Doblin: A legendary good guy

In my east Texas hometown of Mount Vernon, I hauled hay for a famous football player’s parents (who appeared with him in a Lipton Tea commercial).

Hauling hay was child’s play compared to being a 123-pound tailback forced to emulate star running backs from upcoming opponents during two-hour-plus blast-furnace practices, without water, commanded by drill-sergeant coaches.

Running behind terrified second-string linemen who — out of self-preservation — flopped to the ground against our district-champion defense as soon as the ball was snapped, I was constantly annihilated.

But, being bashed, bruised and battered was the price for acceptance.

My cousin Ralph Banks can relate.

A 1957 Mount Vernon High School graduate, he played with the future NFL all-pro, who became a “Monday Night Football” announcer, TV and movie actor.

A retired civil engineer in Austin and University of Texas track volunteer, Banks said, “As a freshman, I wasn’t big enough to play with the big boys, but we didn’t have enough players for a junior varsity.

“During practices, us freshmen were mostly cannon fodder, or used to shag errant balls or run errands. During games, we kept the bench warm.”

Banks says the sophomore quarterback, nicknamed “Doblin,” was a “hoss.”

Doblin also punted, kicked and played linebacker. During a 1954 basketball tournament in Dallas, he single-handedly led tiny Mt. Vernon to the championship — scoring 52 points in one game.

One day when Banks, who later played at Paris Junior College, was walking the three-plus miles to his rural home after missing the bus, a whistling Doblin rolled up in his black, 1930s vintage Chevrolet sedan with the front fenders removed — slinging mud, water and rocks.

“Get in Poot. I know you’re tired,” Doblin summoned.

During the ride Banks saw a different side of Doblin — who held court on myriad topics. “The guy was a leader, on and off the field,” Banks said.

“After that, he gave me rides home many times, and passed the word so us freshmen seldom had to walk home anymore.”

After high school, Doblin often cruised home from SMU in a white convertible — then became a legendary Dallas Cowboys quarterback (once throwing an 83-yard pass in the air to Bob Hayes).

“Dandy Don” Meredith is now buried in the Mount Vernon cemetery.

Contact Wendel Sloan at: [email protected]