by Randy Willis
A friend calls and says, “Let’s have lunch.” We decide to try something new. We drive east on Cesar Chavez, trying to determine what sounds good.
We turn right and cross Town Lake. There we spot a Hooters. Have you ever eaten there?” my friend asked.
“No.”
“Me neither, surely they have cheeseburgers.”
All this happens every day across Austin. Unless your driver is one of only four people named an Official State Hero of Texas by the Texas legislature. No, not Davy Crockett, Stephen F. Austin, or Sam Houston, although they are on the list, but the fourth Earl Campbell.
As we walked in, I noticed people started to stare and whisper. No problem, he has long since gotten used to that attention.
A huge guy introduces himself. As we looked up from our menus, we discovered he is not our server. Thank God, one could only imagine him in those orange shorts. He explains he once played football on the 40 acres for the Texas Longhorns. Earl did not recognize his name.
Our waitress took our order as the former lineman spoke, “Two cheeseburgers and fries,” I said. We never got to eat them. As Earl autographed the lineman’s menu, a line formed. Earl autographed every menu in the room while leaning over to take dozens of photos.
And none of that was a problem for Earl. The problem was that he never got to take a single bite of his cheeseburger. The former UT football player began recalling every time Earl ran the ball, including the time Earl knocked over Bevo.
And that was no problem, but Earl was hungry and looked at me, saying, “We’ve got to go.” As we walked out the door, the former player was still talking.
“What about your cheeseburger, Earl?”
I couldn’t resist: “You eat it, it’s on Earl.”
Coach Darrell Royal once told me at Cisco’s in East Austin after being interrupted several times during our lunch. “That comes with the territory. If it bothers anyone, they don’t need to coach at the University of Texas.”
But that was little solace for Earl’s hunger pains. So, I recommended we eat at The Headliners Club, which I was a member. I assured him there would be no interruptions at the private club. But they did not serve burgers. We were not dressed appropriately that day for even lunch at The Headliners.
We found a drive-through and agreed to have lunch there the next day.
Thus began a journey. It would include The Headliners Club. Many of the local celebrities in Austin were also part of this journey, save one. The charity event would become a benefit at The Headliners Club. Earl Campbell and I would host it for Azleway Boys and Girls Ranch. And a golf tournament would also take place at the Dallas Cowboys Golf Club.
Earl Campbell and Randy Willis. The Headliners Club. Austin, Texas.
Later, Earl asked me about becoming a member. He did so with a look only someone with 36″ thighs could. The truth is, I knew they would be honored to have him as a member. That is, unless he had robbed a bank, I was unaware of, with the exception of the NFL.
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The next step was to secure the venue, The Headliners Club agreed. But what about the golf tournament?
Earl and I met in his office. As we sat around his conference table, we discussed our roles in the two events. I asked where the best place for the golf tournament was.
“Jerry’s,” he said.
“Jerry, Jerry who?” I asked.
“Jones, do you know him?”
“I played golf with him once, but I’m not exactly on his Christmas card list.”
“I’ll call him,” Earl said.
I booked Vallejo for the music. I was the executive producer for their current album.
The Vallejo Brothers, Randy Willis, and Earl Campbell.
With that out of the way, Earl said, “Call Larry Gatlin.”
“I’m not on his Christmas card list, either.”
“I have a suggestion,” I said. “You give me their number. I will get them on the phone. Then, I will hand you the phone after saying, I’ve got Earl Campbell on the line for you.”
I called Ben Crenshaw’s office. His secretary explained he was playing in a golf tournament in Palm Beach or some other exotic place. There would be no need for her to call him, she said, since it was Earl Campbell. Please drop by. She would have an autographed flag ready from the Masters.
“Piece of cake,” I thought. That is, until the next call.
When I called this person’s office, they explained that Earl would have to fill out a form. They would then let us know if our event has been approved within 60 days. I explained the event would be over by then.
Discretion is the better part of valor; therefore, I would never indicate who he was. Being dragged by wild horses would not get it out of me. I was told he liked to ride bicycles.
At that point, I said, “Earl, I will dial the number and hand you the phone. And we will cut out the middleman, me.”
Not a single person said no. The few that had prior commitments, such as Coach Mack Brown, sent something to be auctioned.
A Few More of the Items Donated.
I donated an autographed guitar signed by Willie Nelson and George Strait that I kept in my living room. The highest bid was $10,000.
Earl and I are in his office with the Azelway staff.
