Texas Stadium redefined the sports stadium. ''One of his greatest satisfactions besides the Cowboys was Texas Stadium, the home of the Cowboys,'' John D. O'Connell, a longtime friend and business associate, said of Clinton Murchison. It represented a new vanguard in American stadia, just as its predecessor had when it opened for football on a sunlit afternoon on Oct. 24, 1971, with halfback Duane Thomas notching its first score on a 56-yard touchdown run that served as a lyrical foreshadowing of what would happen months later: The Cowboys captured their first championship, beating the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI in New Orleans by the lopsided score of 243. He was 63 years old. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Money is like manure, Clint Sr. once famously told his boys, echoing a line written by Thornton Wilder in his 1954 play, The Matchmaker, but adding his own special spin: If you spread it around, it does a lot of good. Boy, did they prosper. Finally, I could make out the word cowboy. They may not go five times, but theyll win all they go to. Carter flips back to MTV. , Dimensions In 1963, Dallas suddenly became known as the city that assassinated John F. Its just that in football you spend your youth so fast. Texas Stadium became the prototype of the 21st-century stadium, whether it hosts high school games in Katy, Texas, or serves as the $5 billion launchpad that opened in 2020 as the shared home of the Rams and Chargers. Forbes magazine assessed its value in 2021 at $5.7 billion the sixth consecutive year the Cowboys were ranked as the worlds most valuable sports company. Robert Murchison notes that Pop was out of town much of their childhood looking after his business interests, thus John and Dad were raised by a loving aunt, grandmother and wonderful servants., Looking for a new chapter after the death of his wife and son, Clint Sr. moved to Dallas, where he rapidly expanded his burgeoning portfolio. After high school, he enrolled at Trinity University, then in Waxahachie, where he was expelled three weeks later for shooting craps. His loyalty has spanned all three eras, from Clint Murchison to Bum Bright to Jerry Jones. Cheerful and Optimistic. it suddenly became clear to me how much time has passed. For the most part, Murchison was a hands-off owner, delegating a great deal of operational control of the Cowboys to general manager Tex Schramm, head coach Tom Landry and scouting/personnel director Gil Brandt. ), Richardson, Hunt, Murchison and Cullen accomplished their meteoric rise through an alchemy of luck and risk, whose payoff was best captured in the lyrics of the 1960s television comedy The Beverly Hillbillies, about a poor mountaineer who was shootin at some food, when up through the ground come a bubblin crude. Trying to tear off his red Bobby Knight sweater to throw it on the floor, he got it caught around his neck, nearly strangling himself. Now its rap and hip-hop an Garth Brooks passes as a country singer. The Dallas Historical Society will welcome authors Burk Murchison and Michael Granberry for a book signing on Dec. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hall of State, 3939 Grand Ave. in Fair Park, as they debut their book Hole in the Roof: The Dallas Cowboys, Clint Murchison Jr., and the Stadium That Changed American Sports Forever. There was a problem loading your book clubs. We went 4 and 10, and it was the Cowboys last losing season for the next 20 years. During those years, I watched from the outside as professional football became a billion-dollar business, with the Super Bowl its showcase event. Jones may not have been aware of it when he bought the Cowboys, but to his credit, he was a quick study. Now, the Cowboys are made up of kids not much older than my son, and Carter has predicted the 90s will be the Cowboys decade. He was also friends with longtime FBI director J. Edgar Hoover and heavily involved in national politics. This leadership genius produced remarkable results externally and of equal importance maintained this unique, special culture internally. Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items. Something went wrong. These included the establishment of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys franchise, real estate development, construction, home building, restaurants and financing the offshore pirate radio station called Radio Nord. Don Meredith was quarterback, and Danny Reeves was the halfback to Perkins at fullback. https://cityofirving.rezgo.com/details/328826/hole-in-the-roof-book-signing-and-authors-talk. There he teamed up with boyhood friend Richardson, who was nibbling at the edges of a scary new enterprise oil leases. Because the risk-taking pair won far more than they lost, they stayed afloat. [4], Murchison enjoyed a reputation as a practical joker. Willie Nelson and Roger Miller, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Doors. