Our Greatest All Round Athlete

Posted by Dan Jensen

Hugh Taylor mentioned to me the other day that it was too bad that Jackie Milligan left school because he was a great athlete.  He would have been in the 1957 class.  I think the same thing about Leo Landriault, who left the varsity basketball team and school during his sophomore year.  He would have been in the class of 1961.  He was also a good football player and baseball was probably his best sport.

I still rue the fact that Thomas Davis and Martin Langham, two classmates of mine, moved out of town after their eighth grade year.  George Lugo, a year younger, played varsity basketball as a freshman then moved out of Bayland Home.  The dreaded "Pickell Years" would have been much better with those three in the system.

But, enough about the good athletes who left our school.  How about the ones that remained and distinguished themselves on more than just the basketball court?  Who was our greatest all round athlete?  Ralph Parr and I are ineligible for consideration because of poor academics.

Comments

[Pat Jensen]

Kennith Dismukes, hands down. There may well have been others later who were as talented all-around, but with changes in sports most did not play all sports. Dan can provide the number of letters he won, and he also played multiple sports at Texas Lutheran College. Dan can enumerate as well. Another good angle to pursue with this blog is to mention those who made it to the professional level. There have been some.

[Dan Jensen]

Pat and I are a bit biased on this since Kennith is our cousin and I am not as sure as he is that Kennith was the very best all-round athlete. Certainly not "hands down." But like Dizzy Dean said when asked if he were the best all-time, Kennith was sure "amongst 'em."

As I recall, he won 12 letters in four sports but as we met for our aunt's 100th birthday in January, neither he nor I could recall exactly how many in each sport.

Anyway there is another who won one more letter in a four sport career. My question to all our blog readers is, who was he?

[Pat Jensen]

Like most debates, this one can go on forever, but that happens to be how long we have. I think I know who won more letters, so I'll hold off on the answer to give others a shot. However, "Mukes" was still the best in ALL the sports, HANDS DOWN.

[Dan Jensen]

You have cast your vote. I'll wait until the nominations close. I'm glad we had several very good athletes.

Kennith continued his multi-sport career at Texas Lutheran in football, basketball and baseball. As I spoke with him in January, I told him I thought baseball was his best sport. I talked on the phone with him later and said I had changed my mind and I thought it was football.

He played for Webster as a sophomore halfback but, like the rest of the team, was probably not as effective in Elbert Pickell's single wing offense as a junior and senior.

At Texas Lutheran, in one platoon days, he played both ways and I thought was particularly good as a defensive back. Bobby Galloway, if he is reading, was a classmate at both schools and can likely add a lot on this subject too.

[Dan Jensen]

Brother Patrick solicits comments on who played professionally.

I know of none except for baseball and am not aware of many. Jay Buhner is the only one to make it to the majors and his brother Shawn played in the minors.

Chris Scarcella, grandson of Bobby Galloway, played in the minors and playing now are pitchers Steven White in the Yankee chain and Mark McCormick, who was drafted last June by the Cardinals.

I would be glad to know of any others, in any sport.

[Pat Jensen]

Not a former Wildcat, but long-time very good reliever Dennis Cook is the son of Bobby Cook, former Webster student. I think Dennis is now an Asst. Baseball Coach at Texas.

[Dan Jensen]

Bobby Cook was a good guy but, like Ralph Parr and I, he couldn't play a lick. I was amazed to hear that he had a big league son.

I guess if I had had two sons rather than two daughters, one of them would been a big star too. Ralph Parr would probably would have needed a dozen to get one.

[Jim Pell]

I have been chastised by The Man for not commenting on this sooner, so I hope it's better late than never. At any rate, you old-timers are all wrong, and that includes you, Keith. The best athlete during the golden years of the fifties was Bo Frederick. He was a one-man track team, routinely winning the 100 and 220 and broadjump, and placing high in the high jump and whatever fifth event the coaches put him in. He was small but incredibly strong. His speed, quickness, agility and strength made him a "great" running back. As one of his offensive lineman, I can attest to the fact that he had very little blocking. He needed only a small crease to pop through the line on the dive play, and once through the line, man, you better look out. But his best play was a pitchout around the end, and once getting around end, he would cut back and run against the grain with much success. The guys we were playing against just didn't stand much of a chance, one on one, against Bo in the open field. I have stood and watched many of his t.d. runs, when I should have been downfield blocking, so I should know. He was just amazing to watch, so I watched! Okay, so he didn't play basketball, because, as I understand it, he and Coach Carlisle did not see eye to eye on the training rules that he would have to follow. That is, the same rules that the rest of us had to follow. But I do know he was a "great" leaper and was super quick and had been a really good basketball player in junior high under Coach Proctor. I didn't participate in baseball and never saw Bo play that sport, so I can't speak to his baseball prowess. And, for sure he didn't earn as many letters as Dismukes, but the question was who was our best athlete, not who won the most letters. So, I vote for Bo. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

[Pat Jensen]

Bobo was a shore nuff goodun, Jimbo, but I gotta jump in on this with both feet in defense of my man, Mukes. Outstanding in FOUR sports has to trump outstanding in two. Mukes was as good or better in football and track. Bobo played baseball, but he wasn't on Mukes level, and we still have a good college level basketball player to consider in Mukes.

