Jim Hilliard, Piper Wagner, Coach Reese and Coach Kubick

Texaslsn.org is a tax exempt, free, educational, and insightful vista into the History of Longhorn Sports .

Author Dick Baird wrote an article in 2003 stating: a team bond as young men is a powerful force in character development. Team members learn that sacrificing for a more significant cause; then yourself requires an emotional investment in others. As a team member, you never question anything about each other. It’s an understood respect. He/she is my teammate. “We will always be on the same team.” “Years from now, all players will realize the experience was what it was all about — sort of like it’s not the destination, but the important journey. ” Along the way, bonds are created that last a lifetime.



Jim Hilliard (Texas shirt) has experienced this bond and understands that sacrificing for a more significant cause then self is worthy of the effort. Jim Hilliard is a scholar who played college football for Texas. After graduating with his doctorate from the University of Texas at Galveston Medical Branch, he spent a 35-year career as an Orthopedic Surgeon in Arlington, Texas, enhancing the quality of life for others. Recently Jim was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. There is no cure for this dark disease. But there is light in the form of family and friends, and as this photo depicts a visible spirit emanates from friendships and respect earned. Jim’s story, as told by his wife, Tamara Hilliard, is in the Que at https://texaslsn.org . Photo left to right: Team members Mike Hardage, Garry Smith, Rick Fenlaw, Joey Aboussie, Paul Walker, Larry Smith, and David Milam. Seated is Jim Hilliard.

COACHES ARE PEOPLE TOO

Piper Wagner, a Longhorn golfer from 1987-1992, reflects on an epiphany moment with Coach Weis that forever changed her perception of coaches. A story that many former UT student-athletes including myself will understand.

A friend of Coach Weiss had passed away, and Piper went over to Coach and said: “I’m sorry about your friend, Coach.” Piper said Coach Weiss’s eyes teared up, and Coach could not speak, so Coach touched her heart with her hand.

Piper said, “I was shocked to see her (Coach Weis) that way. In college, all I thought about was me. People like Coach, they weren’t real people. Looking back on it now, it is so strange! We were just kids, completely self-centered. I certainly didn’t think about her having a life outside of coaching our team. ”

Piper’s comments are very insightful and reflect many coach/student-athlete relationships. I experienced the same epiphany with Coach Royal after he suffered some family tragedies. It was such a surprise for me to see him grieving. Like Piper- as a young, self-centered person- I finally realized that my coach was also a feeling caring person.

Piper Wagner passed away of cancer in August of 2014

Eddie Reese and Kris Kubik Legacies transcend the sport they have dominated for so long. Their accomplishments will never be equaled in any other college sports. In the Que are some of their Longhorn sports accomplishments. (not enough room to share all of them (:)