Bobby Proctor Remembers

Posted by Dan Jensen

I asked Bobby Proctor about his tenure in the Clear Creek District.  He went from us to White Oak as a coach and still lives there after retiring as superintendent of schools.  Here is his response:

I started in League City (1952) teaching 6th grade and helping Johnny Puckett coach football and basketball.  Seabrook and League City students played football at the school at Webster.

Bennie Lenox was in my 6th grade classroom.  I asked my students what their ambition in life would be.  Bennie told me he wanted to be an All-American basketball player. I told him it would take a lot of hard work and practice.  He said he knew that and that he went home each day and got his lessons done first, then played basketball until it was bedtime.  He did that every day.  I used this many times to motivate the kids I coached and let them know it was more than having fun.  It was a lot of hard work every day.

George Carlisle and I started a 6th grade basketball team at League City.  It was hard to get games and I remember playing Kinkaid which was always a tough team.  But we always found a way to beat them.  Our school district decided we could have two teams in the basketball district.  League City and Seabrook were chosen as those teams.  I left League City and went to Seabrook to coach their team.  I worked for Mr. Bay at Seabrook.  He was my principal.  The first year was tough as the tallest boy I had was a little over 5 feet tall.  We started from scratch but advanced quickly and started winning over League City and others.  Some of the boys I had there were BoBo Fredericks, Edward Davis, and Norman Lunday.

Seabrook's basketball court was smaller than a regular court.  We pressed everyone and caused them problems.  I remember playing La Porte for the district championship.  BoBo hurt his ankle very badly in the first quarter.  I told him he couldn't play in the second half.  He asked that if his dad said it would be OK, would I let him play?  His dad said to let him play.  He did play and we won the district championship that night.

I remember Edward Davis had a big heart and played way over his natural ability.  He was a great young man to coach and have on your team.  Norman Lunday was special.  He played hard every second and was great.  I had a lot more players but I can't think like I used to.  Those were great days at the Creek.

I went to White Oak in 1962.  George came and watched us play in the regional finals.  Fairfield beat us in overtime.  That is what made George so great.  He was never too big to talk to you or try to help you.  He was a wonderful coach and is a dear friend to this day.

Something you might want to know.  Robert, my son, played football, basketball, and track for 4 years at White Oak.  He made all-district in all of the sports and and was all-state in basketball.  He went to state each year in track.  He got lots of college scholarship offers for basketball and track. He chose running track at Louisiana Tech.  He graduated with honors in Electrical Engineering. He works for Scheutz as plant manager in Seabrook.  His son, Robby, was not interested in sports.  He is in California.  He is a physical fitness trainer and does some modeling jobs.  He is a good-looking young man.

Comments

[Pat Jensen]

It is "sommmmmmmme good" to hear from Coach Procter. I was playing for Coach Puckett when Coach Procter came to League City in '52. His presence was clearly felt in a good and positive way, and a fine coach and person he was.

[Dan Jensen]

I wonder why Brother Patrick has so much trouble spelling names these days? But, Proctor is probably as used to that as Pat and I are are folks spelling Jensen with "son."

ProctOr deserves some good ink. He was a real key in the Clear Creek dynasty and I have exchanged several e-mails with those who have special ProctOr memories. We need to start a separate thread on that later.

One quick note though. Someone, I think either Edward Davis or Jimmy Pell, said Proctor would often tell them that his little boy could do better than they were. Looks like little Robert grew up to be quite an athlete.

[Ed Davis]

Wasn't me he said that to, although he would have been right to do so. What I can say about working hard and playing above our talents is that it all came about because we really believed in guys like Bobby Proctor and George Carlisle. Most, if not all, of us would have done whatever it took to be the type of person and help create the type of team they always described for us. And these lessons were good for life, not just the few short years we had to enjoy playing for them.

