History and Awards

1. An Old
Compiled by:
Brad & Jan Angers
March, 2007 Click to advance slides
Ref l ect ions

2. Int r oduct ion
I came as a guest of Dr Henry Nuss to put on a comedy magic show for the Bonehead Club in
1960. Grover Keeton was Big Chief .... A part of my act required a member of the audience to hold
a 25 pound block of ice while I ignored him. Towards the end of my act (about 20 minutes or so
later, at the request of the members I turned my attention to the member holding the ice. He was
R.C. Rains, one of the largest men in the club. His fingers had melted a good four inches in the ice.
He never said a word. His eyes though were filled with blood & daggers. I said I almost forgot
about you ... you can set it down now . His hands were blue and wet. I said Here .. lets dry off
those hands. I then cut off his tie to wipe them. The group rolled in laughter. R.C. Still was quiet ...
almost too quiet.
The next day R.C. called me and asked that I be at their
next meeting. I had no idea what I was in for ... but I went.
When the meeting began I was asked to come to the head
table where Dr. Grover Keeton & Dr Layton Bailey, Jr. said
that I had been proposed for membership. I had been
asked to join a group of the cream of Dallas businessmen.
I was overwhelmed. For the next 37 years I attended
meetings, had fun and put out the Pithy.
I rose thru the offices of Scribbler, Money Grabber and
Little Chief. J .Howard Payne had asked me to take over the
office of Archives. And I carried those duties with gusto. I
was officially sworn in as Big Chief in 1977. And along with
the many programs the Boneheads had, I added The
Bonehead of the Year Awards. Working with my good
Friend Dr. Daugherty for over 24 years. My wife Jan & I left
Dallas and moved to Florida in 1997. I have been an active
member of the Bonehead Club for over 37 years. Br adf or d J. Anger s

3. Who Are We???
Classifying the Boneheads would be like explaining how no two snowflakes are alike. A Bonehead loves life. He has learned how to
laugh at life and is always ready to venture into unknown worlds.
Only in the Bonehead Club would one find a man like D.Harold Byrd, who on a whim, charters a couple of planes and takes the
Boneheads to Mexico just to be a little different. A group that would don overalls, acquire a couple of trucks, park them in an
intersection outside the Adolphus Hotel. Then with compressed air jackhammers. break a 4 ft by 4 ft hole in the middle of commerce
street, (while uniformed police that were afraid to ask why) directed traffic around the area. Soon as a 4ft hole was opened, a second
truck backed up and the Boneheads planted a tree in the intersection an jumped in the trucks and drove away.
Only the Boneheads could block the runways at Love Field and hold up traffic for two hours to settle an issue. (The airline had to fly
in 20 hostesses to take the club to breakfast before they relented)
Only the Boneheads could give a Bonehead trophy to the President of The United States and get enough of a laugh out of him to
have him call upon Mickey Mantle to fly to Dallas to get his trophy. The pre-presentation party the night before, the President called.
A waitress came in and asked “Is there a Brad Angers in here” I stood up and she “said some nut says he is the president wants to
talk to you.” It was his acceptance of the trophy.
Only the Boneheads would get up and walk out on Bob Hope as he rose to speak. (When other clubs were paying $10,000. for just
10 minutes of his time), get their laughs from a couple of disk jockeys who were walked out on and decided to get even. They went a
week without shaving, and in wrinkled clothes, mussed hair and a sleepless appearance were at the Bonehead rostrum talking as
though they never left. The Boneheads loved it and made them honorary members of the Club.
Only the Boneheads would lay honor on the first team to lose a Superbowl, or get a judge in Las Vegas to issue a subpoena to
have Jimmy The Greek appear at a meeting.
Only the Boneheads would hold a silver service, candle-lit dinner in a McDonalds, or get the city to turn over an old fire department
hook and ladder truck so that they could repair, repaint and renumber it #57 then give it back to the city so they could take them to
the State Fair of Texas to close the gates………….. But the memories live on.
In The Beginning.......
One summer in 1919, A few of Dallas’s most famous and influential leaders were having
breakfast in the coffee shop in the old Oriental Hotel,(later to be called the Baker Hotel) a
gathering which had become a ritual. Among them were Joe Bailey, you know, the Mobile Oil guy
that owns that building with the big flying Red Horse on top, W.C. Evertt, an executive with
“The Official Family”, Texas Sunday School Association and later the first Big Chief of The
Bonehead Club. Newspaper man, Lewis Bailey, Judge W.C. Graves, S.M.U. Dean, E.D. Jennings, J.
Howard Payne, Journalist J. J. Taylor, and Newspaper man George Webster.
Joe Bailey casually asked the waitress if their group was getting too big. She retorted, “I
enjoy listening to you boneheads” That remark struck home and all agreed they really were
boneheads and even began referring to themselves as such.

4. J. J. Taylor said they should form a club and have formal meetings. They all agreed and asked
Joe Bailey and J. Howard Payne to go to Austin and file corporation papers for the club.
In Austin they faced a mild mannered clerk who was to file the necessary papers. He asked
“What do you call your organization?” J. Howard Payne said “The Bonehead Club of Dallas”. The
clerk kept a straight face and then asked if they had their Resolutions. Joe Bailey said I guess
so, and said “Resolved, to learn more and more about less and less, until eventually we shall
know everything about nothing”. Again the clerk kept a straight face and finished the filing
procedure. The Bonehead Club of Dallas was now official.
THE MEETINGS: The Club met for a few years at the Baker Hotel and later took up residence in the
Adolphus Hotel across the street, where it met for over 65 years. During a major remodeling of the
hotel they began meeting at various hotels and clubs.
THE MEMBERSHIP: The membership was limited, by charter, to 57 (Fifty-seven) members. The reason
given was that in 1919 Heinz had advertised their 57 varieties of pickles...so...we became the 57
varieties of NUTS. The members elected to wear a derby as a part of their dress.Because
limitations placed on membership and the desire of many Dallasites wanting to be members (one had
to be sponsored for membership) and a desire to keep everyone happy, the club created the class of
want-to-be’s as a “Half Baked” list where they could attend meetings and have lunch but were not
allowed to vote on issues. They would be admitted to active membership as a place became available
basis. The Club has a Big Chief as President, Little Chief as Vice President, A Money Grabber as
Treasurer and a Scribbler as Secretary.
RECOGNITION The Dallas Morning News in October of 1927 devoted an entire section of their paper
(12 pages) to the Bonehead Club. This paper was later reprinted by Dr. Brad Angers.
BONEHEAD BULLETIN The derby covered osseous make-up of a Bonehead’s bean has been referred to a
mass of pithy knowledge, thus the instinctive naming of their bulletin as The Pithyossious. Most of
the time it has little to offer, other times the Pithy runneth over.
HISTORICAL FIRSTS: The Bonehead Pea Knife Corporation was founded by Dr.’s Craig Dunlap, J.
Howard Payne, John Collom and Dr. George R. Angell. Dr. Payne said that peas should be eaten with
a knife. Dr. Joe Bailey said that “I eat my peas with honey, I’ve done it all my life. It does
make the peas taste funny, but it keeps them on the knife”. The Pea Knife has a slot running the
length of the blade to align the peas. 57 shares of Stock was issued with a par value of
$1,000,000.00.
Among the antics of the Club, A few stood out. “Annual Look Up Day” This began on a Friday about
a half hour before their meetings. A few members arrived early and stood on the corner looking and
pointing up at the hotel. As others arrived they also began to look up. Pointing and meaningless
dialog such as “Is he going to jump?” etc. soon other people began to gather and as the crowd

