Jean-Jacques Taylor: Ex-Cowboy Hayes' Hall call is long overdue; Bullet Bob Hayes

The Dallas Morning News ^ | January 31, 2009 | Jean-Jacques Taylor

[MeekOneGOP]

Ex-Dallas Cowboy Hayes' Hall call is long overdue

12:13 AM CST on Saturday, January 31, 2009

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TAMPA, Fla. – Bob Hayes, his body ravaged by disease, didn't know if he'd ever be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

And if he did make it, Hayes wasn't sure he'd be alive to see the day.

In 1999, he made an emotional October trip to Washington, D.C., to visit his older sister, Lucille Hester.

In a hotel restaurant, they discussed a variety of subjects, including what he wanted her to say if his dream of getting into the Hall of Fame ever came true. Later, he had his thoughts typed up.

Hayes, who died in 2002 at 59 from kidney failure after battling liver ailments and prostate cancer, wanted his sister to thank the Cowboys and their management, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Florida A&M, Matthew Gilbert High School, the east side of Jacksonville, Fla., where he grew up, and the fans.

He also wanted her to thank Roger Staubach for all of the beautiful passes, and Brig Owens, Hayes' roommate as a rookie.

And that's just off the top of Hester's head, because she accidentally left the letter in her bedroom while hurrying to make sure she didn't miss her flight to Tampa on Thursday.

Hester's daughter, however, arrived Friday night and brought the letter to Tampa.

"Bob kept it short and sweet," Hester said Friday afternoon over lunch.Hester is in Tampa because she wants to serve as a living reminder to anyone with a Hall of Fame vote that her...

[MeekOneGOP]

Great news for one of the OLDER Dallas Cowboys from the 60's and early 70's.

I remember Bullet Bob. He was great!

[MeekOneGOP]

GREAT News for the late great Bullet Bob Hayes !!

Hall of Fame time!

Ping some Texans and a few other great FReepers here! :)

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I’m an old fan from that era as well - Staubach, Coach Landry, Too Tall Jones, Bullet Bob.....

[jla]

60s, 70s and 80s - when the Cowboys truly were America's Team.
Post-Landry they were tolerable under Jimmy Johnson, becoming less so under Switzer, and now, we hardly recognize them.

One can draw a parallel between the Dallas Cowboys and the G.O.P.!

And how are you and Mrs Meek, aka as your better half, doing?

[okie01]

If you fundamentally change the way the game is played -- as Bob Hayes did -- you probably belong in the Hall of Fame.

[HIDEK6]

The problem with Bob Hayes's getting into the HOF is that he took the Ice Bowl off.

[SlapHappyPappy]

Not a Cowboys fan but Hayes deserves to be there, that’s for sure.

[70th Division]

I am old enough to remember Bob. He was an Olympian track star. Then went to football and had great hands. He would catch the ball, drop down two gears and pop the clutch. He looked like he was running at the same pace but would just pull away from corners and safeties like they were coasting. I thing of beauty for sure.

[MEG33]

I loved watching Bob Hayes..It is indeed time they voted him into the Hall Of Fame.

[vetvetdoug]

The Cowboys were my favorite team during the years Hayes was the split end. I was fortunate to be a HS student near Dallas when professionals could help HS students in the off season. I had Dennis Homan teach me how to correctly catch passes, Dan Reeves on how to stay in a stance and not point, and Johnny Bench on how to be a stellar linebacker..(Yes, I know but Johnny Bench was my coaches cousin and he would coach us linebackers right after the series). Nowadays, professionals can't help high schools because its considered not a fair advantage for some to have the help and others not. BS I say.

[xJones]

He was great, Meekers. He was the only NFL player to ever own both a Superbowl ring and an Olympic gold medal. He also still holds the record for most careers touchdowns in the history of the Dallas Cowboys. There's several interesting youtube threads about Bullet Bob Hayes.

[Republic of Texas]

He changed the game and had to be accounted for on every play. “Nuff said.

[Mouton]

About 8 years ago, my step daugher was at a ywca camp in Jacksonville which was attended by Bullet Bob. He asked her if she knew who he was and she said no so he said I used to play for the Cowboys. She told him her step dad was a big Cowboys fan so he said give him this, he signed an autograph for me and affixed his number. He said, he will know! When she got home she handed it to me and said do you know who this is? I told her about his great football and Olympic talents. She said he was very normal and did not show that.

Always was a fan of Bullet Bob and as someone else noted, anyone who changed the way the game is played due to their abilities should be in the Hall.

Vince

[xJones]

A beautiful anecdote, and Hayes was always gracious.

[San Jacinto]

Hayes changed the game. The World’s Fastest Human made defenses go to zone coverage. I got to know him personally when I helped him with a problem he was having with an event promoter down in Florida. They were using his name and likeness for a track meet without compensating him.

He was a good guy who had some problems because he naively got involved with some of the wrong people a few years after football.

He has deserved to be in the Hall of fame for quite some time.

[BJClinton]

I thought he was already in.

He certainly should be.

[word_warrior_bob]

This just in over the radio.

BULLET BOB IS IN THE HOF!

[Mind-numbed Robot]

The problem with Bob Hayes's getting into the HOF is that he took the Ice Bowl off.

That was painful but it should not be a disqualifier.

[HIDEK6]

I’m not the judge, just noting what the situation is.