A Real Yellow Jacket for Life

My plan to meet with Art in the last week of March was a week too late. I had gone to the Llano memorial Hospital a few days a after he was admitted. he asked me several times when I was going to write my next article for PLAY TO WIN. I actually had made notes, but nothing specific. The Dave Campbell’s Texas Football came out with their annual rankings of Texas football teams.

That would be my article. Last year when the rankings came out, Art and I had talked repeatedly on the topic. Texas Football takes total wins, district championships, play off records for all 1,215 football teams in the state. The totals are for a six year period.

The Jackets were ranked 79th in the entire state, all classifications, and # 9th ranked 3AAA, Division 1. Art would be so excited. I sent the article out to about 30 people on my email list. It did not surprise me that Art did not respond quickly, as he and I have often waited when there was enough time to dig deeper in to any subject.

I noticed after about two weeks he had not responded. So I go back to the hospital to check on Art…but he was moved. He has been moved to a facility in the Bee Cave area a nurse thought.

So I called Evan Chance, Owner of KITY radio. He would know. He told me the name of the assisted living facility. I tried calling Art, and emailing, but no response, which was not alarming. For some time Arts’ email had me blocked. He tried everything to fix for some time. Art’s son-in law we think got it fixed. So my plan was to go see him. I put together a package of stats, rankings, copies of the Texas Football magazine article. Put in the console of my pick up. I was ready to go…I’d go in a few days…when there was time to visit.

Evan Chance came up to me a few days layer and whispered to me Art had passed away.

I did not know what to think. Still don’t. Art has been there for nearly three decades. Someone who loved statistics. Love talking about ” do you remember” times. About 10 years ago Art, my wife Kay and I were at the Regional Track Meet in Lubbock. Art had drove to Lubbock with someone else, but rode back with Kay and I.

5 hours of talking Llano sports is still remembered today. So many games thru the years we traveled together. Would talk about every play all the way home. Kay got to listen! There were a few times Kay would ask ” is Art going with you ” on out of town Games? As enjoyable times I have ever had.

I was still learning. We talked Baylor football, where Art went to school, and I many years later. We talked Coaches. And we talked religion. Art was Jewish. He explained things to me I never suspected. I would ask him about events going on in the world. He always had the answer. He understood things. He helped me to understand. Art was special. But more than anything I will remember…Art loved Llano kids..,.Llano sports….the Llano culture. He helped Jacket Nation get to this point.

If something could help that remembrance. I mentioned to a few people that might make decisions. Maybe naming the Football field press box in his name. Or the field…Or the Stadium….I don’t know…but I will will remember regardless…Art was really special.