[Jim Pell]

It was during 7th grade football practice that I so vividly remember Coach Proctor, in a rather loud, disappointed moan, say over and over again, "Pell, my little boy could do better than that!" He said it to anyone who displeased him with his effort or technique. We practiced on the big open field that was south of the parking lot next to the the "new" gym in Webster. Wow, it seems like only yesterday! Coach Proctor had a way about him that made you want to please him, to do really good for him because you knew how much he cared. There was some love involved there and it really was a special time, I think, playing for him. It's really too bad that Clear Creek let him get away. I have no doubt he would have taken a CCHS football team to State had he been given the chance.

[Dan Jensen]

Jimmy Pell's thoughts on Proctor being a good football coach for our high school is interesting.

When he left for White Oak, I guess our basketball job was open but naturally Henry Bauerschlag had first call on that.

Who was coaching high school football? I guess Paul Gips, who had been successful at Refugio. Not likely that a junior high coach would be elevated to the main job but it would have been interesting to see what Proctor would have done.

I'll tell you one thing for plumb certain. He would have had a better attitude toward basketball than Gips did. Gips tried to de-emphasize the sport at the junior high level. At Clear Creek, that should have been grounds for instant dismissal.

[Ed Davis]

As I said earlier, I do not remember being compared to his little boy, but Bobby's grandmother came into it somewhere - something like "Davis, my grandmother could run that play better than you!!" Truth is,she probably could have at the time. But, I think I could take her today.

[Hugh Taylor]

I appreciate the info on Coach Proctor & his grand family. Sounds like the story book ending for a swell guy. He was my 6 th grade teacher also and we were perfect students for him. I cannot believe he went to Seabrook to coach. Where was I? I do not remember playing against his teams & how could one forget that? Was coach Proctor still coaching when his son was a senior? Could we get Video if he was? What great pride he must have in both son & grandson. Way to go! ( sorry I quit your track team. don't have a reason, just quit & I really wanted to run the 880 & beat that guy that moved to Deer Park?? )

[Dan Jensen]

Does anyone remember him using the term "mawtapper" to describe an upcoming game with a lot riding on it? As in, "That's gonna be a mawtapper."

Coach Carlisle used that term when he was at Rice and a sportswriter used it in a story. I have used it on a Baylor site that I frequent with interesting responses.

I thought he had told me that he got it from an old coach of his but when I asked him about the origin in an e-mail a few months ago, he said he didn't remember.

Did anyone else hear him use it in days of yore? Did you ask him about its background? What did he say? Maybe he remembered back then.

[Dan Jensen]

Coach Proctor tells me in an e-mail that he did coach son Robert at White Oak.

He was a great all-sport star so maybe he was not as hard on him as he was some of the Wildcats. Then, again...

Surely there are some other "Proctor Stories" that some of you can share. Coach Carlisle and Coach Talley could certainly add something to this--if they read this blog.

[Hugh Taylor]

Coach Proctor coached his son in high school. I can hear it now. "Robert that will not be good enough. You will have to practice & work hard like Lenox. Why Edward Davis could do better left handed with his eyes closed." I wonder if the football practice field at White Oak was any harder than the field at
Webster across the parking lot from the gym. You could loose a small half back in the cracks. Oh, that sweet music of old, "my son could take your place"

[Pat Jensen]

Footballers from my time still today sometimes mention those cracks. Probably the same cracks. To my recollection, nobody ever got so much as a sprained ankle from stepping in one of them. Most of us were not too bright though and probably just never thought of it.

[Dan Jensen]

Black gumbo does produce cracks in dry weather. In the 1980s I was talking to a wheat farmer in northwest Oklahoma when he commented about some black gumbo in his field. I responded about the cracks that it often produced and he seemed surprised that I knew that much about soil. Yes, I still remembered the black gumbo cracks at old Webster even if I never fell in one of them.

[Dan Jensen]

Friday's Baylor-Oral Roberts baseball game went ten innings before the Bears won, 3-2. Our Ed Davis was there. On the BaylorFans.com message board when I frequent, someone mentioned during the couse of the game that is was a mawtapper. I have mentioned that term a few times through the years. Someone was puzzled by it and a link was provided. Lo and behold, Google provided posts from both the Baylor site and this blog! I cannot transfer the link to here but you can go to Google and type in "mawtapper" to read the sources.

