The month of April has been especially difficult for many within the Baylor letterwinners family as seven former players have passed away during the past few weeks.  Losing so many friends, teammates, and loved ones in such a short span of time is beyond our comprehension, but with time and patience, God will bring peace and healing to those who are suffering from these losses.  In your daily prayers, please remember the families of the following Baylor letterwinners who have gone on be with Him:

 

Billy White “Whitey” Carroll – Track 1949-51 – Sunday afternoon, April 17, 2016, Billy Carroll, 87, was welcomed into heaven by his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Bill was born in Electra, Texas on March 20, 1929, in Henderson and was the proud son of T.D. and Mittie Carroll. He was the namesake of W.R. White, an outstanding Baptist leader and former president of Baylor University. The family moved to Henderson, in 1935, where Bill graduated from Henderson High School in 1948. He was an outstanding athlete, especially in Track & Field. In the 1947 Texas Junior College Championship, he won the 100-yard dash with the time of 9.5 seconds, which, at the time, was only 1/10th of a second from world record holder, Jessie Owens. Bill later accepted a scholarship to Baylor University and continued a successful Track & Field career. Graveside Services were held on Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at Lakewood Memorial Park.

 

C. Jack Schleuning – Football 1948, 51, Track 1949-52 – passed away on April 4, 2016.  Jack graduated from Brackenridge High School in 1948. He was a tri-captain of the first football state championship team from San Antonio in 1947. He also competed in track and field and won the city championship in the 110 high hurdles with a record time that stood for years afterward.  Jack was an avid “fighting eagle” and was a class representative for the BHS reunions until his death.  After graduating high school, Jack was awarded a full athletic scholarship to Baylor University. While pursuing a degree in Business Administration, he competed in football and track and field. In Jack’s senior year, the Bears were nationally ranked and were invited to play Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl.  Funeral service were held on Friday, April 15, 2016 at Sunset Funeral Home in San Antonio, Texas. In lieu of Flowers, the family suggested a donation in Jack’s name to Boysville; PO Box 369, Comfort, Texas 78139.

 

Tom Muecke – Football 1983-85, passed away Saturday, April 23, 2016.  Tom, 52, played quarterback for the Bears from 1982-85, and helped them reach the 1983 Bluebonnet Bowl and 1985 Liberty Bowl. He finished his college career with 3,688 yards passing and 29 touchdowns.  He went on to play seven seasons in the Canadian Football League. Tom earned his Doctor of Optometry degree at the University of Houston College of Optometry and practiced in Clear Lake. He is survived by his wife, Alison Antill Muecke; children, MacKenzie and Garrett.  Friends are cordially invited to the visitation with the family on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Jeter Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, 311 N. Friendswood Dr., Friendswood, TX 77546 (281) 992-7200.  Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 10:00 A.M. at Friendswood United Methodist Church, 110 N. Friendswood Dr., Friendswood, TX 77546 with Rev. Gale Towns officiating.  Interment will follow at 3:00 P.M. at the Angleton Cemetery in Angleton, TX.   In lieu of flowers, monetary donations can be sent to the Angleton Wildcat Football Booster Club, 1 Campus Dr., Angleton, TX 77515 or the Friendswood Mustang Football Booster Club, 702 Greenbriar Dr, Friendswood, TX 77546.  Condolences may be sent to the Muecke family in care of Jeter Memorial Funeral Home at www.jeterfuneralhome.com.

 

Jim Millerman – Football 1955, Track 1956-59, passed away on April 22, 2016. A native of Abilene, Texas, Jim is survived by his wife of 59 years, the love his life, Esther Millerman, his son James Millerman, III and wife Elena, his daughter Melayne Packer and husband Ian, and his son Eric Millerman.  Jim was an accomplished athlete in high school and college, excelling in football and track. He was a captain and running back of the Abilene High School Eagles football team in 1954, which started a streak of three consecutive state titles and 49 straight victories. This winning streak earned Abilene High School the distinction of Texas High School Football “Team of the Century” from the Dallas Morning News. Jim also was a captain of the Abilene High track team and ran the lead leg on the 440-yard relay team that won the state championship with the fastest time in the nation that year. Jim went on to graduate from Baylor University in 1959 and joined the family insurance business, Millerman & Millerman, in Abilene.  A memorial service was held April 25, 2016 at 2:00pm at Grace Bible Church, Dallas, Texas.