[Dan Jensen]

Jim Pell's slap at Keith was because I had mentioned that Keith Mathis had asked me when I visited him recently who I thought our all-time best athlete was.

His choice was Leo Landriault. Leo was very gifted, especially in baseball, but he lacked the speed of such as Kennith Dismukes, William Frost and Bobo Frederick.

[Jim Pell]

Sorry, Keith, no slap intended. Also, Hugh Taylor reminds me that it was the pole vault, not the high jump that Bo excelled in.

[Dan Jensen]

Jim, don't worry about offending Keith; he doesn't read this blog. However, he has a son and brother who do.

Jim, what kind of defensive player was Bobo Frederick and how good a receiver? Kennith Dismukes could catch the ball out of the backfield and was a good defensive back for Texas Lutheran as well as playing halfback in those one platoon days. I don't know if he reads this blog or not.

[Jim Pell]

Hey, I am being forced to call in reinforcements, since I have already exhausted my memories on this subject. And, of course, I realize that Kennith Dismukes was a wonderful athlete and I am not trying to detract from him in any way. It's just that I played with Bo and he did routinely do some amazing things.

However, I did consult yesterday with Dick Baker. He has a really good memory and immediately said that if anything, Bo was better on defense than he was on offense. I already knew he was the hardest hitter on our team, along with Hugh Taylor and Charlie Milligan, but had no actual memory of him playing defense. Didn't care much for defense, myself. But Dick played right safety behind Bo's right corner, and he does have some stories of his prowess on defense. He was a good receiver, Dick says, but we didn't throw many passes. He said he also did all our punt and kickoff returning. At any rate, I will be hoping that Dick gets on here to tell us more about the exploits of one Bobo Frederick. He has a lot of funny stories on various topics so he would be a great addition.

In that connection, Hugh says that Chuck Trcka is another guy full of detailed, funny stories and has a great one about the day Nolan Ryan came by Alvin High School looking for someone to catch him for a little while. Chuck was coaching there at the time and volunteered. What ensued is hilarious, but I will leave it for Chuck or Hugh to tell.

Oh yeah, one more thing. Dick says that as far as the Jensen boys go, touting your first cousin should not be allowed!!!

[Dan Jensen]

Touting my first cousin? When have I ever said anything about Don Mathis?

And another thing. We take no instructions from the likes of Dickie Baker, who has answered none of my e-mails, and I will not mention that he has posted nothing on this blog.

And, I hope Hugh Taylor will tell us that Nolan Ryan/Chuck Trcka story since Chuck doesn't post in here. According to Bobby Galloway, he doesn't attend Clear Creek basketball games either. Lives in League City too.

I wish that clown Dickie Baker would come in here with some of his heresy. His sword is way too rusty to be popping off the way he is.

[Pat Jensen]

Nowwwwwww we're pumping a little Wildcat spirit into the debate.

Who's Dickie Baker? Naw, just kidding. I remember ol Dickie. Good guy. Wrong though, if he's picking Bo over Mukes as best all around athlete. He may be too young to remember how good Mukes was in ALL sports.

I played baseball with Mukes as a Freshman. I also played baseball with Bobo as a Senior. Bo was a Junior then, the first year he played the sport. They both played second base. With due respect to Bobo, they're was no comparison.

Remember, we're talking "all around" here. Bo was outstanding in both football and track, but beyond those two sports, the contest isn't even close. Unless Bobo played basketball his Senior year, he didn't play that sport at all.

By the way, I can't find an answer to the question posed early on about who had more letters than Dismukes. The answer to that is probably William Frost, but on the issue of letters, I agree with Jim Pell that the number of letters does not answer the question of best athlete. I played with Frost three years. Although, unlike Bobo, he played basketball, football and track were his two best sports by far. I'd rank cuz .... uh, Mukes, better in every sport, and quite a bit better in two of them.

Mukes .... hands down.

[Brian A. Dismukes]

Well, obviously, I'll cast my vote for Ole' Mukes. Although the accomplishments being debated here occurred way before my time, I can assure you, one and all, that he was, and is, The Greatest. Luv ya, Dad.

[Kennith Dismukes]

Thanks for all the votes of confidence. These days the closest I get to a basketball is with my twin grandsons.

[Dan Jensen]

I've been trying to get Kennith to just read the blog and did not expect a post. Lo and behold, he and his son both introduce themselves on the same day!

