Robert Lewis Lilly, nicknamed "Mr. Cowboy", is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. He played college football for the TCU Horned Frogs. Lilly was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981.
Independence Stadium is a stadium owned by the city of Shreveport, Louisiana and is the home of the Independence Bowl.
Frederick Vincent "Fritz" Arbanas was an American football tight end. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans. Arbanas was drafted in the second round in the 1961 NFL draft by the St. Louis Cardinals and in the seventh round of the 1961 AFL Draft by the Dallas Texans. He would spend his entire career with the Texans/Chiefs. Following his retirement he served as a legislator in Jackson County, Missouri.
Aaron Devone Glenn is an American football coach and former cornerback who is the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the defensive backs coach for the New Orleans Saints from 2016 to 2020 and also served as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Browns.
Kyle Erickson Mackey is an American football coach and former quarterback who played for the New York Jets, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He was also an Arena Football League (AFL) player, who played quarterback for the Albany Firebirds and the Fort Worth Cavalry. He played college football at Texas A&M University–Commerce from 1980 to 1983 where he was an All-American and led the Lions to the 1983 Lone Star Conference Championship. His father was Dee Mackey, a former tight end for the New York Jets.
Aaron Taylor is an American former college football player who was an offensive lineman for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Taylor was a two-time All-American and won the Outland Trophy in 1997.
Gregory Lemont Ellis is an American football coach and former player. He was the head football coach at Southwestern Assemblies of God University—now known as Nelson University—from 2022 to 2023. Ellis played professionally as a defensive end for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, and was recognized as an All-American. He was selected in the first round of the 1998 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys and played for the Cowboys for 11 seasons, from 1998 to 2008. He also played a season, in 2009, for the Oakland Raiders. Ellis was the head football coach at Texas College in Tyler, Texas from 2020 to 2021.
Robert Taylor III is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, earning consensus All-American honors. A second-round draft pick, he played professionally for the Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks of the NFL.
Malcolm Xavier Kelly is an American football coach and former wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Oklahoma.
David Studdard is a former American professional football player. He was an offensive tackle who played in two National Football League (NFL) Super Bowls for the Denver Broncos. He also played for the National Championship in college football for the Texas Longhorns, losing all three games.
Jamario Thomas is an American former football running back who played college football for the North Texas Mean Green. Thomas led the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in rushing yards as a true freshman in 2004.
Herbert Reginald Taylor, II is an American former professional football offensive tackle. He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL draft. He played college football at Texas Christian.
John Bradley Dusek was an American professional football linebacker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) from 1974 to 1981. He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies.
Longview High School is a public high school located in the city of Longview, Texas, in Gregg County, United States and classified as a 6A school by the UIL. It is a part of the Longview Independent School District located in eastern Gregg County. The school was founded in 1874 as the Longview Male and Female Institute, and the first permanent structure was established in 1885. In 2017, the school earned 7-out-of-7 distinctions from the Texas Education Agency.
Michael Taylor is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1971 and was a consensus All-American in 1971. He played two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets in 1972 and 1973. He also played for the Detroit Wheels in the World Football League in 1974.
John Eugene "Jeb" Blount is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 1976 NFL draft. He played college football at Tulsa, where he completed 320 of 588 passes for 4,372 yards and 35 touchdowns in three seasons as a starter. He was an honorable mention All-American, and American Bowl MVP following his senior season. He claimed to have developed his passing accuracy while herding cattle on his parents' ranch. He would spook the lead bull by hitting him in the head with a football, at which point the entire herd would follow. He lives in Longview, Texas.
Curtis Jamall Brown is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns. He was selected in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Forrest Porter "Chubby" Grigg, Jr. was an American football tackle who played seven seasons in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and National Football League (NFL) in the 1940s and 1950s. Grigg grew up in Texas and attended the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma. After graduating from college, he joined the AAFC's Buffalo Bisons, where he played for a year. Grigg was then sent to the Chicago Rockets in 1947, but stayed only one season before joining the Cleveland Browns in 1948. The Browns won all of their games and the AAFC championship that season. Cleveland again won the AAFC championship in 1949 before the league dissolved and the Browns were absorbed by the more established NFL. Grigg continued to play for the Browns in 1950 and 1951. The team won the NFL championship in 1950, and reached the title game but lost it the following year. Grigg spent a final season with the Dallas Texans before retiring from football.
Bobby Frank Collier was an American football offensive tackle who played one season with the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Rams in the 18th round of the 1950 NFL draft. He played college football at Southern Methodist University and attended Longview High School in Longview, Texas.
The 2007 East–West Shrine Game was the 82nd staging of the all-star college football exhibition game featuring NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision players. The game featured over 90 players from the 2006 college football season, and prospects for the 2007 draft of the professional National Football League (NFL). In the week prior to the game, scouts from all 32 NFL teams attended. The proceeds from the East–West Shrine Game benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children.
