%206.png/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:1233,cg:true)
"You Are Not Forgotten"
Bobby Vinson--Nederland All American Boy
Valedictoerian, Nederland HS, 1946
Bobby Vinson was valedictorian of Nederland High School in 1946. Hear about his incredible story on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
eagle scout
Bobby Vinson's All American Boy credentials run deep, including his Eagle Scout honor. Hear about the life of this American hero on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
football captain
Bobby Vinson was a captain and quarterback for the Nederland Bulldogs, and led them to an undefeated season and Regional title in 1945. Hear about his football accomplishments on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
quarterback--undefeated 1945
Hear about Bobby Vinson's love for football on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
"indian poison"
Bobby Vinson led Nederland to wins over Port Neches in 1944 and 1945, which stamped the Bulldogs as district champs and led to Regional titles. Hear about Bobby Vinson's football accomplishments on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
"the best (back) nederland produced"--Red wilkerson
Red Wilkerson, editor of the Mid County Chronicle, was quoted in a 1959 column that Bobby Vinson "...was the best (back) Nederland (ever ) produced." Wilkerson had seen every Port Neches-Nederland contest since 1932. Hear about Bobby Vinson's football exploits on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Bi-State all star
Bobby Vinson was named as a runningback in an All Star game pitting Southeast Texas high school players against Louisiana All Stars. Hear about the man Bobby Vinson on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
scholarship offer to rice
It was big news in the area when Bobby Vinson received a scholarship to play football at Rice. However, fate held another path for Vinson. Hear about Bobby Vinson's life of achievement on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
west point bound
west point bound
Bobby Vinson received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, which he accepted. Hear about Bobby Vinson's life story on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Nederland Team Photos
1943 Bulldogs
Bobby Vinson kept a scrapbook filled with pictures and news articles from his time as a student at Nederland, Texas. This picture of the 1943 Bulldogs was included in his album. Hear about Bobby Vinson's love for Nederland football on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
1944 regional co-champs
In his junior year of 1944, Bobby Vinson led the Bulldogs to a Regional Co-Championship. At that time, the Regional title was as far a team in that classification could advance. Hear about Bobby Vinson's leadership qualities on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
1944 roster
1944 roster
This image is the reverse side of the 1944 Nederland Bulldog team picture. The names are written in Bobby Vinson's hand. Hear about Bobby Vinson's loyalty to his team mates and comrades on Down Trails of Victory podcast.
1945 bulldogs--undefeated regional champs
In 1945, quarterback and captain Bobby Vinson led the Bulldogs to an undefeated season, and an outright Regional title. Hear about BobbyVinson's outstanding high school accomplishments on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
1945-1946 basketball
This is a photo of the 1945-1946 Nederland Bulldogs basketball team. It is taken from Bobby Vinson's scrapbook. What is noteworthy about this photo is that the photo includes another Nederland schoolboy legend--Walter "Buddy" Davis, who went on to capture an Olympic gold medal in the high jump at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. Davis was a sophomore, when Vinson was a senior. Hear about Bobby Vinson's high school story on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
West Point
plebe portrait 1946
Bobby Vinson's drive to be the best accompanied him to West Point. As a freshman, he played on Army's undefeated 1946 team led by Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis. This picture was taken during Bobby Vinson's "plebe" year--his freshman year. Hear about the life of this Southeast Texas hero on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
freshman impact
Vinson made an impact during his plebe year, including winning the brigade fight title in the 155-pound class. His other team sport activities included football, track, and weight lifting. Hear about Bobby Vinson's drive for excellence on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
senior runningback
As a senior, Bobby Vinson was a starter in the backfield for Army's Black Knights. Hear the story of Bobby Vinson, Southeast Texas hero, on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
big game vs navy 1949
Bobby Vinson had a big game his senior year against Army's rival Navy, leading the Black Knights to a 38-0 win over the Midshipmen, which included a 92-yard touchdown. Hear about the incredible life of Southeast Texas hero Bobby Vinson on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
