May 29, 2002
This is another "B" Line column, a periodic collection of news items of interest to members of the Baylor "B" Association. Contribute news about you or your teammates via e-mail to Dutch Schroeder (Dutch_Schroeder@baylor.edu), Reba Cooper (Reba_Cooper@baylor.edu) or Jack Loftis (Jack.Loftis@chron.com). The mailing address is Baylor "B" Association, P. O. Box 8120, Waco, TX 76714
MASTER OF UPSETS - Robert Earl (Bob) Barfield, a college football quarterback who took part in two major upset victories and went on to become a much-loved coach, died of a bacterial infection on Sunday, May 26, in a Houston area hospital. He was 83 . . . In 1939, as a player for Houston State Teachers College, Barfield participated in a 9-8 victory over Rice Institute - one year after Rice won the Southwest Conference championship. In that same year, Barfield was named to the Little All-American Football Team. In 1957, Barfield was backfield coach and, in effect, offensive coordinator, for the Baylor Bears when the team defeated the No. 2 team in the nation, the University of Tennessee, in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, 13-7 . . . Earlier, during a seven-year hitch as coach at Cedar Bayou High School near Baytown, Barfield's teams won five consecutive district championships. "He had a great belief in himself and his players. Because he believed in them, his players would try to move mountains for him," said Dr. Jerry Marcontell, who was on Barfield's teams at Cedar Bayou and Baylor. Barfield and Marcontell became fast friends and Marcontell, as an obstetrician, delivered Barfield's first grandchild.
FAIRNESS WAS FOREWORD - Marcontell remembers that Barfield treated everyone the same. "There was no star mentality on his team," Marcontell said. " He seemed to have an uncanny insight about which players needed encouragement, which needed chewing out, and which needed a little of both." . . . A native of Bronson in Sabine County, Barfield grew up in Trinity. He played football at Trinity High and at Sam Houston, where he lettered in football, track, tennis and basketball and earned a degree in physical education. In 1986, Barfield was inducted into the Sam Houston State University Hall of Honor. Barfield began his coaching career at Cedar Bayou High and continued coaching and teaching at schools in Corrigan, Rosenberg and Robstown. During World War II, Barfield served in the Army in Italy and Japan. After the war, he returned to Cedar Bayou High and began a streak of victories. In 1954, he moved on to Baylor where he remained for four years until he moved to Pasadena High School. During that time the Pasadena Eagles advanced to the state finals.
RETIREMENT YEARS - In 1974, Barfield became assistant athletic director in Pasadena and retired in 1977. In 1998, the Robert E. Barfield Sports Complex in the Pasadena ISD was named in his honor. The next year, Barfield was inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Hall of Honor. "He was big on attitude. He told us that if you want to be a champion, you have to look like a champion, dress like a champion, walk and talk like a champion, think like a champion, and play like a champion," Marcontell said . . . Barfield leaves his wife, Emma Marie Brame Barfield of Webster; two sons, Danny and Gary Barfield, both of Pasadena; and brothers Harold Barfield of Baytown, Curtis Barfield and Billy Ray Barfield, both of Houston, and Hinson Barfield of Huntington. A celebration of life service was scheduled for Thursday, May 30 . . .
(This "B" Line column was based on a story written by Houston Chronicle reporter Lynwood Abram and is being reprinted with the newspaper's permission. - Jack Loftis, Co-Chairman, "B" Association Communications Committee.)
