Published December 19, 2009 09:33 pm
By Russ DeVillier
Special to The News
Gordon LeBoeuf is to Port Neches-Groves football what Babe Ruth is to the New York Yankees. They performed on their respective fields with gusto and bravado, complete confidence, and the prowess to prevail. In so doing, they willed to their successors a formula for winning that still thrives today.
Indian spirit took hold more than a half-century ago when Gordon and his 185 sophomore classmates stepped through the doors of a new Port Neches High School (that’s what it was until Groves gained overdue inclusion). Three years later both towns were transformed.
Two state championships, previously exclusive to the big shots, had been claimed by their youngsters, and boy, the ride had been fun for all.
Gordon and the Babe both loved the spotlight. Defenses arrayed against Coach Gene McCollum’s new-fangled wing-T knew that No. 37 was going to pound them all night long. Pitchers were cast in the role of probable chumps every time they had to face the mighty Bambino.
Their presence surmounted the achievements of super teammates. Ruth came to the plate after Lou Gehrig had taken his cuts. Gordon hurled himself at the opposition in harmony with a powerful fullback, the late Bobby LaBorde.
Gordon LeBoeuf
On Monday, LeBoeuf will be making his final return to the town he set on fire as a cocky kid. Family members will meet friends at First Baptist Church starting at 10 a.m., and a funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m.
LeBoeuf went on to play at Texas A&M, and was a businessman in Atlanta and Dallas. Gordon came home to help with the care of his mother after retiring, then went to Houston to be near his daughters when his own health began to fail.
McCollum, a three-sport standout at Hardin-Simmons in the 30s, took over at Port Neches in 1946, and quickly had the Indians winning at the then-top regional level.
The 1953 state championship unfolded at rain-swept Indian Stadium, and the hosts stunned highly-favored Big Spring. Next year, they lost in the finals at Breckenridge. With McCollum promoted to superintendent of schools in 1955,
Lewis Ford’s team traveled to Garland and stormed from behind to win it all again.
Season and career home run records of 60 and 714 by Ruth stood for decades. Season and career rushing records of 2,150 yards and 4,794 yards by LeBoeuf are still all-time bests at PN-G. Along the way, he scored 49 toudhdowns.
Following Babe’s big show, Yankee teams frustrated many World Series challengers with the likes of DiMaggio, Berra, Martin and Mantle. Indian standouts after the LeBoeuf era inclulded Mike Simpson, Robert Giblin, Jeff Bergeron, Brad and Matt Burnett, Richy Ethridge and Caleb Harmon, to name only a few.
The development of athletes since the ‘50s has been amazing. But all’s not measured by size and speed and strength. Gordon LeBoeuf became an Indian hero for all seasons because of his heart, character, confidence and love of the game.
I was a 10-year-old kid when newspaper headlines told of the death of Babe Ruth. Sixty-one years later, we learned by e-mail that Gordon is gone. This being the season for hope, all who knew him believe he’s scored his 50th and grandest touchdown.
http://www.panews.com/sports/local_story_353223431.html?keyword=topstory