5. grew, the members went into the hotel for lunch and their meetings. After lunch as they returned
to the street they usually found a massive crowd, each with their own interpretation of what is
going on. Fire trucks, an ambulance and police were trying to keep order. Oh well.
CLOSING OF THE STATE FAIR: It occurred to the membership that every year the State Fair of
Texas had an opening day ceremony. Ribbon cutting and all that. Well, how can one condone an
opening of an event that had never been officially closed. Well it didn’t take long for the
Boneheads to talk the Dallas Fire Department to drive the Club to the park the day before the
opening so they could have a closing ceremony. It drew a lot of Dallas residents to cheer the
Boneheads riding the fire truck thru downtown Dallas on the way to the park. A tradition that is
still observed.
BONEHEAD OF THE YEAR: In 1963 Dr Brad Angers and Dr Ed Daugherty were having lunch when news
came over the radio about a great winning year for one of Texas teams. Ed said it’s a shame that
only winners get all the honors. Someone should recognize the losers because without them there
would not be winners. Real Bonehead logic at work. Dr Angers suggested that a trophy be made and
given to a loser. This great brain power followed with a trophy but no one to give it to. Then
in a burst of luck, the Cotton Bowl had a real loser. The midshipmen from The United States Naval
Academy came to Texas and lost to Texas 28 to 6. Wow! What an opportunity.
Dr Angers called Admiral Charles C. Kirkpatrick and told him that he was to receive The
Bonehead of The Year Award. Admiral Kirkpatrick Called Capt. Burris Wood, a top Naval Officer,
Capt. William Racette, Commanding Officer of the Naval Air Station, Capt. Jimmy E. Savage, Dir.
Naval Recruiting and Clarence Talley, Pres. Navy League. Capt. Kirkpatrick advised the Club that
he was sending a group of Cadets to bring the trophy to Annapolis.
The Admiral asked if we were going to make this a permanent award to the Academy. Dr Angers
said that if anyone does anything as silly, we would take the trophy back and award it again.
Well as history shows, The following year Jim Marshall a Minnesota Viking scooped up a fumbled
ball and ran the wrong way for a touchdown giving points to the opposing team. The Boneheads had
a real loser, and so the story goes as you will see on the following pages.
But first, a little more of the Bonehead historical history.
>

6. Typical Bonehead Members Awards

7. BONEHEAD CLUB of DALLAS
MOTHER CLUB OF THE WORLD
BONEHEAD UNIVERSITY
Shortly after the Bonehead Club was chartered SMU, the leading
educational institution in this area, was obviously suffering from lack of a top
flight faculty. We know this because the President, Vice-President and
leading professor were members of our September body. Realizing the void
(I can’t spell vacuum), the members established bonehead University, an
institution dedicated to providing infinite knowledge of the nonessential
including, but no limited to, the dispensing of intelligent and refreshing
nonsense.
Every university needs a building. therefore, the Boneheads immediately
began construction of a 57 story edifice with one floor for each professor.
Each member is a professor, of course, because after, the club was
chartered as an educational institution by the State of Texas. Each was
allowed his own style of architecture. Therefore, the 2nd floor is Baroque, the
3rd floor Byzantine, the 4th French Gothic, and so on up to the 57th which is
Rakookoo. Architects might insists the later style be spelled “rococo” but
believe me, our architecture must be spelled with a “k”. As is the case of any
well run institution, the Board of Directors assumed complete responsibility
for the construction. And as is the case in many institution, the Chairman of
the Board, being our Big Chief., appointed committees and made them fully
responsible. Two members were assigned to plan each of the four sides of
the building. One is hang wall construction, another concrete block, another Naturally, the first day of the school year is called the
brick and the fourth side is bamboo and balsa, which allows for a certain “Commencement”. Can you imagine, some institutions
amount of sway, It stands today as an architectural marvel. call the last day of the school year the
You might have a little difficulty finding the campus inasmuch as we don’t “Commencement.” and they call us “Boneheads”.
have one. Actually the original site was intended to be in Letot, Texas, but his This progressive institution is the only graduate school
was the subject of great controversy. Therefore only 56 stories, the 2nd in the world to award the degree of Cerebrum Ataxia
through the 57th, are now being completed, When we find a suitable campus, (confused brain). Many have made application for this
the first floor will be constructed. In the meantime, the building just hangs degree, many wives have nominated their husbands
around in various locations. Each year in April the building committee meets (and vice versa) and many voters have nominated
and insists that the big Chief complete the first floor, which of course is for the leaders of opposing parties. However, this department
use of the Big Chief. So far each Big Chief has immediately call the club is filled to capacity with members of the club, each of
together for what he calls a Christmas party, then resigns and turns the whom finally is awarded this degree. BU has another
problem over to the Little Chief, who is then sworn in as big chief. He, of distinction not shared by any other school, it is the
course, can do nothing until the building committee makes it personal report home of the mother chapter of the fraternity Delta
to him. The building committee only meets in April and is repeated. Kappa Nu (DON’T KNOW NOTHING).