four year starter for army's black knights
Bobby Vinson was a four-year letterman for Army's Black Knights. Hear Bobby Vinson's story on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
west point graduate 1950
Bobby Vinson was a 1950 graduate of West Point. Hear about this warrior's life of responsibility, duty, and patriotism on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Wife, Family, and Air Force
first date/first picture
Bobby Vinson's life included a happy marriage to the love of his life, Joan. Hear the romantic story behind this photo, on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Bobby with his kids
Bobby Vinson and his wife Joan had four children--(L to R) Laura, Chuck, Robbie, and Vicki. Hear about Bobby Vinson's family on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
top gun pilot
After graduating West Point, Bobby Vinson joined the Air Force. As a pilot, he flew over 100 combat missions in Korea. He continued his service as a fighter pilot in the Vietnam era. Bobby Vinson was reported as "Missing in Action" after a combat mission in April, 1968. His name would carry that "MIA" designation for the next 30 years. Hear about the life of this Southeast Texas hero on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
joan vinson--pow/mia activist
Joan Vinson, Bobby's wife, was courageous, determined, smart, educated, and articulate. From 1969 - 1972, driven by her love for Bobby, she was the national coordinator for the National League of Families, an advocacy group dedicated to POW and MIA service men and women. Hear about the historic role Joan Vinson played during this troubling time on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
joan vinson
Joan Vinson was one of the founders of the National League of Families. She was its national coordinator from 1969-1972. This group advocated--and sought answers from the government--for Americans classified as POW and MIA during these troubling years. Hear about Joan Vinson's role in America's legacy on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
family of an mia father
Joan Vinson raised her four children through their childhood years as a single mom, with a husband designated as MIA. It's heart wrenching to think about, but she led and persevered. Hear about the children of Bobby and Joan Vinson on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
POW/MIA Flag
The POW/MIA flag was designed by the National League of Families, and it was adopted in 1972. Hear about the POW/MIA flag, and Joan Vinson's leadership in the National League of Families organization, on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Video
bobby vinson's scrapbook
"What this video of Colonel Vinson's scrapbook tells me is that Bobby Vinson loved Nederland, he loved his team mates, he loved his school, he loved his team's accomplishments. These clippings and pictures were collected and preserved with painstaking care and love, and it was bound in an album that clearly shows Vinson's pride and love for his country."--Dr. Jon Buck Ford (video submitted by Dr. Mark Harper)
Trumpet tribute at hanoi, vietnam
Watch this amazing trumpet tribute by Michael Harper, grandson of Colonel Bobby Vinson, to his grandfather, at the site of a crashed B-52 bomber in Hanoi, Vietnam. This tribute is unbelievable!
Guests
commander mark harper, us navy (retired); professor US naval academy
Dr. Mark Harper is the son-in-law of Bobby Vinson. He is married to Colonel Vinson's daughter Laura. He is a former nuclear submarine commander, and is currently a professor of Nuclear Engineering at the US Naval Academy. He was also a diplomat with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Hear Dr. Harper talk about Bobby Vinson on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
colonel bill keith, us air force (retired)
Colonel Bill Keith served with Bobby Vinson in Vietnam. They were both Air Force fighter pilots, flying the Phantom F-4 jet. Colonel Keith has confided that Bobby Vinson was his "best friend" in Vietnam. Hear Colonel Keith talk about Colonel Bobby Vinson on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (picture of Colonel Keith alongside a F-4 Phantom jet, submitted by Colonel Bill Keith)
michael harper, national symphony orchestra
michael harper, national symphony orchestra
Michael Harper is the grandson of Bobby Vinson. He is currently assistant principal trumpet for the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC. He has an extensive background in music, and the trumpet, with memberships and performances in orchestras throughout the US and the world. He performed "TAPS" exclusively for this podcast, and he said he thoughts were on his grandfather Bobby Vinson as he recorded it. Moreover, in conjunction with this podcast, he shared a video from his journey to Hanoi, Vietnam, where he paid homage to his grandfather with a trumpet tribute at one of Vietnam's most iconic sites. This tribute video is unbelievable!
