Former Mustang Jim Welch Inducted into Big Country HofF
Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 8:17 amfrom the Abilene Reporter-News:
A member of the Abilene High School state champion football teams in the 1950s, Jim Welch, 70, later starred at Southern Methodist University and played nine seasons in the National Football League.
The Anson native played linebacker and fullback on AHS' title-winning teams in 1954 and 1955. During his senior year, he rushed for more than 1,000 yards, and rushed for 232 yards in one game against Odessa. Welch also ran on AHS' track team.
"We had moved to Carlsbad, N.M., and when I got back to Abilene in ninth grade, the Abilene football program was just starting to really build. That is the time they brought in Coach (Chuck) Moser, and that made such a huge difference. I just couldn't believe it. Everything was so great, the people were nice, the fans were so good. It was a great experience."
At SMU, Welch was co-captain of the freshman football team before playing varsity for three seasons for the Dallas school.
With the Colts in the 1960s, Welch played both offense and defense, and was captain of the special teams unit. During his time with the Colts, Welch played with several future Hall of Famers.
"I played with some awfully good players. When I got there, there were eight or 10 of the guys on the team that are in the Hall of Fame -- Johnny Unitas, Raymond Berry(SMU), Art Donovan, Lenny Moore. When I first arrived in Baltimore, I had never been to that part of the country at all. Baltimore was an old provincial kind of town. The team's office was downtown. I'm looking around, and I thought, 'This is sure not Dallas.'"
After eight years with the Colts and one with the Detroit Lions, Welch got involved in the stock brokerage business in Baltimore, and then worked on Wall Street in New York City. He moved back to Texas about seven years ago and lives in Trophy Club (between Fort Worth and Denton). Retired, Welch said he golfs and gets together with old friends from Abilene.
The induction ceremony will be held Monday at 6 p.m. at the Abilene Civic Center. Other inductees include Michi Atkins, Johnny "Ham" Jones, Bill Gilbreth, Scotty Pugh, Rufus King, Richard "Moose" Stovall and W.T. Stapler.
http://www.reporternews.com/news/2008/a ... ked-class/
A member of the Abilene High School state champion football teams in the 1950s, Jim Welch, 70, later starred at Southern Methodist University and played nine seasons in the National Football League.
The Anson native played linebacker and fullback on AHS' title-winning teams in 1954 and 1955. During his senior year, he rushed for more than 1,000 yards, and rushed for 232 yards in one game against Odessa. Welch also ran on AHS' track team.
"We had moved to Carlsbad, N.M., and when I got back to Abilene in ninth grade, the Abilene football program was just starting to really build. That is the time they brought in Coach (Chuck) Moser, and that made such a huge difference. I just couldn't believe it. Everything was so great, the people were nice, the fans were so good. It was a great experience."
At SMU, Welch was co-captain of the freshman football team before playing varsity for three seasons for the Dallas school.
With the Colts in the 1960s, Welch played both offense and defense, and was captain of the special teams unit. During his time with the Colts, Welch played with several future Hall of Famers.
"I played with some awfully good players. When I got there, there were eight or 10 of the guys on the team that are in the Hall of Fame -- Johnny Unitas, Raymond Berry(SMU), Art Donovan, Lenny Moore. When I first arrived in Baltimore, I had never been to that part of the country at all. Baltimore was an old provincial kind of town. The team's office was downtown. I'm looking around, and I thought, 'This is sure not Dallas.'"
After eight years with the Colts and one with the Detroit Lions, Welch got involved in the stock brokerage business in Baltimore, and then worked on Wall Street in New York City. He moved back to Texas about seven years ago and lives in Trophy Club (between Fort Worth and Denton). Retired, Welch said he golfs and gets together with old friends from Abilene.
The induction ceremony will be held Monday at 6 p.m. at the Abilene Civic Center. Other inductees include Michi Atkins, Johnny "Ham" Jones, Bill Gilbreth, Scotty Pugh, Rufus King, Richard "Moose" Stovall and W.T. Stapler.
http://www.reporternews.com/news/2008/a ... ked-class/