8. Fifty-seven is a magic number to the Dallas
Bonehead Club. Fifty- seven members make up
the local gaggle of gangsters. They call
themselves "fifty--seven varieties of nuts."
That's why the club couldn't stand by and watch
ol' 57 go to the bone yard. Especially since the
obsolete and old 57-foot Dallas fire truck that was
commissioned in 1957 and assigned to Fire
Station 57.
So members pitched in and bought the
decommissioned hook-and-ladder tractor-trailer.
They agreed to return it bright and shiny as a gift
to the Fire Department. Veteran firefighters
warned the Boneheads that restoring it to former
glory could cost up to $100,000.
"That's about what it took," says club archivist
Brad Angers. That includes the generosity of local
businessmen and 3,000 hours of Bonehead
power. Members provided nearly all the labor. For
a year, they worked on the truck nights and
weekends in a Carrollton warehouse.
On Friday, opening day of the State Fair (when The Bonehead Pea Knife Corporation was founded by Dr.’s Craig Dunlap,
Boneheads traditionally hold closing ceremonies), J. Howard Payne, John Collom and Dr. George R. Angell. Dr. Payne said
ol' 57, bright and shiny, will go home to stay. "It that peas should be eaten with a knife. Dr. Joe Bailey said that “I eat my
was a labor of love," says Angers. But if any peas with honey, I’ve done it all my life. It does make the peas taste
Bonehead dares to suggest restoring another old funny, but it keeps them on the knife”. The Pea Knife had a slot running
fire engine, he can forget it. Once is more than the length of the blade to align the peas. Dr. Arthur A. Everts issued 57
shares of stock with a par value of $1,000,000.00.
enough.

9. Sunday, August 21,1966
DALLAS TIMES HERALD
Nothing's Fine For Boneheads
By TOMMY AYRESStaff Writer
While others strive for such commendable goals as ending all war and buying': band uniforms, one stalwart group of Dallasites finds its
Inspiration in the motto: "To learn more and more about less and less until, eventually,' we know everything about nothing."
Many are their contributions to the civic and social well being of Dallas. Among the more noteworthy are:
The Bonehead Building- a 56-floor architectural marvel because It was supposed to have 57 floors and the first floor has yet to be completed.
The creation of Bonehead University - the world's only educational institution dedicated solely to providing an infinite
knowledge of the nonessential. Sponsorship of the Most Useless Citizen Award - presented annually to Dallas' "most useless citizen."
Few are the Dallasites who have not heard of the colorful shenanigans pulled by the Bonehead Club of Dallas over the years. Yet few are
aware of the serious goals which motivate their actions - mostly because there are none.
"The Bonehead Club," explains Howard Payne, the only remaining charter member, "was organized that gentlemen might get together and
Indulge in a bit of wit and humor.
"EVERYTHING WE DO is strictly in fun," he says. "We leave service to the service clubs."
In reality, most of the Boneheads are deadly serious civic workers in other organizations. But each Friday at noon they blot out all worldly cares,
let down their hair (those who are so fortunate) and have a knee - slapping good time.
It all began back in 1919 when a gent named W. C. Everett decided such an organization was needed in a world beset by such awesome
problems.
His idea was well received it soon became apparent the club would have to set a membership limitation.
AFTER MUCH thought and discussion. it was decided the number would be 57 - only coincidental was the fact a popular dilly of the day
advertised 57 varieties of pickles.
The club gained early fame by actually doing a good deed.
It all started one day when the city police and fire commissioners unceremoniously began poking one another with doubled fists, … but …
Unbeknownst to the combatants, the Boneheads elected themselves mediators and invited both to their next meeting. There, two club members
armed themselves with cotton - stuffed black stockings and engaged in a donnybrook equaled only by War II. The commissIoners doubled in
laughter. shook hands and became famous friends.
The Boneheads gained national notoriety in the 1940s after Elliot Roosevelt's dog replaced a soldier on a flight from England. They hauled an
army of yelping mutts to the airline's Dallas office and demanded passage for them.
"Elliot's dog ain't no better than ours,"They argued.
WHEN THE COUNTRY was without a vice president back in 1945, the Boneheads offered Truman his choice of any or all of their 56 years.
A major Bonehead contribution to science came when club members unquestionably proved a chicken is a vegetable .
After much research it was determined - "a chicken is a hen . . . a hen manufactures eggs . . . therefore a hen is an egg factory…….. A factory
is a plant…so being a plant ... , a hen has to be a vegetable" - …or logic similar thereof.
Bonehead University was created, (say the Boneheads) because Southern Methodist University was suffering from a lack of top flight faculty
members.
BONEHEAD UNIVERSITY confers degrees of Doctor of Cerebrum(brain) Ataxia. (confusion) in an effort to upgrade the SMU faculty.
In 1963 the Bonehead of the Year Award was established by the award-conscious Boneheads. Last year's recipient was Jim Marshall,
Minnesota Viking end who endeared himself to the August body by running the wrong way or a touchdown.
Marshall lived up to his "wrong way" title by boarding the wrong plane and being in Chicago while the trophy was presented to him in Dallas.
"The only fellow to get something on us," recalls Payne was Weldon Owens (Times Herald columnist). He walked out on us first--but we're still
laying for him."

10. D al l as M orni ng N ews ,
1964.
BONEHEAD CLUB 'HONORS'
Thursday,January 16,
1964
NAVY WITH GRID TROPHY
The Dallas Bonehead Club will award its annual football trophy to The
UNITED STATES Naval Academy Friday in the Cafe D'Or room of The
Sheraton Dallas Hotel at their regular noon meeting.
Receiving the award for the Navy will be several Dallas area officers
appointed by Adm. Charles C. Kirkpatrick, Naval Academy Superin-
tendent.
The award is being presented to Navy for their 'Bonehead' stunt of
challenging the entire State of Texas in the Cotton Bowl. The Bonehead
Club is Dallas' leading fun club. It searches out the unusual and pays
tribute to the hapless.
"This Is our sincerest form of tribute to a gallant Navy team that despite
their numbers invaded Texas, and against overwhelming odds were
soundly beaten." The trophy, a beautiful walnut and silver creation is
topped by a large silver nut.
The Bonehead Club can speak with authority on football as their
school, Bonehead University, has a football team that has gone
unbeaten and untied since 1919. (Of course it has never played a DUBIOUS HONOR FOR NAVY
game). Capt. Burris D. Wood Jr., center, ranking
Naval officer in the Dallas area, accepts the
"Bonehead of the Year" award. The award
was presented in its usual zany tradition by
the Dallas Bonehead Club to the Naval
Academy for making the mistake of
challenging Texas in the recent Cotton Bowl
Game, which Texas won, 28-6. Capt. Burris
went along with the gag to accept in behalf of
the Academy from Bonehead Club Big Chief
Tom Eggleston, left and Little Chief Glen
Galbraith.

