Randy Willis: The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You
by Randy Willis
The following is an edited version of Randy Willis’ story and photo assortment tailored for the TLSN sports historical site. Here is the link to his whole story about the Longhorn cheerleader calendar cover .
https://randywillisbooks.com/randy-willis-the-eyes-of-texas/
Randy says, “I get a call from Brown Distributing in Austin. They are the local Budweiser distributor. They wanted to shoot the University of Texas Cheerleader calendar in my backyard. They were the sponsor of the calendar.”
They had sponsored many of the events I produced over the years. They had seen the two million photos I posted of my annual Pickin’ on Christmas Party.
I agreed. Then the following question came up from Brown Distributing: “Can you ask Earl Campbell? Would he be part of the shoot?” Earl agreed.
The weather was perfect. The crew was excellent. The stage was set. The food was ready. And the cheerleaders were fabulous. Earl was gracious, as always. All was well.
The stage was all set in my backyard. I bought that UT Rocking Chair at Cracker Barrel. That is Walnut Creek behind my home.
The girls were fascinated by my collection of autograph guitars. In particular, the one with Willie Nelson and George Strait’s signature. Go figure.
At the end of the shoot, I asked them to autograph a guitar. All was well. But as Robert Burns wrote in his poem “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men,” there was a problem.
I got a call from DeLoss Dodds, the men’s Athletic Director of The University of Texas. “Randy, you realized that Earl is on staff here?”
“Yes, sir.”
“We don’t allow our male athletic staff or players to do photo shoots with our cheerleaders.”
Thus, the calendar did not include Earl. But we sure had fun.
I had forgotten about that story until my granddaughter, Baylee Willis, graduated Valedictorian last year.
During the scholarship presentation, my son leaned over and said, “You know who that girl is? DeLoss Dodds’ granddaughter.” She was headed to Baylor on an equestrian scholarship. Baylee would be attending the University of Texas. Baylee is on scholarship at UT.
I mentioned to my son that there may have been undue influence for Baylee to attend Texas. I had an ulterior motive. My alma mater is Texas State University. I have long since called it the “Harvard of the South.” He denied this until this giant banner appeared on the screen as she spoke at her commencement. All I have to say to that is Hook ’em Horns!
Looking Back
I first heard of Texas Longhorn football when Coach Darrell Royal signed a local player. His name was Larry Stephens. I was only six. Stephens was a 1956 graduate of Angleton High School. He was named an All-state and All-American as a senior at Angleton. In his senior year at Texas, he was named to the All-Southwest Conference team. I cannot overstate how big a deal that was in Angleton, where I graduated in 1968. I never saw him play at Texas since there were few college games on TV in those days. And we didn’t own one until 1958.
I’ve been a Longhorn fan for many years, although it didn’t start with Larry Stephens. It began when Duke Carlisle and the Longhorns defeated the Aggies on Thanksgiving Day in 1963. It was the first college football game I ever saw on TV. It would be five years before I saw one live. And that was while a student at Southwest Texas State University (Texas State University today).
Duke Carlisle would also lead Texas to their first national championship and a Cotton Bowl victory on New Year’s Day. Carlisle would face Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach.
As a 13-year-old boy on a 40-acre leased black land farm. I never could have imagined becoming friends with Coach Darrell K Royal. And to ask him about those iconic victories, although Coach Royal told me it was the losses he remembered most.
Through Coach Royal, I’ve met numerous legendary football players, musicians, and actors. But I have never met my first college football hero, Duke Carlisle.
The protocol was that I pick up the Heisman Trophy one day before the event. I usually returned it the day after for such events. But I got busy. A week later, Earl called me, “You have something of mind, don’t you?”
I loaded the 45-pound cast bronze trophy and was at Earl’s office within an hour.
The painting depicts two Texas outlaws in a shootout with my three sons at Willis General Store, Willis Bros. Cafe, and Ropers Saloon. The outlaws lost, according to legend, or was that what I told my grandchildren? The photo to the left shows Coach Royal and me in my backyard. This was taken at a pickin’ party honoring him. He never missed one.
About that guitar. I donated it to a benefit at The Headliners Club for Azleway Boys and Girls Ranch. The highest bid was $10,000.
The cheerleaders graciously made this video with Earl and me. It was for another event we had committed to. The charity event would be held at The Headliners Club. Earl Campbell and I would host it for Azleway Boys and Girls Ranch. And a golf tournament would also take place at the Dallas Cowboys Golf Club.
The University of Texas Press published this book with Coach Royal, Willie Nelson, and me on the center page.
For the whole story as shared by Randy Willis not the edited version for TLSN click on the link
https://randywillisbooks.com/randy-willis-the-eyes-of-texas/
