- Obert Logan
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Obert Logan Date of birth: December 6, 1941 Place of birth: Yoakum, TX Date of death: January 21, 2003 (aged 61) Place of death: Luling, TX Career information Position(s): Safety College: Trinity (TX) Organizations As player: 1965-1966
1967Dallas Cowboys
New Orleans SaintsPlaying stats at NFL.com Obert Clark "Butch" Logan (December 6, 1941 - January 21, 2003) was a former American football Safety in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints. He played college football for Trinity University. Logan, whose nickname was "The Little O", was the last person in the NFL to wear the single digit 0 before its use was discontinued by the league.
Logan was small for an NFL player. He was 5' 10" and while listed at 182 pounds appeared to weigh closer to 160. He was possessed of good but not overwhelming speed. What set him apart and made him a star athlete was tremendous courage and a full out style of play that gave evidence of his knowledge of, and love for, the game of football.[1] Logan was well liked and respected by his teammates and his courage and attitude toward the game greatly influenced their lives beyond football.[2] Recruited to Trinity as a defensive back Logan was so far the best athlete on the team that his coaches persuaded him to play both ways. Lettering in all four years at Trinity, Logan played defensive back, halfback, and wide receiver.[3] After leaving Trinity, Logan surprised observers by making the Cowboys opening day roster after training camp. Early in his first season with the Cowboys, Logan ran full speed into the receiver on a kickoff forcing a fumble that resulted in a touchdown.[4] In the final minute of the Dallas- Philadelphia game in 1965, Logan picked off a Norm Snead pass to give the Cowboys the win.[5] In the last game of the 1965 season, Logan returned a blocked field goal attempt for a touchdown. The resulting 38-20 victory over the New York Giants gave the Cowboys the first non-losing season in their history.[6] During the 1967 season Logan played safety for the New Orleans Saints. Logan was featured on football trading cards as a New Orleans Saints Safety (1967 Philadelphia #126 Obert Logan, 1968 Topps #4 Obert Logan).
After the NFL Logan played semi-pro football for several teams, notably the San Antonio Toros, before going into coaching. He last coaching job was for the St. Paul Cardinals of Shiner, Texas.[7] He contracted colon cancer and died in Luling, Texas at his home on January 21, 2003 at the age of 61 [8] Logan would often tell friends that the most memorable thing about playing football for the Cowboys was Coach Tom Landry. Logan remembered that the first thing Landry told the rookies at training camp was that his priorities were "God, family and the Dallas Cowboys". Logan recalled being surprised that football was not Landry's first priority.[9]
At Logan's funeral many of his Cowboy's and NFL teammates served as his pall bearers, among them were Lee Roy Jordan, Walt Garrison, Bob Lilly, Don Meredith, and Tex Schramm ( General Manager of the Cowboys). Logan had maintained life long friendships with all of these men.[10] After Logan's death Cowboy great Lee Roy Jordan said of him, "Obert was just a nice guy. I loved being around him. He was undersized and under-everything else but he proved right away that he was a great competitor. He represented the Dallas Cowboys well." [11] Obert Logan was survived by his mother Fannie Mae Logan, wife Patricia, and brother James.[12] Logan has been elected to the Trinity University Hall of Fame.[13]
- ^ Kenneth Ranson, from personal observations made over the course of Logan's career, 2009
- ^ Kelly Jones Allen, personal stories relayed by Logan's friends and football teammates to his family over the course of his life
- ^ San Antonio Express-News, January 22, 2003
- ^ Ranson, 2009
- ^ Dallas Morning News, Cowboys Clip Eagles' Wings, 21-19, 12/6/1965
- ^ San Antonio Express-News, February 15, 2000
- ^ Allen, 2009
- ^ San Antonio Express-News, January 22, 2003
- ^ Allen, 2009
- ^ Allen, 2009
- ^ San Antonio Express-News, January 24, 2003
- ^ Allen, 2009
- ^ Trinity Hall of Fame website, http://www.trinity.edu/departments/athletics/Hall_of_Fame/logan.htm
Categories:- 1941 births
- American football safeties
- Players of American football from Texas
- People from Yoakum, Texas
- Dallas Cowboys players
- Living people
- New Orleans Saints players
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