[A Mata]

Does anyone know what happened to Boonie Wilkening? Trying to find him in Weslaco, Texas

[Dan Jensen]

I had an address for him a few years ago. It was 952 FM 2502, Burton, TX 77835. How did you know Boonie?

[A Mata]

I don't actually know him, its our City Manager in Weslaco, TX. He remembers him as a Coach back in Weslaco High School and wanted to look him up.

[Dan Jensen]

I am posting an e-mail I just received from Bobby Proctor's wife Dot. Unfortunately he is not the coach of old and it is too bad.

"Bob is in a nursing home. He could not walk and I could not care for him. It is a sad
situation but he is having wonderful care in Gladewater. It is close to where we live so I can go see him daily. They think he had a stroke earlier and now has some Dementia. Life is so different for me now. Please
keep us in your prayers."

[Dwayne "Curley" Lenox]

Dan,

Can you get me the mailing address of the nursing home in Gladewater? Although, he may not remember, I would like to send Coach Proctor a letter. His wife, one of his kids, or a friend could read it to him if he can't do it himself. That's really sad news.

You can e-mail me at [email protected].

Thanks. dll

[Dan Jensen]

I do not have that information but you can e-mail Dot Proctor at [email protected] and I hope that you and others will do so.

[Dan Jensen]

Another report on Coach Proctor. It seems he is going down really fast. He has not eaten anything to speak of for a week now, so that does not sound good.

[Dan Jensen]

Bobby Proctor has died. His funeral service is Sunday in Longview. He lived in White Oak.

[Ed Davis]

I was very sad to hear about Coach Proctor's passing. He was my junior high basketball coach at Seabrook Junior High in the mid-1950's. He was a great and relentless coach, a mentor to many, and a friend of many years. Many of his "knucklehead" players (one of his favorite tags for us guys) remember him fondly and will also be sad to hear this news of his passing.

I send condolences to all his family at this time of grief.

Thanks, Coach, for all you meant to me and many others.

Ed Davis

[Randy Brint from White Oak]

Here is Coach Proctor's obit:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/news-journal/obituary.aspx?n=robert-l-proctor-bob&pid=140349064

[Ed Davis]

Thanks, Randy, for the link to the obit for Coach Proctor. You guys in White Oak were most fortunate to have him as an educator and coach there for so many years. He will be missed and that is for sure.

[Dan Jensen]

Following is what I wrote on the funeral home's guest book:
I have always valued Bobby Proctor for his many fine qualities. We attended the same church in League City and he was so personable to me. He had a tremendous 236-25 record in ten years as a junior high basketball coach. He had six one loss seasons and seemed to lose that one early in the season. I would always chide him and tell him he couldn't go undefeated that year. In his football coaching career, a game at Deer Park against a very good team stands out. We took the opening kickoff and scored, kicked onside and scored again. Deer Park was behind two touchdowns and had not even run a play. We won the game by that margin. He introduced me to the term "mawtapper" a word that got from one of his coaches. He would have described the Deer Park game that way. I wonder if he ever used that word at White Oak? I have not seen him in many years but I will always remember him fondly. He was a great coach and a great person.

[Bailey Marshall]

Dot, Robert and the rest of the family. I am sorry I was not notified until today about Bob's death.
You can be proud of the many young men and women he touched positively throughout all his career.
May be God be with all of you!

Bailey and Becky Marshall

[Dan Jensen]

I assume this Bailey Marshall is the former executive with the University Interscholastic League. If so, I wish he would tell us the process for nominations to the all-time high school basketball team and why Bennie Lenox was not a nominee.

[Randy Brint from White Oak]

Yes, Bailey Marshall is the retired director of the UIL. He was the head football coach when Coach Proctor came to White Oak in 1962. Coach Marshall became principal in 1964 and a few years later left and got his doctorate at UT, eventually becoming director.

I thought I would share with you CC guys a highlight of playing under Coach Proctor. Several of us were reminiscing before his funeral about the Clear Creek tournament that he took us to in Dec, 1963. We were a Class A school, and he always scheduled us against larger opponents in non-district games and tournaments. We were clearly out of our league in the CC Tournament, but we always played hard for Coach. We lost the first game, and then commenced to win consolation.