"brighten the corner" musicians
The music to "Brighten the Corner Where You Are," that was played during the podcast, was the work of: (L to R) Rev Alfred Gibson (bass, mixing engineer); 96-year old Air Force veteran Chester Bushnell (backup singer); Danna Bushnell Erickson (accompanist); Dan Wrinkle (lead singer). Not pictured Wanda Carole Wrinkle Ford (arrangement). (photo by Wanda Carole Wrinkle Ford)
Nederland Memorial Park
paying homage to heroes
Dr. Jon Buck Ford and Judge Brad Burnett met with Jim Rose, POW/MIA Chairman and member of Port Neches VFW Post 4820, to pay their respects to local mid-county heroes at Nederland's Memorial Park. Hear this special Memorial Day salute on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
nederland memorial park
The Monument Wall outside of Nederland's City Hall lists Nederland natives who died in service to their country from World War I through Vietnam. Hear our salute to the heroes of Memorial Day 2025 on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
nederland memorial wall
nederland vietnam heroes
nederland vietnam heroes
The Memorial Wall at Memorial Park. in Nederland, Texas. Hear our honor of Southeast Texas heroes on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
nederland vietnam heroes
nederland vietnam heroes
nederland vietnam heroes
Hear the story of Nederland hero Bobby Vinson, on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Purchase Down Trails of Victory
Down Trails of Victory, published in 1994, is a classic whose prose will forever be fresh. Currently in its second printing, its first printing sold out in six weeks!
Included in Down Trails of Victory are:
- Extensive commentaries by coaches and players, many of whom have now passed on, but whose voice forever lives within the book
- Complete narrative history of every season, 1925 - '93
- Chapter covering the origins of several Indian traditions, including the Indian Spirit, Indianettes, the Fight Song, Cherokee, and the Marching I
- Over 500 pages (including Acknowledgements and Foreword)
- Over 325 photos
- Over 65 manuscripts and documents
- Comprehensive player, coaches, and cheerleader rosters
- Much, much more...
The games, the rivalries, the great victories, the heartbreaking defeats, the heroes, the opponents--they're all here. Discover how it was from the players and coaches themselves. Open the book, and take a fascinating journey with them--Down Trails of Victory!
The Podcast Team
Dr. Jon Buck Ford--Host
Buck is a 1973 graduate of Port Neches-Groves High School. He has written two books pertaining to SE Texas history: On the Wings of Eagles: The Story of Stephen F. Austin Football 1979 - 1988, and Down Trails of Victory: The Story of Port Neches-Groves High School Football. Buck retired after 40 years in Texas Public Schools, as an English teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, and superintendent. He enjoys spending time with his wife Wanda Carole (Wrinkle), playing the piano, traveling, and researching genealogy.
Judge Brad Burnett--Podcast Partner
Judge Brad Burnett is a 1973 graduate of Port Neches-Groves High School, His career includes previous positions as a real estate broker, and as a plant manager at US Intec. Judge Burnett has devoted his life to serving Southeast Texas. He served three terms on the PN-G ISD school board, before his election as Justice of the Peace of Jefferson County Pct. 7, a position he has held since 2002. Judge Burnett is active in many community organizations, and is in constant demand as a speaker for civic, school, and church groups. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Teresa (Lee), and has three "awesome" grandkids. From the book Down Trails of Victory, "(Brad) was a constant encourager throughout the years as I worked on the book. He believed in me and my dream, and his support gave me confidence in myself. He attended many of the panel interviews with former players, and we had a continual dialogue over the years about the status of the book. ...Thank you, Brad," page ix. --Dr. Jon Buck Ford
Wanda Carole Wrinkle Ford Producer
Wanda Carole Wrinkle Ford was born in Mamou, Louisiana, and lived in Southeast Texas for 40 years. She graduated from Lamar University in Beaumont as a Registered Nurse in 1990. She is multi-talented with a diverse background and range of experiences. In addition to being a song writer and award-winning photographer, she also served as publisher and editor of the best selling book Down Trails of Victory, without whose help the book never would have been written. Wanda Carole specializes in wildlife photography, enjoys traveling, gardening, helping her friends and family, genealogy, playing the piano, and undertaking new challenges.