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Tom Landry

Tom LandryAKA Thomas Wade Landry

Born: 11-Sep-1924
Birthplace: Mission, TX
Died: 12-Feb-2000
Location of death: Dallas, TX
Cause of death: Cancer - Leukemia
Remains: Buried, Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park, Dallas, TX

Gender: Male
Religion: Born-Again Christian
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Football
Party Affiliation: Republican

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Dallas Cowboys Head Coach, 1960-88

Military service: US Army Air Corps (WWII)

A star quarterback in high school, UT-Austin's Longhorns already had that position filled, so Landry played fullback, defensive halfback, and kicker. After graduating in 1949 he played for the NFL's New York Yanks and one year later, the Giants, as defensive back. He acted as both player and assistant coach in 1954-55. Landry retired from play at the end of that season and served as Defensive Coordinator (with Vince Lombardi) until 1959, after which he signed up with the Dallas Cowboys as their first head coach. His time there was brilliant. He brought the Cowboys to five Super Bowls, winning two of them, 1972 and 1978. Over his career he had 270 wins, placing him third overall in the NFL. After Jerry Jones bought the team in 1989 Landry was dismissed and replaced with Jimmy Johnson. Many people feel the way it was done was impolitic. He died from chronic myelogenous leukemia, a rare form of the disease, in 2000.

Father: Ray Landry
Mother: Ruth
Brother: Robert Landry (d. WWII in a B17)
Wife: Alicia Wiggs (m. 28-Jan-1949, until his death, d. 21-Jan-2021, one son, two daughters)
Son: Tom Landry, Jr.
Daughter: Lisa Childress (d. 1995 liver cancer)
Daughter: Kitty

    University: BBA, University of Texas at Austin (1949)

    Texas Sports Hall of Fame 1978
    Pro Football Hall of Fame 1990
    Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity
    Born-Again Christian 1959

    SPORTS FRANCHISE HISTORY
    Dallas Cowboys Head Coach (1960-88)
    New York Giants Defense Coordinator (1954-59)
    New York Giants (1950-55)
    New York Yanks (1949)

Author of books:
Tom Landry: An Autobiography (1990, memoir)


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