 

Knox Pittard – Football 1965, passed away on April 24, 2016.  Knox is survived by his wife of nearly 52 years, Pam; son, Steve and wife, Belinda, of Frisco; son, Kirk and wife, Lisa, of Grapevine. Knox was an all-around athlete at Mozelle High School where he lettered in football, basketball, track and field. The Mozelle Mustangs were District Champions in football all four years in high school, and he was named to the All-District Football team each year. In 2006, he was named to the Texas Six Man Hall of Fame. In addition to athletics, he was Valedictorian of his senior class in 1962. Following high school, he was offered a football scholarship to Baylor University where he was the second leading scorer on the freshman football team. At age 15, he met the love of his life, Pam, and they enjoyed their college years together at Baylor University. Following his college career, Knox had a brief stint in the NFL with the Baltimore Colts and the Atlanta Falcons.. He received his BBA from Baylor University in 1966 and then returned to obtain his MBA in Management and Marketing at Baylor in 1968.  Knox’s business career started with IBM in 1968. He spent 40 years in high tech areas, including AT&T, Southwestern Bell, GTE, and Intervoice.  The visitation will be Wednesday, April 27 from 6:00-8:00pm at Lucas Funeral Home, 1321 Precinct Line Road, Hurst, TX. The memorial service will be at 1:00pm on Thursday, April 28 in the chapel of First Baptist Church Euless, 1000 Airport Freeway, Euless, TX. Interment is at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park, 5725 Colleyville Blvd., Colleyville, Texas following the service.  In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Knox’s name to Six Stones Ministry for missions, First Baptist Euless, 209 North Industrial Blvd., Suite 241, Bedford, Texas 76021; the Baylor ‘”B “Association, c/o Baylor Athletics, 1500 South University Parks Dr., Waco, TX, 76706; or the Louis and Eugenia Pittard Endowed Athletic Scholarship Fund in Football, c/o Baylor University Gift Office, One Bear Place, #97050, Waco, TX 76798; or your favorite charity.

 

Fred Allen – Football 1963-64, passed away, April 24,  2016.  He was 72. Fred was born August 19, 1943 to Adrian and Zona Surles Allen in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His early years were spent in Cisco, Texas, where he was known as the “Cisco Kid”. He graduated from Abilene High School and entered Baylor University on a full football scholarship. Baylor won the Blue Bonnet Bowl his senior year. He played semi-pro ball in Plano, Texas. His job with Texas Bank & Trust in Dallas, Texas enabled him to introduce Master Card and Visa to the area merchants.  Later, he worked as the financial officer for a property company that constructed and maintained office complexes and multi-family dwellings. This job took him to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1980.  After retiring from the banking industry, Fred started Noah’s Pantry, a pet boutique with food and fashions for pets. Fred’s survivors include his wife, Marilyn Allen of Gassville, AR; daughter, Lisa (Carl) Swoboda of Livingston, MT; and son, Eric (Tina) Allen of Overland Park, KS.  Services will be at 10:00 AM Friday, April 29, 2016 at Kirby and Family Funeral Home 600 Hospital Dr Mountain Home, AR.

 

John Borders – Basketball 1957, passed away on March 30, 2016, due to pancreatic cancer. He was 78. John was born in Dallas, Texas and raised in Waxahachie, Texas by Marvin and Ouida Borders. He is survived by his wife Pam of 34 years.  From humble beginnings as an announcer at KBEC 1390 AM, the native of Waxahachie left his home town after high school to build his career in radio. John attended Baylor University on a basketball scholarship. He played basketball two years but found radio to be his passion at KBEC. A few of John’s accomplishments include: owned and operated 36 stations in Midwest and Southwest including two Dallas FM’s; served on board National Association of Broadcasters; 2001 inducted into Texas Radio Hall of Fame; and 2001 chosen Radio Ink Magazine’s “National Broadcaster of the Year. Memorial services were held on April 2, 2016 at Highland Park United Methodist Church, Dallas, Texas.