Ted Gorski, Jim Bayless, Annette Smith, 1914, South Texas football

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A Celebration of Ted Gorski’s life by Jim Bayless and Tommy Roberts.

Jim Bayless is the primary source of the history of Longhorn tennis from Coaches Daniel Penick, Wilmer Allison, and Coach Dave Snyder era at:

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/part-i-jim-bayless-game-set-match-coach-penick-and-allison , and

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/part-ii-jim-bayless-game-set-match-coach-snyder

Ted Gorski

Ted is top row far right.

To paraphrase Pericles: “It’s not what you leave behind engraved in stone that matters, but rather what you leave woven in the lives of others.”

So, who was Ted Gorski? He was self-reliant, a traditionalist, and a man of simple tastes. He was well-dressed, from his Fred Perry and Izod tennis attire to his old-school Gatsby suits and shoes. He was thankful for two great mentors -UT Coach Wilmer Alison and Dr. Bobby Brown. He participated for years with Dr. Brown in an after-school reading program.

He was a tennis champion and marathon runner- a gentleman and a gentle man. A “get ‘er done” kind of guy. He was a dedicated attorney. He was a steadfast Episcopalian.

He read Webster’s dictionary (the giant version) just for fun. He loved classical music and could name most symphonies and piano concertos after hearing the first few bars. He had a remarkable command of facts, dates, and historical anecdotes. He was respectful of others and a loyal friend. He was a great husband and an engaging father.

The Full eulogies by Tommy Roberts and Jim Bayless for Ted Gorski are at:

2023 TED GORSKI BY TOMMY ROBERTS (squarespace.com)

2023 TED GORSKI BY JIM BAYLESS (squarespace.com)

Professor Carlson

Over the last three years, Professor Carlson has shared his list of the Best Longhorn football players from West Texas at:

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/west-texas-longhorn-allstars

To East Texas at:

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/east-texas-longhorn-allstars

Now he adds the Best Longhorn footballers from South Texas delivered in two parts.

Part I describes the geography and food of South Texas at:

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/part1-thehistoryofsouthtexas-andwheretoeat

The South Texas region stretches from the southern fringe of the Hill Country all the way to the Rio Grande Valley, from Laredo over to Corpus Christi, and more. The Spanish and Mexican influences are evident everywhere, as are the bonds and traditions of the Old South plus those of the German, Polish, and Czech settlers of the 19th century.

Part II is the Professor’s list of the best Longhorns from South Texas at:

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/part-ii-the-south-texas-longhorn-line-up

Below are 4 Longhorns on Larry’s list.

Bill Acker (’79), Freer Buckaroos

Steve McMichael and Bill Acker, two big, rugged boys, found their way to UT and, in the late ’70s, became two of the best pass rushers and run-stuffers ever to play tackle for Texas.

Dwight Jefferson (’78) San Antonio Fox Tech Buffaloes- He was a force for the 11-0 team in ’77 and closed out his career a year later as the top lineman in UT’s 42-0 annihilation of Maryland in the Sun Bowl.

He became an attorney and later earned the title of “The Honorable Dwight Jefferson” as a judge.

Derek Kerstetter 2021, San Antonio Regan Rattlers

Derek Kerstetter started 49 games as a Longhorn and was a captain and an All-Big XII selection. Kerstetter elected to fight back from a devastating leg injury late in the ’20 season, and bolstered the line for Steve Sarkisian’s first team at UT as a fifth-year “super senior.”

1990 – The Cash twins from San Antonio Holmes Huskies High school

Keith and Kerry were strong, rangy targets for Peter Gardere, then both played six years in the NFL.

1986 Annette Smith national champion

BY JULIE CART

DEC. 10, 1985 12 AM
PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

AUSTIN, Tex. —

“Annette Smith of Texas was All-Everything, averaging 25 points per game for the nation’s top-ranked women’s college basketball team.

It was pretty swell for a while, but in stories like these there’s always a Then . As in: Then her world caved in. One day in practice, she landed so hard that she cracked a bone in her left leg, which resulted in extensive cartilage and ligament damage. Then it was, Annette, you’ll play basketball again . . . when they invent a reliable leg transplant.

In real life, Annette Smith of the University of Texas spent five hours under the knife while surgeons reconstructed her left knee. She was on crutches for five months and in rehabilitative therapy for nearly a year and a half.”