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. The City of Irving will also host the authors, on Dec. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Irving Archives and Museum, 801 W. Irving Blvd., Irving. Murchison would call up J. Edgar Hoover and get the new number and the midnight chicken calls would begin again. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. In 1966, when the still-young Dallas Cowboys franchise ended six years of agony with their first winning season, the team's owner and founder, Clint Murchison Jr., son of a billionaire oilman, was feeling ambitious. The plan was to turn the chickens loose when the dogsled hit the field. Most of what Clint said was unintelligible, but he kept pointing with his cane and trying to talk. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. Moldea's book further alleges that Murchison maintained a working relationship with former U.S. Senate power broker Bobby Baker (known as "Lyndon Jr." for his close affiliation with the . Suite 2100 When three creditors, the Toronto-Dominion Bank, the Kona-Post Corporation and Citicorp, filed a petition to force him into bankruptcy, the fate of his financial empire was sealed. But the most compelling contain elements of all three. [4], Murchison worked with architects to create a revolutionary design for a football-only stadium that would feature a roof that would cover all the seats, but leave an open field to keep the elements as part of the game. Dallas sportswriter Blackie Sherrod attributed the Cowboys' success to two rare possessions of Clint Murchison: a bottomless pocketbook and patience.[8]. He was also the father of Dallas Cowboys owner Clint Murchison, Jr.. Clint Sr. shipped John and Clint off to prep school. Clinton Williams Murchison Jr. was a businessman and founder of the Dallas Cowboys football team. In 1966, when the still-young Dallas Cowboys franchise ended six years of agony with their first winning season, the team's owner and founder, Clint Murchison Jr., son of a billionaire oilman, was feeling ambitious. His sons Clint Jr. and John shared their father's wizardry, adding to their investment firmament the Vail, Colo., ski resort and the Dallas Cowboys. Back in 1966, when the NFL had two divisions, 14 teams and 560 players, we were playing Cleveland in the Cotton Bowl for the lead in the old Eastern Division. Clint Murchison Jr. was an entrepreneur, businessman and risk-taking founder of the successful Dallas Cowboys football franchise. Carter glances sideways at me and frowns. The biography tells the riveting story of Burl's unlikely rise from the coal mines of Appalachia to the pinnacle of journalism - a remarkable feat made more so by his ongoing battle with kidney disease. Mr. Murchison, who had been debilitated. Ms. Wolfe's book adds a lot of detail and backstory to the Murchison dynasty. The Jonsson-Cullum forces adamantly and repeatedly said no, ridiculing the notion as civic silliness. Among his companies was the Southern Union Company. 1 looked at Carters shirt where the outline of a cowboy on a bucking horse was stitched over his heart. Son of legendary Texas oil man Clint Murchison Sr., he enlisted in the Marine Corps after the attack on Pearl Harbor, earned an electrical engineering degree from Duke University and a master's in mathematics from MIT. Clinton Williams Murchison Jr. (September 12, 1923 - March 30, 1987) was a businessman and founder of the Dallas Cowboys football team. We document that story as well, showing you how, in the end, it comes back around to Clint. , St Martins Pr; 1st edition (January 1, 1989), Language This next part is important, because it underscores the model Clint Jr. followed with the Cowboys: Once Clint Sr. established or acquired a company, he left its operations to others, in the same way that Clint Jr. appointed Tex Schramm to be his president and general manager and Tom Landry his head coach. The ship Bon Jour was later renamed Mi Amigo, and after docking for almost a year in Galveston, Texas she sailed for southern England to become Radio Atlanta (McLendon began his radio career in the small town of Atlanta, Texas). It sits on property that was part of the Dallas Polo Club in the 1920s, she said. It was a pleasure to read. John was nothing like his father, whereas Clint was everything like his dad a gambler, a risk-taker extraordinaire. In that respect, Clint Sr. and Jr. resembled a more modern billionaire: current Cowboys owner Jerral Wayne Jerry Jones. Clint Jr.s risk-taking would lead him to the world of professional football and allow his team to succeed. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. I want my kid to handicap for me. Ive heard that before. I am interested in the Bills because Elijah Pitts is the backfield coach and Elijah went with the Packers to that first Super Bowl instead of Perkins and me. Next play Ill goose him. After all, I did it for Tex and Tom for 20 years. At that time, he was well on his way to success and wealth in gas and oil, Fortune wrote, and if he had been alone in the world he might never have wandered. But some things havent changed: I am a father who refuses to allow his son to play football despite his deep desire and obvious talent as a receiver-it is a price that is just not worth the privilege. DAD? He received a master's degree in mathematics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Its the only way I can deal with mis particular dilemma. In February 1985, Mr. Murchison filed for bankruptcy protection in what lawyers believed was one of the nation's largest personal bankruptcy cases. He got two technicals and lost the kids a close game the other night. [3], In addition to the Dallas Cowboys, The Murchison Family businesses included Centex Corporation (home builders), Daisy Air Rifles, Field & Stream magazine, the Tony Roma's restaurant chain and real estate developments throughout the U.S.[4], In the early 1960s the Murchisons were involved in a proxy fight with Allan P. Kirby over control of Alleghany Corporation, a holding company whose interests included New York Central Railroad and Investors Diversified Services, a large mutual fund company. This an excellent expose on the legendary rise and then fall of a true TEXAS Dynasty. Murchison also valued loyalty. He nodded to Billy Kilmer, smiled again at Carter and moved toward the elevator. Get the latest news from Steve Brown and the business staff. A three-story mansion in San Antonio's Monte Vista Historic District once owned by powerful oilman Clint Murchison has hit the market for $1.5 million. Youre in, then youre out. In a 1936 article, The News reported that the home cost $150,000 to build. And, I must admit I got some enjoyment out of it. When 1 played for Tom. Author Jane Wolfe lived in Dallas for forty years before recently relocating to her hometown of Columbus, Ohio. A dozen huskies in feeding frenzy, chasing a couple hundred chickens and dragging Santa along behind to boot. Its probably not healthy to take it all so seriously. Beginning in his native East Texas, the elder Mr. Murchison went on to make millions of dollars in the oil fields near Wichita Falls, Tex. Rather than being a city-owned rental facility, la the Cotton Bowl and dozens like it across America, where the only real perk was a hot dog and a Coke (or in Texas, a Dr Pepper), Clint cast the stadium in an adventurous new light, and Jones got it. Murchison fought a rare nerve disease called olivopontocerebellar atrophy[4] and was in a wheelchair in his final years. Smith will get over 100 yards rushing, he says. [4], Murchison, with his MIT background, understood the potential of using computers in football. What most of America doesnt know is that he, too, was revolutionary. They believed the people who borrowed money and invested it in land and other things that appreciate with inflation would win. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. : Foreword by Hall of Famer Drew Pearson. Michael Granberry was born and grew up in Dallas. Hunt, in helping create the AFL, established a professional football presence in Dallas, and the NFL realized the urgency with which they needed to address a potential market gain by the upstart league and a loss for the established organization. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Drew Pearson Hole in the Roof (Hardback) (UK IMPORT) at the best online prices at eBay! Pre-order from Texas A&M Press. Clint Murchi-son Jr. was there-he was already desperately ill. I was led to this book from Brian Burrough's "The Big Rich." He reacted to his rejection by threatening to slit the throat of loan manager Johnell Bryant, who told him she was skilled in the martial arts, which scared him away. Clint W. Murchison Jr., the scion of a Texas wildcat oil family who created the Dallas Cowboys football team, died Monday night. From custody battles to death, as with Shannon Murchison, once married to Clint Murchison, III, son of the founder of the Dallas Cowboys. With the team becoming more successful in the mid-1960s, Clint Murchison, Jr. wanted a new stadium for the team. She died in 1926, leaving him to raise three small sons John, Clint Jr. and Burk, who died from pneumonia when he was 11. [1][2] A son of Clint Murchison Sr., who made his first fortune in oil exploration and became notorious for exploiting the sale of "hot oil", Clint