Meredith Death Stirs Great Memories
DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - The death of Cowboys quarterback Don Meredith will certainly be one that stirs great memories of a "larger than life" Dallas Cowboy who was truly beloved by teammates.
The former SMU Mustang died early last night in Santa Fe, New Mexico as he had been battling emphysema. He was 72.
Former team-mate Walt Garrison, one of Meredith's closest friends on the team, praised him for his great sense of humor and called him "a great human being" and a "great quarterback who didn't have a lot of help" in his prime days with the Cowboys.
Meredith vanished from the public eye after his marvelous stint on Monday Night Football. He told Garrison that he was simply tired of being on the stage for all of those years, so he moved away to New Mexico and rarely attended many Cowboys functions. I saw him at exactly one. Meredith showed up for Tom Landry's charity golf tournament on a regular basis. I don't recall much of our conversation but remember on that day, he was very approachable and kind.
Garrison told me in a recent interview that Meredith really liked him because they both had an affection for country music, and he kind of became "Meredith's rookie."
"One night Meredith insisted that I go out with him and the guys the night before a pre-season game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I was hugging the commode all night after being instructed that I was going to be drinking bourbon, which was not my drink of choice. The next day, I didn't expect to play much but Landry called me into the game. Meredith was waiting in the huddle and said, "Well, well, well, look who it is...It's puddin'" (Walt substituted that word for what Meredith really called him.) The Cowboys proceeded to hand the ball off to me about six times in a row right up the gut, and the whole huddle was riding me because I was so hung over. They just kept feeding me the ball."
Meredith is survived by his wife, Susan and funeral arrangements are pending. Knowing Meredith, he probably sang his signature Willie Nelson song during his last breaths. Yes, the party is over but the memories will live forever.
Wally Lynn covers the Dallas Cowboys for 105.3 The Fan
