Witcher, Jones & Null

COURTESY PHOTO Former Lampasas Badgers star Albert Witcher was drafted by both the Los Angeles Rams and the Houston Oilers, but he opted to play for Houston. He sports an AFL championship ring, as the Oilers ended a memorable first season with a 24- 16 win over the then Los Angeles Chargers. Editor's note: A recent story on former Lampasan Keith Null, who has been drafted by the St. Louis Rams, mentioned that he joins Johnny "Lam" Jones as the only professional football players to emerge from Lampasas.

The name of Albert Witcher inadvertently was omitted. A standout at Lampasas High School in the 1950s, Witcher enjoyed considerable success later at Baylor University and then with the Houston Oilers.

The following story details some of Witcher's accomplishments.

Albert Witcher graduated from Lampasas High School in 1955, but not before leaving his mark on the gridiron.

He played under two Lampasas legends, the late Sam Fowler and the late Curtis Bozarth. While Fowler served as head coach for the Badgers, Bozarth assisted his good friend with coaching responsibilities.

Of his former head coach, Witcher said: "He truly, truly was a tremendously fine coach, and I could not have played college and professional football without the foundation Sam Fowler gave me. I always had great admiration for him and for 'Coach Bo.'"

Added the former athlete: "The Good Lord blessed me to have some truly great people to coach me and to enable me to develop and participate in the game of football in high school, college and at the professional level."

Witcher landed a varsity berth as a freshman on a Lampasas team that captured the district championship. For two of his four years as a member of the Badgers varsity, Witcher received Allcoach District recognition.

On offense, he played fullback in Fowler's single-wing offense and, as such, was a running and blocking back. Like his other teammates back then, Witcher played both ways. On defense, he was an outside linebacker.

He later signed with Baylor University and played offensive end and defensive linebacker.

Witcher was an All-Southwest Conference selection twice at Baylor. In 1958, he was a secondteam All-SWC choice at offensive end. A year later, he was a firstteam All-Conference selection and subsequently was inducted into Baylor's Sports Hall of Fame. (When Baylor played TCU, Witcher played against former Lampasan Dale Walker, who also was an All-SWC player and also was inducted into the TCU Lettermen's Association Hall of Fame.)

During Witcher's senior year, the former Lampasas standout played under first-year Baylor coach John Bridgers, who would go down in SWC history as one of the great offensive minds of the game.

The Southwest Conference -- comprised of many of the teams that would one day make up the Big 12 -- at one time featured freshman teams. Now, of course, high school stars often are starters as freshmen.

In Witcher's case, he played on the Baylor freshman team in 1955. He was redshirted the following season but traveled with the Bears when they played in the Cotton Bowl. During Witcher's three remaining years at the Waco campus, he played under head Sam Boyd through the 1958 season, before Bridgers' first year at the helm in 1959.

Although the former Lampasas Badgers star is proud of his playing days, he takes satisfaction, too, in his achievements in the classroom. He twice was on the All-SWC Academic Team -- in 1958 and 1959.

At the conclusion of his senior year, Witcher landed berths in two prestigious post-season contests: the North-South game in Miami and the Hula Bowl in Honolulu.

As a linebacker at Baylor, Witcher played against legendary SMU quarterback Don Meredith, who had an outstanding career for the Mustangs. Meredith proved to be an elusive target for Witcher and many opposing defenses, so Witcher had -- and still has to this day -- great respect for the SMU signal caller's considerable abilities.

Witcher was thrilled when he had the opportunity to play on the same side of the field with Meredith in the Hula Bowl. That brief association was not without its humorous moments.

Meredith had gotten married a short time before the bowl game, and his bride accompanied him when the team went to Honolulu.

"We were always waiting on Don," Witcher said, with a chuckle.

Other team members, including Witcher, were able to bring their spouses to Hawaii. Witcher had gotten married earlier in college, but he and his wife -- the former Ginger Cooper of Lampasas -- had a one-night honeymoon in Austin. The trip to Honolulu, he said, gave the couple a sort of second honeymoon.

After his 1958 season at Baylor, Witcher was drafted in the 13th round by the Los Angeles Rams. (Alex J. "Buck" Lansford, an offensive lineman, was a Pro Bowl player and a team captain with the Rams at the time. He and his wife, Judy Guyler Lansford, are longtime Lampasas residents.) But, with one more year of eligibility at Baylor, Witcher elected to return for his senior season with the Bears in the fall of 1959.

The previous spring, the former Lampasan entered Baylor Law School, which was on the quarter system. He returned to regular studies at Baylor in September, where he was enrolled through the end of the football season. He then attended the winter and spring quarters at Baylor Law School.

About this same time, the American Football League -- an upstart counterpart to the older, established National Football League -- came into existence.

An AFL franchise team, the Houston Oilers, also drafted Witcher and made an even better financial offer than the Rams had made. The former Baylor standout signed with Houston.

It proved to be a terrific season, as the Oilers ended their first season in the AFL with a 24-16 championship win over the then Los Angeles Chargers. During a recent telephone interview, Witcher was asked about his championship ring and, yes, he still wears it.

As a member of that Houston team, Witcher was a back-up offensive end and starting defensive linebacker.

He could have played even more seasons. But Witcher had some choices to make.

Married and the father of two children, he had to decide between an association with a fledgling football league or moving on to a legal career.

The Oilers paid him more initially than he could have made as a new attorney in an established law office. Starting salary for a new attorney typically was only $4,000 to $5,000 some 50 years ago.

Witcher decided to hang up his cleats in favor of the courtroom.

Things quickly fell into place.

Coach Bridgers offered his former athlete a full scholarship to help coach the Baylor freshman squad.

Witcher obtained his law degree and began an association in 1962 with the Waco law firm of Naman, Howell, Smith & Lee -- one that continues today.

A past president of the large firm, Witcher now is "of counsel."

He and Ginger have four grown children and 10 grandchildren. They enjoy life in the Waco area.

But you can't keep a hometown boy away from his roots entirely.

Witcher has a particular interest in a local historical project -- restoration of the former Lampasas Colored School -- and the ministry of New Hope Baptist Church on College Street, next door to the one-time schoolhouse.

About once a month, Witcher makes the 90-mile drive from Waco to Lampasas to attend services at the predominantly African-American church, which is pastored by a friend from Waco.

For a number of years, Witcher has been supportive of New Hope Baptist in different ways.

Like he did on the gridiron, Albert Witcher keeps finding a way to make his mark.