and his surviving brother inherited their father's wealth and business interests to which Clint Jr. added ventures of his own. He made Phi Beta Kappa in electrical engineering at Duke University in Durham, N.C., and earned a masters degree in mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which was at the time the countrys toughest school for science and engineering. In addition to the primary bedroom and bathrooms, the suite has a study, a library and two walk-in closets. Clint W. Murchison Jr., the scion of a Texas wildcat oil family who created the Dallas Cowboys football team, died Monday night. In case youre wondering, Katy taxpayers paid for most of it. And not very bright. He looks at me. NO OTHER PRO TEAM HAD ever quite like them, at one and the same time so rich, so dazzling, so young-and so tragic. Tex and Tom couldnt keep their areas of responsibility defined. The brothers won. By leaving most football matters in the hands of operations staff, Murchison did not create an atmosphere of second guessing and arguments over player selection or credit for the team's success. Murchison quickly established his vision and then hired qualified executives to implement strategies to accomplish the goals. So, Carter and the Finch boys were at each other all year long, especially when the Redskins and the Cowboys met. The Cowboys used an IBM 360 Model 65 computer.[4]. CARTERS FRIENDS, THE FINCH twins, Ben and Eric (Eric is a high-school ail-American wide receiver), are Redskins fans. Just one story in the folklore is how one night, Clint Sr. drove to Wichita Falls, near the Oklahoma border, fueled by a rumor hed heard about a wildcat well ready to start pumping black gold. Thats right. Despite Texas Stadium being demolished by the city of Irving in 2010, the hole in the roof lives on. Lawyers involved in the case called it one of the largest personal bankruptcy cases in United States history.[2]. Even those who know a little, Fortune wrote, dont pretend to understand how Clint got mixed up in so much outlandish stuff, or how he keeps track of it all without going batty or broke. His wealth in 1953 was estimated at $300 million and growing. ''With his engineering background, he was very much 'hands on' during its construction. His philosophy was simplistic enough, once telling his sons, "Money is like . He returned to Athens and worked in the bank until the outbreak of World War I, when he joined the Army. More than $500 million in liabilities have been filed against the Murchison estate in the last two years. , ISBN-10 Clinton Williams Murchison Jr. (September 12, 1923 March 30, 1987) was a businessman and founder of the Dallas Cowboys football team. Wolfe tells a riveting tale of the rising fortunes and ultimate downfall of the Murchison family, quintessential high rollers. Viewers the world over had to wait until Nov. 21, 1980, to learn the answer to the question that sparked international curiosity: Who Shot J.R.? Free shipping for many products! The sponsors quickly dropped out, the station threatened firing and Schramm threatened fines. Its the least I can do. Clint Murchison's Special Magic was to allow cognitive dissonance to exist and flourish in order to establish and maintain the Cowboy's unique culture for more than 25 years. [1] He died of pneumonia in 1987 at age 63 in Dallas,[2] and is buried at Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery in North Dallas. 1. Hunts son, Lamar, also founded a professional team, the Dallas Texans, who began playing in the Cotton Bowl in 1960, at the same time the Cowboys did, but who, after winning the American Football League Championship in 1962, became the Kansas City Chiefs a year later, only months before the Kennedy assassination in November 1963. I could just picture all their agents arguing about fees and residuals with the guys from PepsiCo. In 1953, Fortune magazine published a two-part profile of Clint Sr., who then controlled 103 companies, ranging, in Woolleys words, from such traditional Texas interests as oil, gas, cattle and banks to a fishing tackle company, tourist courts, a silverware factory, Martha Washington Candy and Field and Stream magazine, which flourished in the golden age of magazines. Please try again. Mary Grace Granados, Special Contributor. Young said the major systems of the home have been improved, along with bathrooms and the primary suite. Mary Grace Granados is a Dallas native and graduate of Southern Methodist University. In terms of what stadiums could mean to the foundation of a franchise, Jones took what Clint envisioned and put it on steroids. Trouble began after John's death in an auto accident in 1979, which forced the dissolution of his partnership with. The two men sustained their roles for almost