11. 1964
Middies’ Reward
A Navy Kernel?
Are They Nuts?
A large silver nut supported by a
trophy was to be presented to the U.S.
Naval Academy at noon Friday in the
latest nutty affair staged by the Dallas
Bonehead Club. The award, says the
club, is being presented to Navy for its
"Bonehead" stunt of challenging "the
entire State of Texas in the Cotton
Bowl."! Receiving the award in the
Sheraton-Dallas Hotel were to be
officers appointed by retiring Academy
Supt. C. C. Kirkpatrick: Capt B. D.
Wood, inspector of naval material;
Capt. William A. Racette, commanding
officer of the U.S. Naval Air Station;
Capt. Jimmy E. Savage, director of
naval recruiting for the Seventh
Recruiting Area; Clarence Talley,
President of the Navy League, and
several enlisted men. The Bonehead
Club says its presentation "is our
sincerest form of tribute to a gallant
Navy team that, despite their number,
invaded Texas and against
overwhelming odds were soundly
beaten." The trophy is a silver and
walnut creation. Members of the
Bonehead Club, an organization
dedicated to unusual stunts, are Program Chairman Dr. Brad Angers shaking hands
leading citizens of Dallas. with Capt. Burris Wood, USN

12. Viking Late at Valhalla
A Day for the Boneheads
Jim Marshall pulled the bonehead play of the 1964 football season. The Minnesota Viking
defensive back picked up a San Francisco fumble ran with it - the wrong way. He journeyed for
60 yards to score a safety for the 49gers.
For this classic play Marshall was selected as Bonehead of the Year by that famous bunch of
Dallas - nuts, the Bonehead Club. Friday Was Marshall's day. The award that last year went to
1965
Navy for its decision to play Texas in the Cotton Bowl went to Marshall.
The Boneheads gathered en masse Friday morning at Love Field to meet their good-natured
hero. A host of beautiful girls was on hand. A police escort was around to lead Marshall to the
Adolphus Hotel luncheon in his honor.
There were signs kidding Marshall. The best one read: "Jim Marshall ... Welcome Back to San
Francisco." But Marshall didn't laugh . Jim Marshall did it again. He missed his airplane in
Minneapolis. Pictured:
Minnesota Vikings” Jim Marshall, left, and
Reed May, “Coach of Bonehead University”,
got together upon Marshall’s” belated arrival
in Dallas yesterday. Friday, January 22, 1965.
February 1, 1965
Jim Marshall, as having “a first-rate mind, a winning BONEHEAD CLUB TO HONOR
disposition and a community-wide reputation”. On that last VIKINGS’ WRONG-WAY END
point there can be no doubt, Marshall is the Minnesota The Dallas Bonehead Club will award its annual football trophy to
Viking defensive end who picked up a fumble and ran 66 Jim Marshall, defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings, Friday in the
yards the wrong way, thereby scoring a safety for San Century Room of the Hotel Adolphus at their regular noon meeting.
Francisco. His other activities have included making 34 The trophy was awarded to the Naval Academy last year and is
parachute jumps without once putting the harness on being returned to Dallas for its representation.
upside down, shooting himself in the stomach with a Marshall, a graduate of Ohio State, is the lad who ran the wrong
revolver he as unloading and peddling wigs. He also in the way for a touchdown while his team was playing the San Francisco
same Marshall who was to fly to Dallas recently to receive 49ers, a play well worthy of his being nominated “Bonehead of the
the bonehead of the Year award. Taking the wrong turn off Year.”
the expressway to the airport, Marshall screeched up to the Marshall will receive presentations at the luncheon from the Junior
terminal late for his flight, raced out to the boarding area Chamber of Commerce and other groups was well as the trophy. A
and - that’s right -- wound up on a plane for Chicago instead host of Dallas Cowboys (football variety) will also be present.
of Dallas.

13. Marshall Victim of Aerial Boner
By Walter Robertson
News Sports Editor
If and when one of the big movie companies gets around to filming “The Adventures of
Jim Marshall” --- and surely one of them will --- they’ll throw away the scripts.
1965
No script writer could write it the way the big Minnesota Viking defensive end plays it
for real.
MARSHALL, you’ll recall with side-splitting laughter, is the man who picked a
fumbled pass reception off the ground against the San Francisco 49ers this past autumn
and raced it back for a score --- for the 49ers. He sped joyfully into the Viking end zone
only to see the referee woefully signal 49ers safety.
And Friday he added an almost unbelievable chapter to his wrong-way tale.
He left his Minneapolis home bound for Dallas to receive an award from the Dallas
bonehead Club and ended up in Chicago.
The boneheads, who had planned to present Marshall their second annual “Bonehead
of the Year Award” at a noon luncheon immediately were suspect in planning it that way.
but it turned out that not even the famed Dallas high-jinx club could match with any
scheme what happens to Marshall without trying.
MARSHALL left Minneapolis Friday morning chuckling at the thought of another
lucrative fringe-benefit of an endless string of them that have come his way since he
become the most famous wrong-wayer since Roy Riegel and Wrong-Way Corrigan.
But a few minutes from the Minneapolis airport his cab became snarled in a traffic jam
created by an accident up ahead. Traffic was rerouted ---- the wrong way, naturally ---
and when Marshall finally raced breathlessly toward his plane at the airport, it taxied away
from him down the runway and lifted off toward Dallas.
Sympathetic airline officials quickly put him aboard the plane to Chicago and assured
him he could make a connection there that would put him in Dallas shortly after noon, still
in plenty of time for the bonehead program.
AND IT would have, too. Except for a 45-minute delay while mechanics fussed over
a troublesome engine, finally giving up and transferring all the passengers to another
plane.
Smooth sailing, now? Not as long as Marshall was within a 66-yard run of the new
plane.
Now came a 2-hour wait while the new plane’s crew was sent over from Detroit.
Marshall finally stepped off a plane at Love Field at 3:35 p.m. but he still was laughing
and allowed that he would as long as football fans laughed with him ... and offered
handsome fees to get him to retell his story of the 66-yard run to immortality.

14. DALLAS TIMES HERALD DALLAS
DICK HITT
1965
People, Places & Furthermore --- Modern world dept.:
the Internal Revenue Service now offers a “Drive-In Tax Service” window
... You probably read on our sports page (where it really belongs) that
the boneheads were to give their annual awards Friday to Jim
Marshall, the pro footballer who made a wrong-way touchdown run.
When the jetliner landed at Love Field Friday, Marshall of course wasn’t
on it, having missed the connection flight somewhere around
Minneapolis or Chicago. Which tended to reduce the effect of the big,
beautiful sign Braniff Airways had painted for the Love Field arrival. The
sign said “Montreal” ....
The Bonehead award, by the way, is a big (and expensive silver trophy
that is topped by a silver-plated walnut. Last year’s winner, the Naval
Academy, actually displayed it in its Annapolis trophy case all year until
turning it back in so it could be awarded to another victim...
BLACKIE SHERROD Jim Marshall, left is greeted by a couple of admirers,
Bypassing the Cowboy back Amos Marsh, Center, and Bonehead
Busch League “Coach” Reed May.
FAR BE IT from this timid soul to correct the Bonehead Clubbers of
Dallas, these people are pranksters deluxe and we have no desire to
find soap flakes in the hominy and smoke bombs under the hood for
the next calendar year. On a single-point, however, we would differ.
The Boneheads held an election the other day and Jim Marshall of the
Minnesota pro footballers won it. We would have voted another way,
Marshall picked up a fumble and run for the wrong goal in one of life’s
embarrassing moments. the boneheads voted him bonehead of the
Year and certainly his deed, or misdeed, deserved recognition. Still it is
difficult to see how Marshall or anyone else finished ahead of August
Busch in any sort of boner competition.

