e-mail   murphy@murphymartin.com

Murphy Martin Commentary
September 14, 2006

 "SRO for Latest Hall of Famer"

It was standing-room-only last night for one of the latest inductees into the Pro Football
Hall of Fame. It was Boy Scout Night at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas and no one could have been a better featured speaker for the 450-people present than a former Eagle Scout from Griffin, Georgia by the name of Rayfield Wright.

After those attending enjoyed a meal of barbecue and all the trimmings prepared by Boy Scout Troop 718 and their families, it was time for us to go to work as master of ceremonies. What great memories flashed through the minds of longtime Cowboy's fans in the room as we introduced those who not only were team-mates of Rayfield Wright, but were deeply involved in building the winning tradition that became the foundation for future Dallas Cowboy teams.

There sat Lee Roy Jordan, the man often identified as the inspirational leader of the early Cowboy's championship years. During fourteen years he was named to the Pro-Bowl five times, was All-Pro twice and entered the Cowboy's Ring of Honor in 1999.

The big Irish-Catholic smile of John Fitzgerald was back after overcoming some major health problems. This Boston College graduate, who anchored the center of the offensive line from 1971 through 1980. is back at work and smiling more than ever because of his first grandson Ben.

A man who had two tours of duty with the Cowboys was Tony Liscio. He was coaxed out of retirement in 1966 by Coach Landry and played through 1971.

Another former all everything, Chuck Howley, Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl V and member of the Cowboy's Ring of Honor, received a huge welcome from the crowd on hand as did Mel Renfro, who like the honored guest, Rayfield Wright, is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

These football greats and their wives were among those stirring memories during the evening. Many got writer's cramps from signing autographs. One of the most desired signatures was that of the one and only Charley Pride. This super-star entertainer, with guitar in hand, sang several songs including a special request for his longtime friend, Rayfield Wright. The song was Pride's biggest ever cross-over hit "Kiss An Angel Good Morning". Wright told me the song was special because there had been so many "angels" in his life.

When Rayfield began his remarks, after being introduced by his former coach Jim Myers, it was not long before he mentioned some of those "angels". His mother and grand-mother who told him at age ten, the importance and value of having Jesus Christ in his life. His scout-master who saw Rayfield was left with tears in his eyes when he was left alone on a scouting trip when the troop was told to "go with your fathers" to a certain location. Rayfield was alone because his father left his family when Rayfield was three-years old. The scout-master saw the tears and walked to Rayfield at that outing and went with him to the next appointed place for scouts and their fathers.

The audience at Tuesday's Scout Night was spellbound as this six-foot-six-inch mountain of a man delivered a sermon filled with personal experiences in his life that led to his success as an athlete and as a human-being.

The impact of the evening was not lost in the audience after the benediction either. More than 200 people lined up to get a personalized autographed copy of Rayfield's new book "Wright Up Front" co-written with Jeannette De Vader, who was present for this evening.

But perhaps the proudest person in the audience on-hand this night was " the only person to ever have a no-cut contract" with Coach Tom Landry. No one was more proud of the speech delivered by Wright than Coach Landry's widow, Alicia. In all probability, Coach Landry enjoyed it too--from His Home On High!!

It was a very special evening!

Murphy Martin

Your thoughts and comments forwarded to my website will be appreciated.

e-mail   murphy@murphymartin.com

Previous commentaries: 
"Katie's Back, Legs and All!"
"Will T.O. Ride Bicycle Or Tricycle?"
"Couric News Carousel Approaching"
"George Was Not First"
"Cowboy's Control Canton"
"Despite Unfinished Business, Congress Takes a Vacation"
"Reality Television Rolls on Sunday"
"The President Speaks His Mind"
"The World Around Us"
"Birthday Time Again"
"Presidents -- Past and Present"
"Expensive Babies"
"Change of Pace"
"Yesterday Katie Said Goodbye to Today"
"Musical Chairs Continue at ABC-TV"
"No Quick Support for Bush Plan"
"Moussaoui Meeting with Virgins Delayed"
"What the Hell Happened?"
"His Name is Still Magic"
"The Tallest Pine is Gone"
"Keeping America Free"
"Remembering"
"Christians vs Muslims"
"Bush Bucks Bashing"
"Early Look at 2008"
"Contrasting Memories"
"Reporter's Rough Roads"
"Another Cowboys Loss"
"People, Places and Things"
"Super Bowl Wasn't So Super"
"State of the Union"
"Is God Dead in Europe?"
"Remembering Dr. King"
"This Week in Review"
"New Year, New Challenges"
"The Party's Over"
"Democracy in the Middle East"
"Unfinished Business"
"Merry Christmas Rules"
"Bush Unveils Plans"
"Today is Special"
"Border Security Now!!!"
"Stupidity Loses Financing"
"Crisis Christians"
"They Led the Way"
"Sadistic Saddam Hussein"
"Bourbon Street Bashing"
"Hurricane Aftermath"
"Standing Tall"
"Never a Dull Moment"
"Another Hero Laid to Rest"
"Blame Game"
"Senior Thoughts For the Young"
"Role Model Challenge"
August 18 - "Network News Anchors"
August 11 - "Now All Three Are Gone"
August 4 - "Trust in the Media"
July 28 - "Television Then and Now"
July 21 -  "The Mick"
July 14 - "Forty Years and Counting"