three decades until Jones bought the team. Then thru the 70's it all starts to fall apart as Clint jr made dumber and more leveraged deals that thru off little cash. Dont give up. The station was not a financial success, and joined forces with the Caroline organization to become the southern station of Radio Caroline. Carving out their own reality, the 2020 Cowboys continued their reign of having the Leagues highest attendance, with Jones luring 197,313 fans to Arlington. Clint believed there was an opportunity in Dallas for a successful professional football team. . He sat on the board of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, which lingered in Fair Park, in the shadow of the Cotton Bowl, until 1984, when it moved to downtown Dallas as the newly christened Dallas Museum of Art. Black players had to drive 15 miles to South Dallas to live. Carter accepts and respects my decision, though he does not like it. When he retired in 1968 he was the fifth all-time rusher in the NFL. They cant even figure out how guys like me ever got to be 50. Following the death of his father Clint Murchison Sr., John and Clint Jr. inherited the wealth that their father had created. As deals fell through and development projects around the country failed, the cash needed to sustain the payments on the large loans that he had personally guaranteed at high interest rates was not available. [11] Texas Stadium was the first dedicated football stadium to offer luxury suites. His failure is just one of the ways Hole in the Roof embraces a double meaning. I cant see how theyre only a 7-point favorite. In 1952, Murchison joined a syndicate that included Everette Lee DeGolyer and Jack Crichton, both of Dallas, to use connections in the government of General Francisco Franco to obtain drilling rights in Spain. The sale of his assets to pay back creditors was to eventually include his 25-acre estate and the home in North Dallas where he was reared. Built in the 1930s, this historic estate has been updated for current tastes, keeping its classic symmetry and balancing it with modern details. Please try again. Marshall would get his number changed and unlisted. Son of Financier. And: 2. They won for 20 years. 1 am quickly backpedaling. When it all came to an end in 1984 the tragic part of the story Clint Jr. had lost everything, and risk-taking was largely to blame. Michael Granberry, Arts Writer. I read the other day that Tom Landry has little time for or interest in professional football these days. They had gotten as far as seeding the field with hundreds of pounds of chicken feed and smuggling a couple hundred chickens into the stadium. Now, they would pee on an electric fence to get Kenny to sing the national anthem. The event is free, but registration is required. He was talking about the very place I made my living in the 60s. [1][2] A son of Clint Murchison Sr., who made his first fortune in oil exploration and became notorious for exploiting the sale of "hot oil", Clint and his surviving brother inherited their father's wealth and business interests to which Clint Jr. added ventures of his own. The News described it as Murchisons country home, a 25-room house with an air-conditioned basement. Even so, Clint Jr. created a football team that compiled a record 20 consecutive winning seasons, from 1966 through 1985; appeared in five Super Bowls, winning two; and came to be known as Americas Team. We missed going to the first two by a total of 3 yards and about 15 seconds. It would, he believed, give the Cowboys and their fervent fan base a spiffy new home that would pay an added dividend: it would serve as a catalyst in rebuilding a damaged Dallas and healing a wounded populace who bristled at the nickname city of hate.. I played with Don Perkins in Dallas in the 60s, and he was the greatest football player I ever saw. Murchison and McLendon remained in the shadows and allowed Murchison's long-time friend Robert F. Thompson to take credit for actual ownership while day-to-day management was vested in Swedish-Finnish businessman Jack S. Kotschack. The suites were an immediate status sensation. He graduated from Samuell High School in Pleasant Grove in 1970 and from Southern Methodist University in 1974. John was more conservative than daring, more measured than maniacal. J. Edgar Hoover. His grandfather founded the First National Bank in Athens. Murchison is also recognized as the father of the modern football stadium. Brings new meaning to the phrase Sunday Funday. The article, by Edwin Pope, a sports editor of The Miami Herald, referred to Mr. Murchison as ''a 130-pound halfback from M.I.T.'' Not one old lady on Social Security is going to have her taxes raised because of this stadium, Murchison said. Listing agent Lillie