15. 1966 Twin Telecast
Wins Bonehead
of the Year Award
BONEHEADS DALLAS (UPI) -- The Dallas
Bonehead Club “Bonehead of the
Frustrated Year” award will be presented Friday
Twin TV to the NBC news department for its
Bit Cited broadcast of a professional football
The National Broadcasting Co. received game and the gemini 7 launch Dec. 4
the 1966 Bonehead of the Year Award from on the same screen at the same time.
the Dallas club Friday for its broadcast of a William B. Monroe, NBC Washing
professional football game and the gemini 7 -ton bureau chief, will accept the
launch on the same screen at the same trophy of walnut and silver topped by
time. a large silver nut.
Bob Gould, TV Program Director and
A secondary award, presented for the first Roy Bacus, General Manager of WBAP
time in Bonehead Club history, went to Clint TV, our local NBC affiliate station,
Murchinson, Jr., the owner of the Dallas accepting the Bonehead of the Year
Cowboys. “Words Fail Us” read the plaque award that was presented to the
placed on a one of a kind trophy composed Network.
of Darwin’s monkey contemplating a skull
with a cowboy helmet on it.
The two awards were presented at the
Bonehead Club’s luncheon.
William B. Monroe, NBC Washington
Bureau chief, accepted the award, a walnut
and silver creation topped by a large silver
nut.
“This is our only way of expressing the
sorrow we have for those poor souls in the
NBC-TV news department who must have
sat up many a night trying to decide which
program should have priority, then in a
moment of complete frustration, threw
common sense to the wind and blundered
The proud peacock
their mistake across the screens of millions lays an egg.
of unbelieving television viewers,” the
Bonehead members said.

16. 1967 1968
SCALPED
CHIEF RECEIVE
‘LOSERS OF
YEAR’ AWARD
Members of the Kansas City
Chiefs, the first football team to
lose the national AFL-NFL
championship, were honored Bonehead Trophy
Friday by the Dallas Bonehead
Club. Goes to Aggies
The club, which does, about Coach Gene Stallings
everything backwards, award-
ed the annual Bonehead of the Texas A & M has won again in Dallas
Year trophy to the Chiefs’ The Aggies have been named winners of the “Bonehead of the
owner, Lamar Hunt, and the Year. When asked why the Aggies won, the Boneheads said “for
team Friday at the club's no reason they could think of except Gene Stallings, who
luncheon at the Adolphus coached the Aggies into the Cotton Bowl while cadets and their
Hotel. girlfriends just stood around in the bleachers.” The trophy will
The award was presented be presented Friday by the Dallas Bonehead Club.
because of a “deep feeling” the Accepting the award at the noon session in the Terrace Room
Boneheads have for losers. of the Baker Hotel will be Aggie assistant athletic director Marvin
Members of the club include Tate and members of the student body. The Dallas A & M Club
leading citizens who take pride also will be present.
in a good sense of humor. Last year, the trophy went to Lamar Hunt. His Kansas City
The trophy is a walnut and Chiefs had been the first team to lose in the Super Bowl. Other
silver creation topped by a winners have been Navy in 1964, Minnesota Vikings Jim
Chief’s Owner Lamar Hunt
large silver nut. Marshall and the National Broadcasting company.

17. 1969
The Dallas Morning News Wednesday, January 22, 1969
Super Bonehead
Snyder
Odds’ on Choice for
Title
The odds were 75-1 that it was inevitable. Jimmy (The Greek)
Snyder famed Las Vegas oddsmaker who officially established
Baltimore' an 18 1/2-point favorite over the Jets in the Super
Bowl game, has been named "Bonehead of the Year" by the
Dallas Bonehead Club.
Snyder will come to Dallas Friday to accept the award, a
walnut and silver trophy topped by a large silver nut. The affair
will begin at noon at the Baker Hotel Crystal Ballroom.
"This prediction literally led millions of loyal football fans down
the primrose path to financial ruin." the nationally feared Dallas
fun-poking organization declared.
The club originated its "Bonehead of the Year” award in 1964.
"”to pay proper tribute" to the Navy football team following its
decisive loss to Texas in the' 1964 Cotton Bowl game. The
award subsequently has gone to Minnesota Viking Jim (Wrong
Way) Marshall. the National Broadcasting Co .. Kansas City
Chief owner Lamar Hunt, and last year to Texas A&M
University.
Snyder, who reportedly has been vacationing incognito in
California since the Super Bowl, has promised to make the Jimmy the Greek had a rabbit in the hat, but
scene in Dallas for the presentation and to display the the Super Bowl turned the bunny to sour
Bonehead trophy in Las Vegas the rest of the year. grapes. The oddsmaker received the
And he's booking 12-5 money that he's the most deserving bonehead of the Year award today.
recipient the awards has known.

18. 1969
BONEHEAD CLUB of DALLAS
MOTHU Club Of THE WORLD
Added to His Fame
DALLAS TIMES HERALD, Friday. Jan. 24, 1969
Greek loves Jets?
By STEVE PERKINS
Dimitros Synodopoulos sipped his glass of ouzo and demanded: "When do the
Jets play the Cowboys here?"
Sept. 6 was the answer.
“I guarantee -- you I'll be here," said Dimitros. "Sweet vengeance!
It was not the ouzo talking. Rather It was Jimmy The Greek, the fellow who was
most famously hoist on Joe Namath's petard.
'" I MAKE the Cowboys a 13-point favorite," said Dimitrios - Jimmy. "They'll be at
least a solid 10."
So spake the man who was to he honored today by the Dallas Bonehead Club as
the "Bonehead of the Year" for his 171/2 - point spread on the Baltimore-NY Jets
Super Bowl contest.
The country's recognized odds maker (not bookmaker), who establishes the
national betting line each week from his Las Vegas public relations office, figures
that the wrong call on the Jets was a bonanza for his business. "How could you
get more publicity than that?" he asked. "Only if your name is Joe Namath," he
answered.
Jimmy The Greek Snider ("I Wish I had kept the Dimitrios, but what are you
going to do with Synodopoulos?") has no tear of damaging his pro reputation. He
hit on 76 per cent of his betting tips this past season and all eight "specials" he
sent to the subscribers of his $400 (per annum) Sports Newsletter. He picked one
bowl game and advised one and all to "send it in." The game was the Cotton
Bow] and the team was Texas.
BUT THERE is a personal mailer here, and so the Greek will look forward to the
Cowboy-Jet game In September.
"But I won't pick Dallas to win it all next year the way I did last year," he said.
"They need more togetherness before they can be a champion. I'll wait and see if
they get It. In fact, I'm going to make the Cowboys so mad at me . . . I'm going to
make them so much of a 'dog' by the time they play , the Jets, they'll tear 'em
apart."
The press and the TV men, gathered at the party in his honor thrown by Ulysses
Vlamides, owner of the Majestic Steak House, in "Ulie's" private club adjacent to
the restaurant on Elm, pressed The Greek for his call on the Cowboys-Jet if
Meredith or Morton were the quarterback.
"Is there a difference?" he asked. "I don't think so. Maybe I'll make it a point
more if Meredith Is quarterback, a point less if Morton. No more than that."

