Jack Pardee

[Old Bearkat]

My dad played baseball with Jack Pardee. Dad (Billy C. Wrinkle) would hitchhike from Bronte to San Angelo to play ball during the summer. He told stories of all Jack wanted to do was play ball that he always had time for the kids. My dad has passed on or he would be telling them again..
Dad said he was the best ball player to ever pick up any ball.
And the best sportsman ever…

From the Bronte Enterprise in the Newspaper Archive

December 18, 1953

Boys selected to receive reserve
letters in football are:
JTommy Taylor, Billy Tounget,
Eugene Gentry, R. J. Millikin,
Leslie Oai)erton, Billy Wrinkle,
Ronald Denton, Don Glenn, Billy
Alexander, Mgr

September 3, 1954

As a whole the team ii^ looking
good and the boys are showing
high spirits. Some of the
boys who are looking good, other
than the starters mentioned
above are: NOfl Scott and R. J,
Millikin, ends; Billy Wrinkle and
Tommy Latham, tackles; Don
Glenn and Bobby Brock, guards

There's more. You might want to check it out sometime.

 

[Old Bearkat]

Had the opportunity (certainly not the pleasure) of watching Jack play in high school. We had as good a defense as I have ever seen in all my years of 6man football and he ran thru us like paper. He has always been a good man off the field as well as on and I've admired him for well over 50 years. I've always heard that when he graduated, he wanted to play at San Angelo College(now ASU) but was told he couldn't make it in college. Bear Bryant took a chance and as the saying goes: you know the rest of the story. Dont't know if that was correct but I've always heard that from good sources.
My prayers are with the Pardee family.

Where did you go to school at?

 

[rjerden]

I just finished this a few days ago. Thought you might like it.

Six Man Dance

In the town of Veribest, a handshake is a deal
You go to church on Sunday, say grace at every meal
Men tip their hats to ladies, kids say sir and ma'am
Boys can't wait to join the Corps, and serve their Uncle Sam

But if you were to go there, come autumn Friday nights
The place might be deserted, when the whole darn town unites
Upon a spread of hallowed ground, a grassy green expanse
To celebrate their civic pride and watch the six man dance

Now this dance is not for sissies, and I think you would agree
If you knew about Christoval and a man named Jack Pardee
Yep, they call it six man football, and they don’t get much acclaim
They don't play for scholarships; but for the glory of the game

Three up front and three in back, any lad can be the man
To pass or catch or run the ball, and kick it if he can
A first down costs you fifteen yards; a field goal gets you four
You’ll hardly wait two minutes there before another score

Because for those without some speed, this game is not contrived
And if one team can't keep it up, they might get forty-fived
That's what they call the mercy rule, 'cause scoring is so fast
No point in running up the tab when one team is outclassed

So if you want a taste of life the way it used to be
Where people pull together and kids can still run free
And there’s a game where little fellers surely have a chance
Drive on out to Veribest, and watch the six man dance

Cheers,
Roy

 

[CT6MFL]

That will make any 6 man baller misty eyed.

You Rock!!!

 

[olderelk]

Wow! Excellent poem Roy.
You are very talented.
This needs to be highlighted so people can see it. Sometimes things roll off and go unnoticed. This deserves to be noticed.
Thanks for your contribution.
Edit..Talented indeed! Read some of your other poems and "about this poem"'s on Poetry Soup. Good stuff

 

[rjerden]

Thanks for the nice comments, guys. I had been wanting to do a sports related poem, but was looking for an unusual angle and not a topic in which all the oxygen had already been sucked out of the room.
I had just finished reading “Wishbone Wisdom” by my high school football coach Emory Bellard and had noted that he played some 6-man ball when he was young, so I started researching the subject a bit more and found the article about Jack Pardee's ilness, although I already knew about him.
I had some aunts and uncles who lived in Christoval and still have two cousins there. My first girlfriend, Helen Johnson, lived in Veribest. I chose this town's name because I thought it was very poetic. In the original version, the first line started "Out in small town Texas, a handshake is a deal". If you prefer this generic version, I can send it to you.
Cheers, Roy

 

[olderelk]

Thanks for the interesting comments.
I agree Veribest is a good choice.
Most on here would probably prefer the generic version.
I'm guessing the last line is:
"Drive out to small town Texas, and watch the six man dance"

 

[rjerden]

You nailed it.
Cheers,
Roy

 

[kbjoe1]

what a wonderful poem!!!
i m going to see it they will read it at our sports banquet, that is if you dont mind.

you see this one will be the last one that i will see my boy in as this is his senior year.

 

[rjerden]

OK, so this is the generic version. Print, share and read aloud all you like. Cheers, Roy.

Six Man Dance

Out in small town Texas, a handshake is a deal
You go to church on Sunday, say grace at every meal
Men tip their hats to ladies, kids say sir and ma'am
Boys can't wait to join the Corps, and serve their Uncle Sam

But if you were to go there, come autumn Friday nights
The place might be deserted, when the whole darn town unites
Upon a spread of hallowed ground, a grassy green expanse
To celebrate their civic pride and watch the six man dance

Now this dance is not for sissies, and I think you would agree
If you knew about Christoval and a man named Jack Pardee
Yep, they call it six man football, and they don’t get much acclaim
They don't play for scholarships; but for the glory of the game

Three up front and three in back, any lad can be the man
To pass or catch or run the ball, and kick it if he can
A first down costs you fifteen yards; a field goal gets you four
You’ll hardly wait two minutes there before another score

Because for those without some speed, this game was not contrived
And if one team can't keep it up, they might get forty-fived
That's what they call the mercy rule, 'cause scoring is so fast
No point in running up the tab when one team is outclassed

So if you want a taste of life the way it used to be
Where people pull together and kids can still run free
And there’s a game where little fellers surely have a chance
Drive out to small town Texas, and watch the six man dance

© Copyright December 9, 2012 Roy Jerden

 

[jc_30]

That is awesome. It brought a little tear to my eyes. I am going to blow this up and put it on my wall in my classroom.