Young, citing tax documents, said the home was originally built for Texas oilman Clint Murchison Sr. 1 dont know how Johnson treats people. Carter glances at me as two fat VJs start prancing around and talking at us. : Clint Murchi-son Jr. was there-he was already desperately ill. Clint, Jr.s' s son Burk Murchison and Dallas Morning News writer Michael Granberry ("Hole in the Roof: The Dallas Cowboys, Clint Murchison Jr., and the Stadium That Changed American Sports Forever") join the podcast this week to help us delve into the history and mythology of Texas Stadium - the Cowboys' groundbreaking suburban Irving, TX home . And Emmitt Smith is gonna get a lot more than Duane Thomas for doing almost exactly what Duane did on the field. In 1927 he founded a company that was to become the Southern Union Gas Company in Dallas. The Murchison estate also included what the family called the "Big House," a 22,000-square-foot mansion that Clint Sr. built and which Lupe abandoned in 1998, when she completed her house just . Instead, Murchison believed in his young coach and gave him an unprecedented 10-year contract that turned out to be a very successful move. He was curious about the latters hole in the roof, which Dallas Cowboys linebacker D. D. Lewis once famously said existed so that God can watch his favorite team.. From the beginning, Clint saw it as far more than a place to play games. They slapped down $50,000 on the spot to buy the leases. [7] On the eve of the Dallas Cowboys' first Super Bowl he wrote to coach Tom Landry, Dear Tom: I have taught you all I can. Joe Bailey Personal Clint W. Murchison Sr was married twicefirst to Anne Morris (b. In 1985, Murchison designed, constructed and financed a 30-acre campus-style headquarters for the Dallas Cowboys called Valley Ranch located in Irving, Texas. Bright in turn sold the Cowboys to Jerry Jones in 1989 following several losing seasons. I just wish it was on Kindle. I stood holding Carter in my arms, and it was an awkward moment. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. It was the last time I saw Clint Murchison Jr. He has switched to Black Entertainment Television and Ice Cube is rapping Givin Up The Nappy Dug Out. [13], Murchison ran into financial difficulties as a result of questionable investments and mismanagement and failing health[2] at a time when the real estate market was collapsing, at the same time as a sharp decrease in the price of oil and a rise in interest rates. The huddle turned strangely quiet for a moment. The theory suggests that Murchison's connections to certain Dallas industrialists as well as influence in American politics, at the time, facilitated the assassination of the president. All five of the Cowboys Super Bowl trophies were acquired when the team made its home in Texas Stadium, spanning the seasons from 1971 to 1995. But if you pile it up in one place, it stinks like hell., According to Fortune, Clint Sr. declares one of his best assets is a full knowledge of the use of credit. Editors note: This excerpt from Hole in the Roof: The Dallas Cowboys, Clint Murchison Jr., and the Stadium That Changed American Sports Forever, by Burk Murchison and News staff writer Michael Granberry, is reprinted with permission from Texas A&M University Press. But Don Perkins never played in a Super Bowl. By some accounts, John was responsible for a conservative viewpoint that helped hold in check the ''wheeler-dealer'' nature of his elder brother. Murchison had two brothers, John D. Murchison (19211979) and Burk Murchison (19251936), who died at age ten from a childhood disease. Clint Sr. became an obsessive wildcatter, riding a stunning string of luck that by 1927, when he was 32, had netted him $6 million, a fortune hed made entirely through oil. He and his Cowboys cronies tried for a decade to foul up the Redskins big Christmas halftime show that was highlighted by Santa arriving at mid-field pulled by a dogsled. In the beginning, things were a little wildanimals were. Clinton Williams Murchison, Sr. (April 11, 1895 - 20 June 1969), was a noted Texas-based oil magnate and political operative. His general attitude was to hire experts and let them execute the aspect of the business that fell in their expertise. And yet, his wealth continued to grow. How different are the very rich from you and me? He was a wide receiver for the Cowboys, and then he wrote North Dallas Forty. His loan was denied. jccdallas.org/event/hole-in-the-roof. He believed his team would be good, even special, for years to come. At their fathers knee, Woolley wrote, Clint Jr. and John learned how to wheel and deal. Soon, Clint Sr. was sharing his idea of an education, designed to ensure enduring wealth and chisel the Murchison name into the granite of high society.