Jack Crain

Jack Crain (January 7, 1920 – October 22, 1994) was a football player for the University of Texas at Austin who later served three terms in the Texas House of Representatives. He was named an All Southwest Conference player in 1939 and 1940, and was twice selected All-American.

Jack Crain
CollegeTexas
SportFootball
PositionHalfback
Career1938–1940
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight155 lb (70 kg)
NationalityAmerican
Born(1920-01-07)January 7, 1920
Nocona, Texas
DiedOctober 22, 1994(1994-10-22) (aged 74)
Nocona, Texas
High schoolNocona High School
Career highlights
Awards
All-SWC Player of the Year (1939, '40)
Honors
All-American (1939, '40)

High school

Crain grew up in Nocona, Texas, where he was known as the Nocona Nugget. During high school, he scored 258 points, and his team won a Class B regional title. Crain's football talents were gaining attention in the media; consequently, he was selected to play in the 1938 Oil Bowl (high school). Fifty-six years later, he would be inducted in the Oil Bowl (high school) Hall of Fame. Jack Crain Football Stadium of the Nocona Independent School District is now named for him.

College career

Coach Dana X. Bible thought that Jack (Jackrabbit) Crain helped lay the foundation for the University of Texas at Austin Longhorn's rise from mediocrity to preeminence in the late 1930s. In the game between the Longhorns and Razorbacks in October 1939, Crain an unknown sophomore, ran a quick kick back to help UT later score from seven yards out. Late in the game with only under 30 seconds to play, Crain caught a flip-out pass and ran 67 yards untouched and scored a touchdown to tie the game at 13–13. Finally, as the clock ran out Crain kicked the extra point himself for the 14–13 win. This game became known as the Renaissance Game in Texas football history and the win is credited for revitalizing the football program once again. At the University of Texas, Crain set records that still stand today.

After college

When Crain's college career ended, he joined the U.S. Navy as an officer in World War II. Following the war, he returned to Nocona, where he lived for the rest of his life. His celebrity status helped him to be elected to three terms in the Texas House of Representatives from District 61.

In 1978, his wife, Jean Crain, was killed when a building in downtown Nocona collapsed from a heavy accumulation of snow. This event provided the impetus for Crain to found a church called Jean's Men's Bible Class. This nondenominational church, named after his wife, is still active today. Crain died October 22, 1994, at the age of 74.

References
  • Schmidt, Ray. "The Nocona Cowboy" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  • Nocona ISD Web Authors. "Jack Crain". Nocona Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on 2004-06-21. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  • Little, Bill. "The Play that Changed the Face of Texas Football" (PDF). MackBrown-Texas Football. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-10-13. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  • "Great Games & Moments: Pre-1940". MackBrown-Texas Football. Archived from the original on 2007-10-10. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  • Little, Bill. "Great Games & Moments: Pre-1940". MackBrown-Texas Football. Archived from the original on 2007-03-28. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  • "Jack Crain". Nocona Community Network. Archived from the original on 2007-09-12. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  • "Individual Interception Records" (PDF). MackBrown-Texas Football. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-10-13. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  • "Texas Longhorn's Men's Athletic Hall of Fame". TexasSports.Com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  • Finnell, Charles. "House Bill No. 26". Texas House of Representatives. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  • Demoss, Brandon; Bill Spencer. "Saving the UT Football Program". Nocona Community Network. Archived from the original on 2007-09-15. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
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