On Monday night, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame inducted eight new members, including two major pieces in the initial rise of the Dallas Cowboys’ franchise.
Former wide receiver Drew Pearson and the late owner Clint Murchison were among the group honored Monday night for their work with the Cowboys.
Murchison, an oil tycoon turned football executive, was the team’s first owner, responsible for the hirings of Tom Landry, Tex Schramm and Gil Brandt--three men who are widely regarded as architects in the construction of the Cowboys as a successful franchise. Under his ownership, Dallas went to five Super Bowls, winning two.
Widely known around Dallas as the original no. 88, Pearson is a member of the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 1970s. He went to three Pro Bowls, was named an NFL All-Pro three times, and won a Super Bowl with the team in 1978.
Joining Murchison and Pearson in the 2011 Class of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame are former University of Texas athletic director Donna Lopiano; NFL Hall of Fame defensive lineman and Hearne, Texas native John Randle; former Rangers’ catcher Jim Sundberg; Angleton-native, former Kansas City Chief and Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Thomas; Austin-native, negro league shortstop and member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Willie Wells; and Olympic gold meadalist diver and Spring-native Laura Wilkinson.
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