19. Monday, January, 1969 -- DALLAS TIMES HERALD
1969
T he D allas M orning N ews
Dick Hitt
Bonehead’s
to honor
The Greek
An Evening With Jimmy “the Greek Snyder must have a
good sense of humor.
the Greek If not, he wouldn’t be coming to Dallas
JIMMY THE Greek Snyder was a household name to be named ‘Bonehead of the Year.”
long before Spiro Agnew, at least in the country's That’s the honor he’ll receive Friday
more sportive households. His non public name is
Dimitrios Synodopoulos, and he is the noted from that bunch of local nuts, the
oddsmaker. He stands an inch or so above the six- Bonehead Club.
foot 'level, and he's husky, crisp and dark with a rare Synder, who works out of Las Vegas,
kind of clean cut swarthiness. Looks a little Greek, is the originator of the national betting
as a matter of fact. line. As the leading odds merchant, it
Jimmy was in Dallas, as you have read by now, to
was Snyder’s job to set the line on the
receive the Bonehead Club's top award of the year
for his choice of the Baltimore Colts over the New recent Super Bowl game between
York Jets. By 17 1/2. He hardly ever makes Baltimore and the New York Jets. He
mistakes of that magnitude, and when he does it tabbed Baltimore by 17 1/2 points. New
qualifies him to be Bonehead of the Year. York won by 9 points.

20. Joining Losers 1970
T he B irm ingham N ews
Sun., Jan. 25, 1970
DALLAS (UPl) - That foolish old American Football
Bonehead League.
First, it pays $18 million dollars to join the National
Club Football League.
Then, after paying all that money, it goes out and beats
Awards the tar out of the NFL in the Super Bowl.
AFL For paying $18 million for "the rather dubious privilege of
joining a bunch of losers." the Dallas Bonehead Club
That foolish old American Football League. presented its annual "Bonehead of the Year" Award Friday
First, it pays $18 million dollars to join the National Football to the now non-existent AFL.
League. Lamar Hunt, founder of the AFL and owner of the Super
Then, after paying all that money, it goes out and beats the Bowl Champs Kansas City Chiefs, accepted the trophy for
tar out of the NFL in the Super Bowl. the entire league.
For paying $18 million for “the rather dubious privilege of The Dallas Bonehead Club annually presents the award
joining a bunch of losers”. The Dallas Bonehead Club for the biggest ”Bonehead stunt" the previous year in the
presented its annual, “Bonehead of the Year award Friday to world of sports.
the now nonexistent AFL. Las Vegas gambler Jimmy the Greek won last year's
Lamar Hunt, founder of the AFL and owner of the Super Bowl award for picking the Baltimore Colts by 17 points over the
champs Kansas City Chiefs accepted the trophy for the entire New York Jets in the 1969 Super Bowl.
league. The Bonehead Club said there were many top candidates
The Dallas Bonehead Club annually presents the award for for bad moves in 1969. Some of the runners-up included:
the biggest “Bonehead stunt” the previous year in the world of --Dallas Cowboy Kicker Mike Clark for completely
sports. missing the football while trying an onside kick against the
Las Vegas gambler Jimmy the Greek won last year’s award Cleveland Browns in the Eastern Conference playoff
for picking the Baltimore Colts by 17 points over the New York game.
Jets in the 1969 super Bowl. --Penn State Coach Joe Paterno and his bowl-choosing
The Bonehead Club said there were many top candidates for committee '" for passing ~ up the chance to play top-
bad moves in 1969. One of the runners-up included: ranked Texas in the Cotton Bowl and thereby remaining
--Dallas Cowboys kicker Mike Clark for completely missing No.2.
the football while trying an outside kick against the Cleveland --The extravagant Super Bowl half-time show ……..…
Browns in the Eastern Conference playoff game. ….that "flopped." .

21. Wednesday, Jan. 21, 1970 DALLAS TIMES HERALD
Saturday, Jan. 24, 1970
Bonehead Club
1970 Turns Needle
On the AFL
The annual "Bonehead of the Year Trophy" will go to the
now non existent American Football League.
Lamar Hunt, founder of the AFL and owner of the world
champion Kansas City Chiefs, will accept the award Friday
from the Dallas Bonehead Club.
The trophy is being presented to the AFL for their
"bonehead stunt" of paying the National Football League
$18 million for "the rather dubious privilege of joining a
bunch of losers," officials said.
Runners~up in the balloting included Mike Clark of the
Dallas Cowboys, who whiffed an onside kick in the NFL
Eastern Conference playoff against Cleveland; Joe Pattern
and his Penn State bowl choosing committee; and the
extravagant Super Bowl half-time "flop".
T he D allas M orning N ews
This year's Bonehead, Lamar Hunt
'"Lamar Hunt, founder of the American Football HAPPINESS IS:
League and owner of the world champion Kansas The annual "Bonehead of the Year Trophy" will
City Chiefs, is shown with the Bonehead of the go to the now non-existent American Football
Year Trophy presented by the AFL by the Dallas League. Lamar Hunt, founder of the AFL and
Bonehead Club. The AFL was awarded the
owner of the world champion Kansas City Chief
trophy for "paying the NFL $18 million for the
rather dubious privilege of joining a bunch of will accept the award Friday from the Dallas
losers." Bonehead Club.

