SMU Loses Another Standout Mustang from the Past: Ben White
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:55 pmI received this email from Gerry York, co-chair of SMU's Heritage Hall, earlier today. He has given me permission to share it on www.ponyfans.com. :
In 1950 the SMU Mustangs went to Columbus, Ohio to play the Buckeyes.
The Mustangs were led by the great Kyle Rote and the Buckeyes were led by Vic Janowicz who later won the 1950 Heisman Trophy. Very few people gave the Mustangs any chance.
After struggling for most of the first half, and falling behind, Coach Matty Bell sent Fred Benners in with just a couple of minutes left in the first half and Fred started filling the air with passes. From that point on it was all Ponies. With just a short time left in the game Benners threw the winning touchdown pass to Ben White of San Antonio. This win vaulted the Mustangs to #1 in the polls at that time. Ben White became a favorite target of Fred's passes from that time on.
SMU has never had, or found, a film of the game even though we have tried for some time.
Early this summer I received a call from Diane White, Ben's wife, seeking a VHS or DVD of the game. She told me that Ben had been in the hospital for about a year but would love to see the game again if we had one. I told her we did not but I would start a new search. By chance I called a guy in Pennsylvania who said that he could get a copy of ANY game. It took him three months but he came through. I quickly had it transferred to a DVD.
I put Ben's picture on the DVD, Kyle's on the cover and a picture of the Braniff plane that flew the team to Columbus on the back cover. This was early last week. I received a call in a couple of days from Diane White thanking me for everything and expressing the appreciation of the family. She said that Ben was now in hospice and that she had put the DVD on the pillow beside him and told him that the game was there.
Ben's obituary is in today's Dallas Morning News. (see below)
Thanks,
Gerry York
Co-Chair, SMU Heritage Hall
Ben White's obituary:
WHITE, JR., , BEN DARLINGTON Age 76, of Plano, Texas, went to be with his Lord in Heaven on September 15, 2006. He was born May 18, 1930 to Benjamin and Mary White. Ben graduated from Southern Methodist University where he was an outstanding athlete. He was retired from Sun Oil Company. Ben was loved by many people and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife, Diane White; step-daughter Michelle Hicks and step-granddaughter Wendy Walker; sisters Joan Otts and Ginger Purdy; one nephew; and seven nieces. Preceding him in death were his sons Ben D. White, III and David White. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel with Rev. Joe Slaughter officiating. Interment will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:00 - 8:00 PM, Tuesday at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home. To convey condolences or to sign an online registry, please visit www.tjmfuneral.com Turrentine Jackson Morrow Ridgeview Memorial Park Exit 38 N Central Expwy (972) 542-2601 turrentinejacksonmorrow.com
In 1950 the SMU Mustangs went to Columbus, Ohio to play the Buckeyes.
The Mustangs were led by the great Kyle Rote and the Buckeyes were led by Vic Janowicz who later won the 1950 Heisman Trophy. Very few people gave the Mustangs any chance.
After struggling for most of the first half, and falling behind, Coach Matty Bell sent Fred Benners in with just a couple of minutes left in the first half and Fred started filling the air with passes. From that point on it was all Ponies. With just a short time left in the game Benners threw the winning touchdown pass to Ben White of San Antonio. This win vaulted the Mustangs to #1 in the polls at that time. Ben White became a favorite target of Fred's passes from that time on.
SMU has never had, or found, a film of the game even though we have tried for some time.
Early this summer I received a call from Diane White, Ben's wife, seeking a VHS or DVD of the game. She told me that Ben had been in the hospital for about a year but would love to see the game again if we had one. I told her we did not but I would start a new search. By chance I called a guy in Pennsylvania who said that he could get a copy of ANY game. It took him three months but he came through. I quickly had it transferred to a DVD.
I put Ben's picture on the DVD, Kyle's on the cover and a picture of the Braniff plane that flew the team to Columbus on the back cover. This was early last week. I received a call in a couple of days from Diane White thanking me for everything and expressing the appreciation of the family. She said that Ben was now in hospice and that she had put the DVD on the pillow beside him and told him that the game was there.
Ben's obituary is in today's Dallas Morning News. (see below)
Thanks,
Gerry York
Co-Chair, SMU Heritage Hall
Ben White's obituary:
WHITE, JR., , BEN DARLINGTON Age 76, of Plano, Texas, went to be with his Lord in Heaven on September 15, 2006. He was born May 18, 1930 to Benjamin and Mary White. Ben graduated from Southern Methodist University where he was an outstanding athlete. He was retired from Sun Oil Company. Ben was loved by many people and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife, Diane White; step-daughter Michelle Hicks and step-granddaughter Wendy Walker; sisters Joan Otts and Ginger Purdy; one nephew; and seven nieces. Preceding him in death were his sons Ben D. White, III and David White. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel with Rev. Joe Slaughter officiating. Interment will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:00 - 8:00 PM, Tuesday at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home. To convey condolences or to sign an online registry, please visit www.tjmfuneral.com Turrentine Jackson Morrow Ridgeview Memorial Park Exit 38 N Central Expwy (972) 542-2601 turrentinejacksonmorrow.com