Former Cowboys running back Robert Newhouse dead at 64

Star-Telegram.com ^ | Posted Wednesday, Jul. 23, 2014 | By Clarence E. Hill Jr.

[dfwgator]

Butch Johnson diving catch (that, under replay, I think would have been disallowed.).

Today it would have been disallowed because he didn't complete the process...but I think according to the rules back then, it was a good catch.

[V_TWIN]

Robert Newhouse is one of the reasons I became a Cowboys fan as a kid. He was the closest thing to Larry Czonka I ever saw.

RIP Human Bowling Ball.

[oh8eleven]

Yet another reminder of how old we’re all getting.
Yeah, James Garner's passing last week really floored me.
And I still can't figure why I see my grandfather's face in the mirror each morning.

[mgstarr]

My father and I had season tickets from 1969 to 1982. It was an honor to have seen so many of the greats play in person. Always enjoyed watching Newhouse get the ball. Class act. RIP.

[Osage Orange]

And I still can't figure why I see my grandfather's face in the mirror each morning.

Ha!!!

I see my dad..!!

[BlueDragon]

My father and I had season tickets from 1969 to 1982

Those were some good years for that team. They had others too, but you got to see Dandy Don, Bob Hayes, Bob Lily...etc, back in the Cotton Bowl days (Big Tex says Howdy (when his shirt is not on fire) then Staubach in Texas Stadium when that venue was brand new. I could be jealous, but prefer to be glad you were able to enjoy that.

.

I always liked Newhouse. What got to me though, prompting me to post this article here, was this;

"Robert Newhouse was a great teammate and friend. Loved that man. I knew House was sick and going through a tough time, but just like he did running the football, I knew it was going to be hard to let his condition bring him down," former Cowboys great Drew Pearson said in a text to the "He fought a good fight. Just what I would expect from one of the toughest Dallas Cowboys and individuals ever.

“What's ironic is that House had a heart of gold, do anything for anyone, and it was a failing heart that finally brought the great #44 down. Sad day."

I do hope and pray that God will take "House" to Himself and keep him there forever.

[Bender2]

RIP ‘The House’ He was special—

[MisterArtery]

I knew Robert when he worked for a time-sharing computer time vendor during the off-season. He was a smart, nice guy. RIP

[dfwgator]

One thing I notice is that there were special bonds between teammates that lasted even after their football years. I doubt there is nearly as much of that today.

[BlueDragon]

I was wondering along those lines too.

The culture has changed for the worse. But I'm fairly sure there some decent guys left, even in pro football.

[dfwgator]

I also recall the touching story of Everson Walls donating a kidney to Ron Springs.

[BlueDragon]

I also recall the touching story of Everson Walls donating a kidney to Ron Springs.

I forgot all about that one.

Ex-Cowboy Walls gives kidney to former teammate

Then, it's like they both got robbed, due to a later medical mistake;

Everson Walls mourns at funeral of Cowboys teammate Ron Springs

But less than eight months after the transplant, Springs lapsed into a coma during an operation to remove a cyst from his arm. He never regained consciousness before dying May 12 at age 54 inside Medical City Dallas Hospital.

.

At that last above link, there was link to fuller comments by Pearson in regard to Mr. Newhouse;

Cowboys great Drew Pearson remembers Robert Newhouse

and a great photo of Newhouse in action. I remember that guy.

[navyguy]

That guy was a Human Tank. RIP.

[wbarmy]

Oh Lord, the Cotton Bowl.

In 1977-1978 I was a Boy Scout who worked as an usher in the Cotton Bowl for Dallas games. What a place and what a time. I even met one of the Baptist Pastors who used to do Saturday Services for the Cowboys so they wouldn’t miss a church service because of Sunday games.

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[dfwgator]

RIP Human Bowling Ball.

That was Don Nottingham's nickname, while he played for the Dolphins.

[V_TWIN]

Then Wiki is incorrect:

Professional career: Newhouse was drafted in the second round of the 1972 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.

Although he wasn’t very big, he played bigger than his size. Newhouse was built very low to the ground and had enormous leg strength. He thrived on second effort, picking up the nicknames The House and The Human Bowling Ball.

[Loud Mime]

That is a great shot of 44. Football in the mud. LOVE IT!

(My last HS football game was a mudder, a gawd awful mess. We loved it - - both teams. Even the refs were laughing at some of the plays. It was FUN.)