UT legend Ernie Koy Passes Away :(

[Phil C]

Below is the article. Sad news indeed about a man that was good for sports. RIP Mr. Koy. :(

http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=40&url_article_id=2717&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2

[KL3]

UT and Bellville lost a great one. My thoughts and prayers are with the family, who I know pretty well, including his grandson who reads these boards. Here is a story from the Austin American Statesman.......


LONGHORNS FOOTBALL

Ernie Koy, one of the first Longhorns legends, dies at age 97
Koy was a three-time all-conference fullback from 1930-32 and an All-American outfielder in 1933.
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By Suzanne Halliburton

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF


Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Ernie Koy Sr., one of the first superstar athletes produced by the University of Texas, died at his home in Bellville on Monday. He was 97.

Koy was believed to be the oldest living Longhorn letterman when he died. Ted Koy said his father passed away in his sleep Monday morning. He had been an active rancher until he broke his hip a month ago, while feeding his animals.

Big Ernie, as he was known by those associated with the UT athletic department, was the patriarch of two generations of Koys who played for some of the best football teams in Longhorn history.

Koy Sr. was a fullback from 1930-32, earning All-Southwest Conference honors all three years. At 200 pounds, he was as big as his linemen.

Koy was basically the quarterback of a Longhorn team that put together a 22-7-1 record. The fullback position back then had the responsibilities of a modern-day option quarterback. Koy would take the snap, carry the ball, pitch it or pass it.

He shared the backfield with Hall of Famer Harrison Stafford and Bohn Hilliard.

But Koy was best at baseball, where he earned All-America honors as an outfielder in 1933 and all-SWC honors three times. The New York Yankees signed him in 1933, keeping him in their minor-league system until he was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers.

He was thought to be the fastest baseball player in the country. Five years after he left Texas, Koy beat 1936 Olympic hero Jesse Owens in a 100-yard foot race, which was set up as an exhibition by the Brooklyn Dodgers. Owens gave him a 5-yard head start — Koy beat him by two steps.

Koy declined a rematch, saying at the time: "I told them if you could beat Owens once, you'd better let it ride."

He homered in his first official major league at-bat and he also led the National League in triples. He took part in the first televised and first night game played at Ebbets Field. And he was the last living Dodger to have played in Johnny Vander Meer's second consecutive no-hitter.

Koy quit baseball to join the Navy and fight in World War II.

He was among the first class inducted into the Longhorn Hall of Honor in 1960 and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.

Ted Koy said his father watched Texas' 26-24 victory over Iowa in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday. The younger Koy said he told coach Mack Brown that his father "was happy with the game."

He is survived by Jane Koy, his wife of 70 years; a daughter, Margaret Kistler; and sons, Ernie M. Koy and Ted Koy. Ernie M. Koy played for the Longhorns' first football championship team in 1963 and Ted Koy was a captain for the 1969 national champions.

He also is survived by seven grandchildren.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Bellville.