Thank God for Earl Campbell’s commitment to the kids of Azleway. The two events were extraordinary. However, it was the photo shoot at Earl’s mother’s home near Tyler that I will always cherish the most.
Earl and I arrived at Ann Campbell’s home the night before. And yes, she prepared her famed hamburgers for us that Earl had been bragging about the entire trip. After our dinner, I asked Earl, in private, if it would be okay to ask his mother for the recipe.
“You can ask her. But she won’t give it to you?” It was a family secret, and I appreciated that being from the South.
The next morning, I arose before Earl. Miss Campbell handed me a cup of coffee and a hot buttered biscuit. She was an incredible cook.
I listened as she shared story after story. It was all about her kids. I was mesmerized.
I asked, “Miss Campbell, how did the road in front of your home get its name, Ann Campbell Road?”
She explained that one of her sons called one day. It was not Earl. “Mama, the county has named the road after you,” he said.
She added, “I told him they shouldn’t do that. Many old people deserve that more than me out here.” Then she smiled, “You know I kind of like it now. When someone asks how to get to my house, I just say: “Turn right on Ann Campbell Road.”‘
Miss Campbell then sat at her kitchen table with me. Earl bought this house for her after being drafted first overall in the 1978 NFL draft.
I mentioned how proud she must be of Earl. She reminisced, “After their Daddy died, I gathered my children around me. I told them, ‘If you get arrested, I’ve got no money to pay the county.” She smiled, “And to this very day not a one of them has ever been arrested.” She had 11 children.
If you were not raised in the South, you may not understand the significance of that statement. This is especially true during her children’s youth. Being poor and black added another layer of complexity to the challenge of getting ahead in life. And that is the understatement of the year.
Her humility was evident. It reminded me of when Coach Darrell Royal visited her. He wanted to recruit Earl to play football at the University of Texas. Ann Campbell was ill and apologized for her home. Coach Royal explained there was no need for that. Her house was much nicer than the one he grew up in, in Oklahoma, Coach Royal added.
Scores of colleges recruited Earl. After that visit, she told Earl he needed to play football for that man. Over the years, Coach Royal and Ann Campbell became close friends.
Miss Campbell permitted me to take this photo, although I never asked for Earl’s.
Earl Campbell’s childhood home.
A few Photos from the Event at The Headliners Club
My friend Benny McArthur, on the right, is with George Strait’s band.
Thank God for our many volunteers.
And as always, my family. Aaron and Baylee Willis below. Baylee is a freshman this year at the University of Texas at Austin.
My granddaughter, Baylee Willis, is a freshman at the University of Texas this year. She has never missed a home football game. She is there on a scholarship as the Valedictorian of her high school.
That’s a wrap!
No event of this magnitude can take place without a lot of help. This photo was taken in my backyard.
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That’s my sons in a shootout from inside Willis General Store, Willis Bros. Cafe, and Ropers Saloon in the painting. I owned Ropers Nightclub at the time. It cost the two bandits their lives, so the story goes. At least that’s what I tell my grandchildren. The photo to the left shows Coach Royal with me in my backyard. This was during an annual pickin’ party in his honor. He never missed one. The one to the right was also taken in my backyard during a video shoot.
Earl called me a week after the event and said, “I believe you have something of mine.” I loaded his trophy and was at his office within the hour. But it sure looked impressive on my fireplace mantle. Although none of my friends believed it was real.
My life is but a footnote to the following Good News. —Randy Willis.
“Many today have just enough religion to inoculate them from knowing Christ.” —Randy Willis.
According to the Bible, we all have feet of clay and fall short of God’s glory. Our righteousness is described in the Bible as filthy rags. God’s grace (his undeserved favor) is available to us all. However, we must accept His gift of forgiveness. This gift was bought and paid for on the cross with Jesus Christ’s blood. You can say yes to Jesus’ free gift right now.
Our greatest need is forgiveness. Christ came to forgive us, but we must accept that free gift.
The most famous 25 words ever written: “For God so loved the world. He gave His only begotten Son. Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
If these words are how you feel in your heart, then pray:
“Heavenly Father,
I pray to You, asking for the forgiveness of my sins.
I confess with my mouth. I believe with my heart that Jesus is Your Son. He died on the cross at Calvary, so I might be forgiven.
Father, I believe that Jesus rose from the dead. I ask Jesus to come into my life as my personal Lord and Savior.
I turn from my sins and will surrender to your will throughout my life.
Your word is truth. I confess with my mouth that I am born again. I am cleansed by the blood of Jesus!
In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!”
Vaya con Dios my friends. —Randy Willis