the old-fashioned way with special touches in person and via email to inform former student-athletes, student managers, trainers, and Coaches of the TLSN compassionate component.
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The Stark Center assists the University of Texas Austin Intercollegiate Athletics Department in archiving documents that chronicle the incredible athletic legacy of Longhorn sports.
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Sports Illustrated described Harvey Penick as “golf’s Socrates – the game’s greatest teacher and philosopher. The Stark Center with the help of Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Scotty Sayer, and Harvey’s son (Tinsley Penick) have saved for posterity a key era in Longhorn golf.
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There are also photographic scrapbooks papers, books, artifacts, and articles of Darrel K Royal, Wilmer Allison, Dave Snyder, Mack Brown, Jody Conradt, Clyde Littlefield, Augie Garrido, Walter Fondren, Gustav “Pig” Dittmar, Jack Collins, and Charlie Cravens.
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The Stark Center also maintains the UT Longhorn Media Departments’ extensive collection of programs, media guides, and season binders.
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However, chronicling Longhorn Sports history is not the primary focus of the Stark Center. True to its mission The Stark Center is the repository for the history of bodybuilding.
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Closely tied to the strength world is the art of bodybuilding captured by the Stark Center Exhibits.
Terry Todd has passed away but Jan Todd continues researching the art of bodybuilding by investing in many Masters of the Universe collections. The Todd’s have created a research mecca and a world-acclaimed depository of bodybuilding books, magazines, photos, and research collections. Photo below is Jan and Terry Todd at the Stark Center with photos of bodybuilders in the background.
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Jan at one time was a weight lifter invited to the Johnny Carson late-night show. Below is the link to Terry Todd’s 5-star documentary and Jan’s hilarious night teaching Johnny Carson how to lift weights.
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In the early 1900s, most “experts” thought weight lifting for many reasons was an inherently harmful activity.
Roy McLean, Theo Bellmont, and Lutcher Stark disagreed. Instead, they believed weight lifting enhanced performance making athletes stronger, quicker, and faster.
Happenstance brought these three characters together. As young men, all three were Longhorn weight lifters. In retrospect, each played a significant role in transitioning weight lifting from a cult to a science. Their persistence with a subtle push from Charlie Craven finally convinced Coach Royal to hire Dana LeDuc as the first Texas strength and conditioning coach in 1977.
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Charlie Craven completed the weight lifting mission of Bellmont, McLean, and Stark
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Dana was a perfect choice combining personal experience in weight lifting and Olympic training.
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McLean entered the University of Texas in the fall of 1913 at age 16. In his first semester in the afternoons, he had only one class, Physical Training. That class met at the University YMCA building on Guadalupe, where Mclean began spending most of his free time and met the newly-named athletic director L. Theo Bellmont.
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An ardent sports fan, Lutcher was interested in all sports, but he particularly loved football. In 1910, his senior year at UT, Lutcher was the football team manager, a job that included assisting with negotiations to determine which teams the squad—then known simply as the Texas Varsity, or Steers—would play.
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Stark had a personal epiphany. His weight had increased to more than two hundred pounds (a bit too much for his 5’7” frame), and so he decided to do something about it. He took a course on physical training that advocated weight training for general fitness. Stark lost weight while gaining muscle, strength, and speed.
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Bullet points on A.D. Bellemont’s accomplishments:
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Theo Bellmont’s professional title was Director of Athletics and Professor of Physical Training:
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He Organized the building of Clark Field and Penick Tennis courts;
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Conceived and presided over the formation of the SWC to principally standardize eligibility; requirements among U.T. opponent
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formed the T-Association’;
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started an intramural sports program
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constructed a building to house basketball from the inclement weather;
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oversaw the construction of Memorial Stadium and Clark Field for Longhorn baseball; and
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In 1927 – Organized the Texas Relays with Coach Littlefield
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The history of Strength Coaches at Texas is @
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TLSN is not associated with the UT Athletics Department or any organization closely aligned with UT.
TLSN is an independent organization celebrating Longhorn Sports History and assisting qualifying Horns who need temporary financial assistance.
The TLSN website and newsletter are free, educational, historical, and insightful. Sharing Longhorn sports history through the eyes of those who created it.
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