Where we lived in Wichita Falls, we experienced the hottest summers I had ever imagined possible. Daily summer temps average 110 degrees, albeit with low humidity.
And being Texans, we are better acclimated to heat than cold.
One year we heard that the Dallas Cowboys were coming to Wichita Falls for training camp. Owner Jerry Jones proclaimed that the Cowboys wouldn’t improve their game unless they trained under the most brutal of conditions, like 110 degrees in Wichita Falls!
We got to see Troy Aikman-8, Emmit Smith-22, Chad Hennings-95, Deion Sanders-21, Richie Cunningham-3 (no not that one, the other one!) in action!
Chad Hennings was especially popular in Wichita Falls, because he had once trained at the NATO Jet Pilot Training Program at Sheppard AFB, where we lived. All the talk was of how huge he was for those little jets.
After a few weeks of training at Midwestern State University, we got to watch a scrimmage…in the shade…in the evening!
Understandably the most fun part for my kids was the Cowboy’s mascot, Rowdy. The following year when the training camp returned, Rowdy attended a special event.
My kids had been regularly attending a monthly public audience for kids to enjoy the local symphony.
In later years they often talked of being introduced to the trombone, and even being allowed to blow into the mouth piece to create a unique sound. Ever since theyI were hooked…even when years later they watched The Glenn Miller Story starring Jimmy Stewart. They remembered the trombone.
Perhaps their next best memory from the symphony was cheering with Rowdy, who came for a surprise visit.
Look at the fun!
