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Murphy Martin Commentary
February 23, 2006

 "Another Cowboys Loss"

Toughness from the past led to tenderness from the heart this week when nearly fifty former Dallas Cowboys joined more than two-hundred friends and family members for the funeral of former Cowboy Defensive Coordinator Ernie Stautner.

The 80-year old Bavarian, who arrived in America in 1928 at the age of three, lost a battle to Alzheimers last weekend. The funeral Mass at St. Phillipe the Apostle Catholics Church in Lewisville was followed by thoughts from several former Cowboys, relatives and friends who shared stories of Stautner's tough on-field demands and his gentle, kind and considerate manner when he was not "at work".

Randy White recalled fishing trips with Ernie, including one when the boat they were in sank and Stautner was more interested in saving his rod and reels than himself and a cooler, Bob Lilly recalled Stautner breaking his hand demonstrating how to attack a blocking sled but not letting the players know he had hurt himself. He remained the symbol of toughness one needs on the field at all times.

Joe Greene, who followed Stautner at the Pittsburgh Steelers said Stautner set the bar so high while there as a player, he made everyone who followed become better players. "That legacy of toughness, of honesty, of sportsmanship still permeates my former work-place".

Others recalled Stautner's big smile that softened his manner when he relaxed at the Velvet Turtle Restaurant on Wednesday nights in Thousand Oaks, California when the coaches had the night off.

Ernie Stautner coached the defense of the Cowboys for 23-years. He played an integral role in establishing the feared "Doomsday Defense" that became synonymous with the longest winning streak in NFL History--twenty consecutive seasons. During Stautner's time in Dallas, the Cowboys made five trips to the Super Bowl.

Many of those players who "matured" under Stautner were there to say goodbye to the man who led by example. Cliff Harris, Charlie Waters, John Dutton, Lee Roy Jordan, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Larry Cole, D.D. Lewis, Mel Renfro, Bob Breunig, Chuck Howley,Bill Gregory, Jethro Pugh, Tony Dorsett, Robert Newhouse, Phil Pozderac, Preston Pearson and John Fitzgerald.

Former coaches Jim Myers, Dick Nolan, Jerry Tubbs, Gene Stallings and Neill Armstrong and early Cowboy medical staff member Dr/ Skip Garvey were also present along with numerous other front office personal and Mrs. Alicia Landry.

We will always remember Ernie's big smile. Yes he was tough and demanding while modeling players but he had the biggest, warmest smile you would ever see when he was not "at work".

He had that smile when he told us how pleased he was with the knee replacement surgery he had after his coaching days were over. He told us: "And I'm almost an inch taller with my new knees".

Ernie Staurner has to be smiling even more now---he is HOME!  With the Doctor son he loved so much and lost much too early in life. With Coach Landry, Clint  Murchison, Tex Shramm, Coach Ermal Allen, Bob Hayes, Harvey Martin and a host of other friends.

Ernie is now in the Hall of Fame that matters most!

Murphy Martin

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