Instead of staying in a motel, each of our players stayed at the home of a Clear Creek player. For the life of me, I cannot remember my host's last name, but it was Frank something (embarrassed). He was dating John Glenn's daughter, Lyn, who was a cheerleader, and he went to Kilgore College. After the tournament, the Glenn's hosted a party at their house for us. Talk about making a big impression on a group of small town guys from NE Texas!!! We have always remembered that weekend fondly, and the Clear Creek athletes and parents could not have been nicer to us! Kudos to you folks!!!

We wound up winning our district only to be beat in Bi-District by Jack Sweeney and West Sabine, a perennial BB powerhouse back then.

[Dan Jensen]

Paul Hackett and Joe McKinney say that it was Frank Goodman.

[Randy Brint from White Oak]

Frank Goodman. That's him...embarrased that I could not recall his last name.

Thanks for your personal marvelous posting! I certainly enjoyed reading it, you might be a great author.I will be sure to bookmark your blog and will often come back down the road. I want to encourage you to ultimately continue your great job, have a nice evening!

[Dan Jensen]

On a Baylor site that I frequent, someone mentioned he was from White Oak. I contacted him, wanting to get some Bobby Proctor stories. Alas, he was too young to have played for him but he did share this:

"When I was young, a teacher called my mom in and said that I needed to be medicated and she was referring me to special ed. Of course my mom was crushed. She took me to some sort of 'specialist' who confirmed all of this.

"So she called Proctor. He said bring the kid to me. I went to his office and he just sat there talking to me. He told my mom I was a bright kid who was a bit hyper and not being challenged. He strongly encouraged her not to put me on medication even if the doctors recommended it.

"It all worked out but obviously if Proctor wouldn't have talked my mom off the ledge I might be a highly drugged fry chef at McDonald's right now."

He later added this: "Proctor was a pillar of the White Oak community and a part of what will always be known as the zenith of our athletic prowess. As my story illustrated, he was the type of person you sought counsel from in important situations."

[Dan Jensen]

I shared the above story with some former Clear Creek athletes who had played for Bobby Proctor and here is an excellent response from Ed Davis:

"I am not surprised at all about Bobby Proctor's good counsel to this man when he was a young man in school. I had much the same experience on other issues with Coach Proctor. He was my 8th and 9th grade basketball coach at Seabrook Jr. High and I could not have asked for a better coach and mentor. He was quite demanding in his expectations and would not settle for any of us to do less than our best at all times - on and off the court. To say he was intense on the sidelines is an understatement.

"I remember him taking me aside after the 9th grade season had ended and telling me not to expect much playing time when I tried out for the high school team the next year. Even though I had played well for the Eagles as their high point man for two years, he said I would be going up against the players from League City and Webster and it would be hard to compete against that group. Well, I do not know if Coach Proctor really believed that to be so or if it was just another instance of him knowing just how to motivate someone. After that conversation, I was determined to break into the starting line-up more than ever. So I worked extra hard and it paid off. I ended up playing 3 years for the Wildcats, mostly as a starter, and I have always given Coach Proctor the credit for his motivating me to accomplish that."

There are others who played for, or knew, him and I hope they will add their comments.

[Dan Jensen]

The Cardinals vs. the Phillies in the deciding game of the first round of the National League playoffs.

The Cardinals were facing probably the best team in baseball. On the road. Against one of the very best pitchers in baseball. Cardinals 1, Phillies 0.

It was a mawtapper. Coach Bobby Proctor would have agreed.

[Dan Jensen]

Now we have had more of a mawtapper--in the World Series. Perhaps a double mawtapper as the Cardinals came from behind FIVE times to douse the Ranger flame in game six, 10-9 in 11 innings on a walk off home run. I am sure that Bobby Proctor would have defined it a mawtapper.

Then the Cardinals, 10 1/2 games behind on August 25, climaxes an unbelievable season with a World Series win in the next game. Unbelievable!