Season Two--Episode Links
%205.png/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:1209,h:1209,cg:true)
Click "Link to Page" to go to Podcast and Picture Pages
S2 E8--1955 PORT NECHES-GROVES FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONS
Glory Days of 1955 come alive!!
Players on the Port Neches-Groves Indians 1955 state football champions--Riley Burnett, Jeff Council, and Don Harper--recall their miraculous state championship run!
Hear their recollections about:
- Head Coach Lewis Ford and his all coaching staff;
- The 1954 State Finalist football team, and how the 1955 team compared to it;
- Their undefeated district campaign;
- Their playoff run, which included two of the most unbelievable wins in Indian football history--the Semifinal win agains Alice, and the State Final win against Garland;
- Their thoughts on various team mates and opponents;
- and much, much, more!!
Glory Days...well we're not passing them by...
Glory Days...their story you can't deny...
Glory Days...Glory Days...Glory Days...
Right here on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Click "Link to Page" to go to Podcast and Picture Pages
S2 E7--1975 PORT NECHES-GROVES FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONS
Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler!!!
Senior players on the Port Neches-Groves Indians state football champions--Jack Collazo, Gary Geoffroy, Andy Gilbert, Kirk Romero, Karl Segura, and Wilson Weber--recall those magical days of 1975.
Hear their recollections about:
- Head Coach Doug Ethridge and his all star coaching staff;
- The 1974 Semifinalist season, and how that season impacted 1975;
- Their undefeated district campaign;
- Their playoff run, which culminated in their state championship victory over Odessa Permian at Texas Stadium;
- Their thoughts on various team mates and opponents;
- and much, much, more!!
So don your purple and white, decorate your cars, and caravan with us...
It's a victory trail with a state title destination!
Right here on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Click "Link to Page" to go to Podcast and Picture Pages
S2 E6--edgar winter
Are you ready to ROCK 'N ROLL???!!!
Rock star Edgar Winter, on break from his tour with Ringo Starr, is here to talk about his life and career.
Hear Edgar talk with Buck about:
- His latest album, Brother Johnny, a star-studded tribute dedicated to his brother Johnny Winter;
- Growing up in Beaumont, Texas;
- Southeast Texas' influence on his musical foundation and development;
- Insights into local musicians that he played with;
- His gig playing at Woodstock in August 1969;
- The formation of the bands White Trash and The Edgar Winter Group;
- The creation of the hit album They Only Come Out at Night, including the hit singles Free Ride and Frankenstein;
- Touring with Beatles legend Ringo Starr;
- His 43-year marriage to his wife Monique;
- and much, much, more!!
It's an amazing outpouring of stories and insights from a Southeast Texas legend...so...
Are you Ready for a FREE RIDE???!!!!...
Hop on in, with Edgar Winter and Buck, right here on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Click "Link to Page" to go to Podcast and Picture Pages
S2 E5--1983 SFA Football State co-Semifinalists
On the Wings of Eagles...
David Greer, Brian McZeal, Daniel Miguez, and Kevin Simien were players on Port Arthur Stephen F. Austin's 1983 Co-Semifinalist football team.
Hear them talk with Buck (who was a coach on the team) about:
- Their experiences attending school at Stephen F. Austin;
- Their remembrances of Texas Hall of Fame Head Coach Richard Marler;
- The SFA Eagles' coaching staff;
- The 1982 off season and regular season;
- The 1983 regular season and playoff run;
- Highlights of games, players, and opponents;
- and much, much, more!!
"Your Dreams we Cherish in our Hearts,
We're Loyal and True, though we Depart,
Our Love for you shall Never Die,
Dear Alma Mater, Austin High!"
It's a 1983 throwback...
Right here on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Click "Link to Page" to go to Podcast and Picture Pages
S2 E4--dr. ben weber
A game so fine it's played on diamonds...
Dr. Ben Weber was part of an Anaheim Angels team that captured the ultimate prize of Major League Baseball--a World Series title! Hear Dr. Weber talk about:
- His early experiences on the Little League fields of Groves, Texas;
- His years as a student at Port Neches-Groves High School;
- The Indians' Bi-District Baseball title runs of 1987 and 1988;
- His journey from PN-G graduate, to his first Major League Baseball appearance at 30-years old;
- The Anaheim Angels' World Series run of 2002;
- Giving back to his roots of Southeast Texas;
- His life after baseball;
- and much, much, more!!
So grab you some peanuts and Cracker Jacks...
Ben Weber's on the mound, and the umpire's RINGING them up! Check out his story....
Right here on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Click "Link to Page" to go to Podcast and Picture Pages
S2 E3--dr. rodney leboeuf
"Growing up in Port Neches in the late 40's early 50's--that's as close to Mayberry USA as you're gonna get!"--Dr. Rodney LeBoeuf
Dr. Rodney LeBoeuf was an integral part of the legacy of excellence of Port Neches-Groves ISD, as a student, as a teacher/coach, and ultimately as PN-G's high school principal.
Hear Dr. LeBoeuf talk about:
- Growing up in Port Neches;
- The Indians' 1953 State Championship playoff run, upon which he was co-captain;
- His brother, PN-G's legendary running back Gordon LeBoeuf;
- Coaching on the staffs of both Bum Phillips and Ken Watson;
- His role in hiring legendary coaches Doug Ethridge and Barbara Comeaux;
- Many colorful and elaborative stories about his colleagues and their times at Port Neches-Groves ISD; and much, much, more!!
So round up your local Aunt Bee, Barney, Gomer, Opie, Miss Crump, and others, and take a trip down memory lane with Dr. Rodney LeBoeuf...
Right here on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Click "Link to Page" to go to Podcast and Picture Pages
S2 E2--Joe and ken washington
"Like smoke through a keyhole"...
That's how University of Oklahoma Coach Barry Switzer described the running style of his All-American runningback Joe Washington.
Both Joe and his brother Ken were leaders in vaulting the Port Arthur Lincoln High School Bumblebees to Southeast Texas' dominating high school sports power in the early 1970s.
Hear Joe and Ken talk about:
- Being raised by and playing football for their father, Texas High School Hall of Fame Coach Joe Washington;
- Big games played by the Bees in the early 1970s;
- Some of Joe's and Ken's favorite plays, and keys to their success;
- Meeting their lifelong sweethearts while students at Lincoln High School; and much, much, more!!
This ain't no jive--it's straight from the Bee Hive...
Right here on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Click "Link to Page" to go to Podcast and Picture Pages
S2 E1--season two kickoff
We're baaaccckkk!!!
Down Trails of Victory podcast is back for a second season, and in this kickoff episode, Buck and the show's producer Wanda Carole Wrinkle Ford...
- give some brief comments about Season One;
- issue "thank you's" to various people; and
- give a preview of Season Two's first guests, Joe and Ken Washington, legendary brother combination from Port Arthur Lincoln who are both members of the Texas High School Hall of Fame!
Be sure to get your Season Two Tickets, available at no cost...
Right here on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
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.