Posted by Dan Jensen
Franklin McKinney has phoned me with the sad news that Arthur Landriault has died of cancer. This is a shock to me since I did not know until a couple of days ago that he was even sick.
Franklin and I agree that Arthur was a good guy. He made an impact for us in both football and basketball but those skills faded long ago. He remained a good guy. Franklin lived close to Arthur in League City and they did things together growing up.
His grandson, Jason Phillips, just finished his career at TCU as an outstanding linebacker and surely is headed for the pros. Too bad that Arthur will not be able to enjoy that.
Another piece of Clear Creek sports history is gone. My prayers go out to his family.
Posted by: Terry Mathis | January 28, 2009 at 09:54 PM
I also heard today that Arthur L passed away...very sad news indeed. I just spent a little more time looking over the '53/'54 scrapbook that he graciously contributed to this blog quite awhile back. I had looked before, but looked with more interest tonight under the circumstances.
I noticed that their tallest player was not even six foot tall! How did they ever go 31-2 without anyone even 6' tall? I realize people back in that time weren't as tall, but you'd still think to win like that they would've had to have a tall player or two. Guess Coach Carlisle had them so well coached it mattered not that they had no size.
I agree with Terry. One of the (many) foundation blocks of Creek basketball is gone. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Landriault family.
Posted by: Bubba Mathis | January 28, 2009 at 11:56 PM
From the Galveston News:
Arthur Landriault, devoted husband and father, died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday morning January 28, 2009, after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Funeral services will be held 3:30 p.m., Saturday, January 31, at Emken-Linton Funeral Home, 5100 Emmett F. Lowry Expwy., Texas City, TX. Burial will follow at Grace Memorial Park in Hitchcock. Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, January 30, at the funeral home.
He was born on July 29, 1936, to Arthur and Lydia Landriault in Guthrie, Oklahoma. He was born the eldest of six brothers. He was preceded in death by his father Arthur D. Landriault Sr., and his mother Lydia Oxford Landriault.
He left to cherish his memory his devoted wife of forty-nine years Patricia Avant Landriault of League City, Texas; his daughters Judy McDaniel and husband William of Katy, Texas and Diane Phillips and husband Jim of Greenville, Texas and his son Jim Landriault and wife Crickett of Alvin, Texas, his grandchildren Michael McDaniel and Autumn, Brandi McDaniel and Justin Palmisano, Justin, Jason and Jeremy Phillips and Brett and Mac Landriault and one great grandchild Joseph. He is also survived by his five brothers Paul Landriault and wife Ustine, Dallas Landriault and wife Mable, Leo Landriault and wife Irene, Johnny Landriault, and Roger Landriault and wife Sarah, brother in law Jim Avant and wife Joy and long time friends Leon and Carolyn Smith and numerous others who were very special to him.
Arthur was a 1954 graduate of Webster High School in Webster, Texas and was a long time employee of Monsanto Chemical Company at Chocolate Bayou. He was a member of the Space City Cruisers Car Club but his favorite past time was spending time with his family. He was happiest when watching his grandchildren participate in their many sporting events including high school and college football, high school and college baseball, track and powerlifting. He was an avid fisherman and loved camping and spending time in the woods.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons. Honorary pallbearer is Leon Smith.
Posted by: Dan Jensen | January 29, 2009 at 10:12 PM
Bubba is correct in mentioning the lack of height on Arthur's 53/54 team. Arthur may have been the tallest, and he played one of the guard positions. Still, that was not the shortest team in the early years of Coach Carlisle's Wildcat coaching career. If my memory serves correctly, and it may not, the 56/57 team was shorter. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the center on that team was Stanley Magee who stood somewhere around 5' 9". Playing the high post was William Frost at about the same height. James Davis at guard may have been the tallest of the starting five. Nobody was 6' or over.
Posted by: Pat Jensen | February 01, 2009 at 08:58 AM
Regarding the 1954 team, Ralph Parr thinks Billy Coleman was about 6-1. Joddie Witte thought they were about the same height, 5-11.
The 1957 team definitely did not have a starter over six feet.
Whatever their height then, they are shorter now.
Posted by: Dan Jensen | February 01, 2009 at 10:38 AM
All three named in the above post were in the same class but I guess they never measured each other.
Regarding Billy Coleman, he has been in a nursing home for several years as a result of a stroke. Teammates Joe Barba and now Arthur Landriault are deceased.
Posted by: Dan Jensen | February 01, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Arthur made an impact in two sports. I believe he was an all-district end in football and was a starting guard on our first basketball district champion in 1954. That team won its first 28 games and finished 31-2 in a season that ended at the regional tournament with a two point loss to Lamar Consolidated.
Posted by: Dan Jensen | February 03, 2009 at 10:29 AM
I would like to thank everyone for their prayers. He was very proud to be a part of this group as he gloated on a regular basis how good you guys were. He always had to show me the banner that hangs in the gym. I will miss him but the memories will always be there. Thanks again.
Jim Landriault
Posted by: Jim Landriault | February 26, 2009 at 10:12 PM
Jim,
We are all proud to have known Arthur and to know that he was an important part of the legacy that was Clear Creek Wildcat basketball under Coach Carlisle's direction. He was special and we will all miss him greatly.
Please return to the blog and add your comments to other areas as you can. Thanks for your contribution.
Ed Davis
Posted by: Ed Davis | February 28, 2009 at 09:37 AM
Arthur's grandson, TCU linebacker was the first pick of the fifth round in this year's NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
Posted by: Dan Jensen | April 29, 2009 at 01:44 PM
Arthur's grandson, TCU linebacker Jason Phillips, was the first pick of the fifth round by the Baltimore Ravens in the recent NFL draft.
Posted by: Dan Jensen | April 29, 2009 at 01:48 PM
Arthur's brother Leo died Sept. 14 at the age of 75. Arthur was a good athlete but so was Leo. In fact one knowledgeable observer thought that Leo would have gone down as Clear Creek's all-time best athlete had he not quit school as a sophomore. Arthur was good in football and basketball but so was Leo and baseball was probably his best sport.
Posted by: Dan Jensen | September 18, 2018 at 02:15 PM