This is plumb loverly but won't bet the rent on it happening again. I would love to be wrong though. It would be good to hear more about those twin grandsons.

[Linda Dismukes]

Well, Ken's not available at the moment. I thought I'd see what had been posted, if anything. I can tell you though that our two grandsons are the sweetest, cutest, most adorable two children ever born. See I'm not prejudiced. But it is true. They are darling. And grandpa is not proud of them either. Maybe some time when I can pull him away from watching ball games (which he still loves in ANY form) he'll write some more about them himself. My best to all of you who read this.

[Dan Jensen]

We don't care how sweet and cute the twins are. We want to know if they are the athletes that ol' grandpa was in days of yore.

[Brian A. Dismukes]

Well, I don't know if they'll measure up to "Paw Paw," but I'll tell you this: Colt seems to have a pretty good arm, and Stone has been doing chin-ups since before he could sit up on his own. Stone is the thinker (QB material maybe), and Colt has quite a temper....I wonder where that comes from? Anyone know a mean defensive back that would knock a snot bubble out of your nose if you came over the middle to catch a pass?

[Dan Jensen]

Brian/Linda/Kennith: How old are these budding superstars?

[Brian A. Dismukes]

They're 21 months today. We had a pretty productive practice this afternoon. (Nerf basketball in the driveway). Those boys can really jump...that basket is at least 26" off the ground. I'll tell you this, I ain't the runner that my Pop was...these boys wear me out!

[Dan Jensen]

The Dismukes clan is getting a bit carried away over these young 'uns but that's OK. We are willing to wait a bit for some actual heroics.

I hope the grandsons inherit Kennith's speed but not his arm. A cousin, who had a brother who was drafted high by the Phillies as a shortstop with a strong arm, has said, "If Kennith had Terry's arm or Terry had Kennith's speed, we would have really had something."

Kennith once told me you had a strong arm from the outfield. You must have gotten it from your mother.

[Brian A. Dismukes]

My arm may have been strong, but your guess was as good as mine on where the ball would end up.

My apologies for hijacking the topic of this post.

[Dan Jensen]

Brian, you have not hijacked anything. It is good to hear from you (it's a miracle the old man posted once) and I encourage you to post again on whatever you want to talk about. Too many of our former posters have drifted away and we need folks like you to fill the gap.

[Roger Clemo]

I was only a fan in those days. Just watching at a distance. Great teams. Great athletes. Sure would like to contact some of them for email chat. Anyone know Boonie's email? Would love to send him a hello.

[Dan Jensen]

It's sad that we could not get some of our old stars to participate in this blog or contribute their memories of Coach Carlisle when we gave the opportunity a while back. Boonie was one of those.

[james valentino]

Guys come on! the greatest all- round athlete ever at Creek is my brother Johnny Valentino, and I am not saying so just 'cause he's related to me. Class of '65 he was a first team all-state linebacher of the 9-1 football team of '65(he garned the second highest vote total in the state with Bill Bradley getting the most)was first team all district and all regional basketball player as well as playing on the teams that won state in '63 and played significantly on the team that was runner up in'64 and if that isn't enough he set the school record for the discus and ran the 200 in regionals. He had a succesful college career although hampered by a knee injury during his freshman year at Texas.

[Dan Jensen]

Johnny Valentino was a very fine athlete and a favorite of mine. I called him Prince Val.

I don't remember a brother named James but I do remember that he was a terrific football player. I don't remember him being successful at Texas though after his year on the freshman team.

To say he played on the 1963 state championship basketball team as a sophomore is misleading since he played on the junior varsity that year and moved up when that season ended. He played in two games and did not score.

I also do not recall his track exploits but that is my fault, not yours.

We all overlooked Johnny when discussing the best athlete and he deserves to be on the list. But, probably not number one.

Thanks for the memories. Johnny Valentino was indeed very special.

[Dan Jensen]

It's been stated more than once that this is not about number of letters but it is somewhat related. I just checked with Kennith Dismukes and he won 13. If William Frost lettered in football as a sophomore, and he very well may have, then he had 13 also. I wish I had his email address so that I could verify with him.

[Paul T. Patterson]

James Valentino was indeed a brother of Johnny Valentino, Class of '75, and played basketball at Creek. In fact, he was Honorable Mention All District two years running in '74 and '75. Though I never saw Johnny play football his skills and his first team All State recognition speaks for itself, the guy was a terror at linebacker. He did letter in three sports, won district throwing the discuss and started two years in basketball. Johnny always said there strongest guy he ever saw was George Lugo though.

[Paul T. Patterson]

Additionally, Johnny Valentino did make All District in basketball at least one of his years there, and as a three sport star definitely deserves to be on the list of CCHS's best all around athletes.

[Dan Jensen]

Does anyone know who the George Lugo that Patterson refers to is? We had a good basketball player by that name who moved away at a young age in about 1950 but I don't think this is the one referred to.