July 11, 2002
This is another "B" Line column, a periodic collection of news items of particular 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), Kyle Penney,(Kyle_Penney@baylor.edu) or Jack Loftis (Jack.Loftis@chron.com). The mailing address is Baylor "B" Association, P. O. Box 8120, Waco, TX 76714
THEN-AND-NOW CHAMP - When the U. S. Olympic Committee site selection team arrives in Houston this weekend one of the Houston 2012 Foundation hosts will be former city council member John Kelley. Perhaps the earliest booster of Houston's attempt to land the 2012 Summer Games, Kelley will be remembered by some around Baylor as one of its top athletes during the mid-1950s - although he never played on any organized Bear teams. Kelley won the regional Golden Gloves title two years in a row when the tournaments were a big deal in Central Texas and were staged at old Waco Arena on Waco Drive. Kelley never won a state title but twice was a finalist at Texas GG tournaments in Fort Worth. Kelley attended SMU on a football scholarship, but was injured in his freshman year and later enrolled at Baylor. While there John got a degree in geology and met the future Mrs. Kelley, the lovely Jean (who also would go on to serve on Houston City Council.) Incidentally, the Kelleys' son is ex-UT quarterback Shannon Kelley and their daughter-in-law is the even more famous Mary Lou Retton, a Olympic Gold Medal gymnast in 1984 . . . Dutch Schroeder calls the "B" Line's attention to the fact that a number of "B" Association members also are present and past policy-making members of the Baylor Alumni Association. Past BAA presidents include former football players Will Davis and Gale Galloway and baseball letterwinner Conally McKay. And current BAA board members include David Malone (football), Joel Allison (football), David Lacy (golf), Jack Loftis (baseball), Mike Bourland (football), Vince Carpenter (football) and David Slover (football). The alumni group presented its the George W. Truett Distinguished Service Award to Milton Cunningham during Spring 2002 graduation services. Milton received Baylor letters for serving as a manager for BU football, basketball and baseball teams in the late 1940s . . .
NEWS IN QUINN MURDER - A Jefferson County grand jury has returned a murder indictment against Richard Joseph Gerzine, 80, was who charged in the June 13 shooting death of Beaumont attorney Cris Quinn, a Baylor football player during the mid-1970s. Quinn was shot in his office at the law firm of Reaud Morgan & Quinn Inc. Police say Gerzine became angry because Quinn 's firm refused to represent him in an asbestos case, took out a shotgun from a cardboard box he was carrying and fired twice. Gerzine, who resided at a Vidor nursing home, remains in jail. He said in an interview with Beaumont-Port Arthur television station KBTV that the shooting was "justifiable homicide." . . . "B" Association VP Lee Harrington, former "B" Association president Dr. Jerry Marcontell and "B" Association president-elect Ronnie Goodwin are back home after attending the National Letterwinners Conference at the University of Arizona. Marcontell says the trip was beneficial because association representatives from coast to coast have an opportunity to swap ideas. The motto of the "B Line is: Steal the Best and Cull the rest . . . . . .
THE RED CROSS AND RED - Albert Lafayette "Red" Cheek started playing football for Baylor before World War II and finished after returning to civilian life. Serving with the Marines, Red carried his guitar with him throughout the Pacific Campaign and is still picking. While teaching in the Phoenix area, he played in a number of bands and once performed with Marty Robbins, who went on to Grand Ole Opry fame prior to his death. Now a resident of Perkins, Okla., near Stillwater, Red often attends BU home football games and twice has played guitar at Homecoming activities. He is the chaplain for the local VFW Post and proudly says he donates blood to the Red Cross every 56 days. The "B" Association recently received a photo of Red passing out T-shirts to other donors. The shirts contain these words: "You are a hero to more people than you think" . . .
JACK LOFTIS
CO-CHAIRMAN
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