End of quote from Julie Cart

Annette Smith-Knight entered the Longhorn Hall of Honor in 2013.

Played at the University of Texas from 1981-1986, finishing her career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,523 points.

Annette Smith-Knight was a 1984 Kodak All-American, USBWA All-American, and Wade Trophy finalist.

She was a 1983 World University Games team member, which captured gold. In 2022 Annette’s #15 jersey was retired.

Sherryl Hauglum was a teammate of Annette Smith and is a TLSN Board Member. Sherryl says, “Annette Smith was a joy to play with and fascinating to watch! “I marveled at her incredible footwork and moves!”

“Annette’s quick first step made her a scoring machine. Scoring points before her opponent knew what had happened. Her presence on the court made all her teammates better players. “Annette Smith-Knight was billed as “the best little center” in the nation during her career.

For the rest of Annette’s story and more quotes from teammates about Annette building the Longhorn brand, visit https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/the-road-to-the-1986-championship-led-through-annette-smiths-return-to-health

After seven years of research, the History of all NCAA Longhorn sports is 80% complete. Each sport is chronicled year by year from the sport’s inception to 2014.

As of July 21, 2023 the TLSN website includes:

Thirty-seven articles written by various authors starting with Steve Ross sharing the 1982 football season.

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/1982-by-steve-ross-1

Steve Ross and Coach Akers

47 articles written by Professor Carlson. Here is the link to the 2003 Cotton Bowl game against LSU and coach Nick Saban at:

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/larry-carlson-lsu

Longhorn receiver Roy Williams and Chris Simms provided the jolt against LSU that juiced a UT offense that had been punchless in the opening quarter.

The play converted into a 51-yard touchdown pass and changed the game’s momentum.

28 articles written by Billy Dale . Here is one titled “The Winkers Rule” @ BILLY DALE – THE WINKERS RULE (squarespace.com).

The Winkers Rule

Chris Doelle has produced 26 oral History podcasts.

TLSN offers oral history podcasts of Longhorn Sports legends to share and save the stories of those who created the Longhorn brand. But we need help defraying the cost of production. (TLSN does not financially profit from the podcast. The podcast costs 550 dollars per episode. )

Here is an example of how the sponsorship worked with Ben Crenshaw’s oral history sponsored by MBFC and John Carsey @ JcarseyMBFC.com.

The link is at https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/ben-crenshaw.

Sponsors logo

TLSN with assistance from Professor Carlson has interviewed 24 Longhorns.

Doug Shankle’s interview is at https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/doug-shankle

The “TLSN CELEBRATION OF LIFE” wall began in 2018.

TLSN has shared the passing of 138 Horns in the form of a celebration of life, but

many names still need to be added to the Celebration Wall. If you have lost a loved one who is a former Longhorn

student-athlete, manager, trainer, support staff personnel, or Coach,

please send the eulogy to Billydale1@gmail.com, and it will be posted.

Carl Johnson’s celebration of life story is told by Byrd Baggett – A track co-Captain with Carl in 1972.

Byrd’s story is powerful and poignant, capturing Carl’s struggle for acceptance.

The link is shared at https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/carl-johnson

Carl’s story is an integral part of Longhorn sport’s racial bias.

A leadership plague is presented in his name to the best track man at Texas, but he also deserves a place in the Longhorn Hall of Honor.

TLSN is a 501 (c)(3) Longhorn Sports history educational website with a compassionate component.

The TLSN website and newsletter are free to access, delivering educational, historical, and insightful Longhorn sports history as told through the eyes of those who created it.

Fortunately, most former Longhorn student-athletes, coaches, and support staff personnel have successfully transitioned to the job market with health insurance and loss of income safety nets.

Still, help is needed for some, and TLSN donors have opened hearts and wallets to extend a helping hand. TLSN’s donors have assisted those who qualify with grants varying from $2000 to $25,000.

Please be one of those open hearts and donate to TLSN.

All of us associated with the TLSN Board and the advisor committee do so without compensation. It is our gift back to the Longhorn brand builders of our great university.

Join us by giving back. Donations assist qualifying former UT student-athlete, coach, support staff member, or their immediate family.

Here is the link to donate

???? DONATE (squarespace.com); and Https://texaslsn.org