Thomas Wade “Tom” Landry†
Inducted 1988
Hometown: Mission
High School: Mission High School
College: The University of Texas
Professional: New York Giants
Best Known for: Athlete and Coach-Football
(Sept. 11, 1924-Feb. 12, 2000)
Perhaps the greatest legend in Valley history, Landry was an outstanding football player, a war hero, and eventually a Hall of Fame coach with the Dallas Cowboys.
In high school, he led the 1941 Mission Eagles to an undefeated season. He flew 30 B-17 missions over Europe as a member of the Eighth Air Force in Europe in World War II and survived one crash landing.
Landry returned to The University of Texas and played fullback and quarterback behind the all-American Bobby Layne. He also played defensive back for the Longhorns. He won all-Southwest Conference honors as a junior and was a co-captain as a senior. He played on Texas teams that won the 1948 Sugar Bowl over Alabama and the 1949 Orange Bowl over Georgia.
Landry played in the NFL for nine seasons as a defensive back and punter for the New York Giants, intercepting 32 passes and making All-Pro in 1954.
After retiring from playing football, he became the Giants defensive coordinator from 1956-59, before leaving to take the helm of the expansion Dallas Cowboys, with whom he would win 270 games and led them to five Super Bowls, winning two of them.