22. 1971
Tuesday, Jan. 1971
DALLAS TIMES HERALD
Boneheads Pick Saints' Kicker
The Dallas Bonehead Club will present its annual
"Bonehead of the Year Trophy" award Friday noon to
Tom Dempsey, the New Orleans Saints' place kicker
for his 63-yard bonehead kick that booted the Saints
out of getting pro football's No. 1 draft pick.
Dempsey's record-shattering kick beat Detroit and
that victory dropped the Saints behind the Boston
Patriots in the National Football League draft as only
the second worst team in the 26-team league.
The club, which annually presents a beautiful
walnut and silver trophy topped by a large silver nut,
said Dempsey won out by a narrow margin over
these other nominees: The University of Texas
scouts for their analysis of Notre Dame prior to the
Cotton Bowl. George Blanda, the Oakland
quarterback-kicker who doesn't seem to know he's
too old to be running around with a bunch of kids half
his age, and mostly because he does it so well.
DICK HITT * ･･
And, Jimmy, "The Greek" Snyder, the Las Vegas
oddsmaker and the 1969 winner, for his consistently
wrong Super Bowl predictions.
The Bonehead trophy was first presented in 1954 to * Brings you the rest of the news ･･･
Las Vegas' Jimmy (The Greek) Snyder once again shows up
the Naval Academy football team and since then to
for the Dallas Bonehead Club awards day Friday-which goes
Jim "Wrong Way" Marshall of the Minnesota Vikings, this time to Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints, for
the National Broadcasting Company, the Kansas City kicking a 63-yard field goal, Which kept his team from finishing
Chiefs, Texas A&M and to the American Football in the cellar, which in turn kept them from the rights to a
League. Dempsey and Snyder definitely will be on number-one draft pick, Snyder is a consistently high finisher in
hand for the occasion and Blanda is trying to work the Bonehead judging due to an apparently unbreakable habit
out a conflict so he can make it. of picking the Cowboys to win in the playoffs . ..

23. 1971
Boneheads Pick T he D allas M orning N ews
Four
Jimmy (The Greek) Snyder,
Tom Dempsey, University of
Texas opponents scouts and
George Blanda have been
nominated for the "Bonehead of
the Year" award given annually
by the Dallas Bonehead Club.
Nominations were based on Sam Blair
the following reasons: Snyder,
Las Vegas bookmaker: for his
very consistently inconsistent,
rightfully wrong Super Bowl Wednesday
predictions. Feb. 10, 1971
Tom Dempsey, New Orleans
kicker: For booting the Saints
out of their No. 1 draft choice
with a record 63-yard field goal. Biggest Boot
Texas scouts: for their analysis
of Notre Dame.
And the winner is: …….
George Blanda, Oakland
Raiders quarterback-kicker: for THE BONEHEAD CLUB’S Man of the
not knowing that he is too old Year, New Orleans kicker Tom Dempsey,
for throwing passes and running registered only the second longest field
around with a bunch of young
kids
goal of 1970 with his NFL record 63
Lamar Hunt, last year's winner, -yarder. A 5’- 6”, 180-pound schoolboy in
will present the trophy to this Salt lake City, Ross Caputo, kicked a 64-
year's winner -- to be yarder with a tremendous wind at his back.
announced January, 22nd at His coach called for the kick on the theory
the awards banquet in The
Terrace Room of the Baker
that the ball might be downed near the
Hotel at noon. opponent’s goal line rather than risk a punt
carrying into the end zone. He watched in
amazement as the ball sailed long and true
and his team won, 3-0.

24. 1971 THE DALLAS TIMES HERALD
SPORTS Friday, Jan.. 22, 1971
Vikings Early Super Bowl Choice By STEVE PERKINS
Jimmy The Greek Snyder, undaunted soul, was consecutively
honored by the Bonehead Club Friday --despite the fact that he
just about called the recent Super Bowl game on the nose.
"I had it even for the betting line, and it stayed a point or two that
way to game time," Snyder said. "but my newsletter had Baltimore
by three - and you can't get any closer than that."
SNYDER SAYS he has given up on educating the public about,
the difference between setting all opening betting line and
"picking" the winner. One is for betting purposes, to balance the
book" with equal bets on each side of the line.
The other, the personal pick, is a guide to Snyder's newsletter
subscribers on which way to go.
Snyder was in town Thursday night to be honored guest at
Ulyssess Vlamides' party in the latter's private club at the Majestic
Steak House. Snyder's correct handle is Synodopolous, so the
Pictured from left: Tom Dempsey, returning the trophy he reception was apt.
won in 1971 for his “Bonehead Play of the Year”, Program HE IMMEDIATELY complied by looking ahead at the 1911
Chairman Brad Angers, Mickey Mantle, who was chosen by season, and labeling the Minnesota Vikings the 6-1 favorite to win
President Nixon to receive the 1972 award in his behalf, the next Super Bowl. He lumped Dallas with Oakland, San
Texas Governor Preston Smith and Program Co-Chairman, Francisco, LA Rams and KC Chiefs as 8-1 shots.
Ed Daugherty. "How do you know Andrie, Lilly, Pugh and Cole are going to do
Bonehead Football Team Has Never Lost A Game the same job?" Snyder said. The oddsmaker feels that the
Cowboy front four is the key to continued Dallas success.
Bonehead University is proud of their athletic The Bonehead Club was to honor Friday its top awardee, New
department. In fact one amazing fact that is that Orleans' place-kicker Tom Dempsey, for his 63-yard field goal
many times overlooked by the sporting public, is which defeated Detroit in the last seconds.
that The Bonehead University football team, headed The Bonehead point of view is that Dempsey's kick deprived the
and coached Dr. Layton Bailey, Sr.and Dr. Reed Saints of the first pick in the upcoming draft, which is expected to
be quarterback Jim Plunkett of Stanford. If Dempsey's kick had
May is the only team with record better than the
missed, New Orleans would have had the worst record in the NFL
Miami Dolphins. This wonderful collection of and Boston would have had to pick second.
exceptional athletes have gone unbeaten and Also to be honored in absentia was Oakland rub quarterback
untied since 1919. (Of course it must he pointed out George Blanda for playing beyond the years any human would
that they have never played a game either.) reasonably expect to play.

25. Saturday, January 15, 1972 T he D allas M orning N ews
For No. 1 Bonehead
Mick Pinch Hits
1972
1972
President Nixon was busy getting his BankAmericard
reprinted in Chinese, so he couldn't make it. And he would
have sent Vice-President Agnew in his place. but he was afraid
Spiro might drop the thing on somebody's foot.
And the White House sure couldn't afford to damage any
more feelings in Dallas.
So by special Presidential appointment, Mickey Mantle, a
man with good hands and an uncommitted block of votes,
accepted the Bonehead of the year Award for Mr. Nixon Friday
at the Baker Hotel.
It was the annual Bonehead Club of Dallas luncheon
foolishness, of course, at which the chief business of the day
was to honor, or dishonor, The President for his now famous
telephone call to Miami coach Don Shula. You know, the one
during which he suggested a Paul Warfield pass pattern he
thought could help the Dolphins beat the Cowboys in Sunday's
Super Bowl.
The President was in first-class Bonehead company, Previous
T he D allas M orning N ews
awards have recognized such illustrious boneheads a Jim Dallas, Texas, Thursday, January 13, 1972
(Wrong-way) Marshall, Jimmy (The Greek) Snyder, Lamar Nixon Announces Acceptance
Hunt, and last year New Orleans place-kicker Tom Dempsey President Nixon will run his down-and-in pattern after all, and
for his record 63-yard field goal which cost the Saints the NFL's it'll be in the general direction of the Dallas Boneheads.
No. 1 draft choice, Jim Plunkett. Nixon has been in touch with Bonehead officials. the group
The President accepted the award by telegram in the same announced Wednesday. and has said he will accept the
fun spirit with which it was awarded. "Bonehead of the Year" award In the spirit in which if was
But it was left for comedians Teter and McDonald, guest given.
MC's, to bring one of the program's top laughs. Teter, Nixon. who won the award for offering the Miami Dolphins his
mimicking The President's voice on an imaginary telephone own hand-designed play for use against Dallas in the Super
call, told the audience he was making up for the play he had Bowl. is said to be contacting a person of his choice to receive
given Shula by a special appointment to a Dallas Cowboy. He the silver nut trophy In Dallas.
was appointing Duane Thomas Honorary, President of the A formal statement will be issued from Washington Thursday.
Silent Majority,

26. Boneheads Honor
Footballer Nixon
The Dallas Bonehead Club, which has
1972
President's Super Bowl
Beau Geste
Nixon Makes No Bones
About Accepting Award
DALLAS, Jan. 14 (UPI)- President Nixon
previously honored such dignitaries as DALLAS - (UPI) - President Nixon today accepted the Bonehead of the Year
Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder, NBC and Jim says he feels so good about award "in the spirit in which it is given ... in
"Wrong-way" Marshall, Monday named receiving the "Bonehead of the good humor."
President Richard M. Nixon as "Bonehead Year" award that he is going to Nixon was awarded the trophy by the
of the Year" for his recent involvement in give Dallas football Tom Landry
professional football. Bonehead Club of Dallas for his backing of the
his playbook for the Super Bowl.
The club informed Nixon by telegram Washington Redskins against the Dallas
Nixon received the trophy from
inviting him to presentation ceremonies Cowboys during the regular National Football
the Bonehead Club of Dallas for
Jan. 14. The President was assured his backing the Washington - Redskin League season, and for sending a play to the
name "along with other sports great" would against the Cowboys during the Miami Dolphins' coach, Don Shula.
be permanently enshrined upon the walnut regular season and for sending a The Bonehead Club is a group of Dallas
and silver trophy adorned with a great silver play to Miami Dolphins' coach Don businessmen that each year honors some
nut. Shula, person connected with the sports world at a
But the Bonehead Club's "sports greats" "To properly express my dinner. The honor is meant in fun, and is
all have fallen by the wayside. Nixon on appreciation for this singular
apparently won the award by first picking usually accepted that way.
tribute I have decided to make the
the Washington redskins to defeat the ultimate gesture," Nixon said in a
LIFE
Dallas Cowboys during a regular season telegram yesterday, "You will be
game and, after Dallas won, picking the pleased to hear that for the Super
Miami Dolphins over Dallas in the Super Bowl, I have offered Tom Landry
Bowl Sunday. my complete playbook,"
He also suggested by phone to Miami The President gave the Redskins An additional scouting
coach Don Shula a play he thought would a play for their game against the report on the Cow-
work against the Cowboys. He was yet to 49er"s, It was a reverse that lost boys was provided by
call the Dallas coaching staff. 13 yards. the President, who
"You, Mr. President," the telegram said, Landry had a bad connection phoned Miami Coach
”….as America’s No. 1 football fan, with President Nixon, but reported
understandably could not control your Shula at 1:30 a.m. to
that the No. I fan was "very cordial.
emotions. Whereas, without considering the suggest that Warfield
He singled out our offensive line
options, you let your heart rule your better especially, It impressed him a
should run a down-
judgment and remembering Custer, picked great deal-and me, too," and-in pass pattern
the Redskins to whip the Cowboys. Still He said Nixon didn't mention the against Dallas. His
undaunted, you set out to become a coach, down-and-in pass he had previous suggestion, a
for the Miami Dolphins. suggested Miami throw to Paul flanker reverse for the
The award which we bestow upon you at Warfield. "No," Landry grinned, Redskins, lost 13
this time is not to 'laugh at you, but to let "when your down and ins aren't yards.
the world know that you have learned to working, you don't say anything
laugh with us." about them."

27. President Nixon Retires
From Coaching
1972 Governor Unveils His
"Ben Barnes Defense"
DALLAS (AP) - Gov. Preston Smith
President Richard M. Nixon, winner said today he does not know why
of the 1972 Bonehead Of The Year One fact stands out though, Mr. President Nixon wants to be a football
Award, retired from the thankless task Nixon, be he President of the United coach. "he's already a Republican and
of coaching and play calling for the States or just another football fan. that's enough trouble for most people"
Washington Redskins and Miami showed -- that he is human and a Smith addressed the Dallas bonehead
Dolphins. The President may have person with a good sense of humor in Club, which recently voted a Bonehead
slipped a few plays to George Allen hill manner of accepting last year's award to the President for suggesting a
prior to the Dallas game but decided "Bonehead Of The Year" award. The play to Miami coach Don Shula, whose
to let George go it alone in The Super entire Bonehead Club wishes to Dolphins play the Dallas Cowboys in the
Bowl. The Redskins seemed to miss express its thanks, for his attitude Super Bowl in New Orleans Sunday.
his calls and seemed to lose spirit and we are proud that our trophy will Smith said Nixon made himself "a
without big expertise. forever carry his name on the silver volunteer offensive coach for Miami.
Coaching is a demanding chore and plate honoring his contribution to some Cowboys fans may add the word
with all the other decisions that a "Boneheadism". 'very offensive'. "His game plan seems
person in his position has to make, to be clicking a little better with John
one has to draw the line someplace. Connally in the lineup," Smith said,
Now that the president has become "Funny thing about that Connally had
the nation's number one football FAN, never been noted before as a blocking
he faces the problems that have back.” John Connally, former governor
faced other fans for years. The of Texas, is a longtime political foe of
football blackout. His position was Smith. Smith sent a play to Cowboy
even more) frustrating than most. coach Tom Landry, also a defense,
Would you believe his home at Camp which he now calls "my Ben Barnes
David is under the Washington Defense." Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes, 33, is
blackout, his Florida retreat at running against Smith, 59, in the
Biscayne is under the Miami blackout Democratic gubernatorial primary this
and his home in San Clemente is year. Smith described the defense:
under the Super Bowl blackout. Is it "You just hold your ground and let the
any wonder the President had words young upstarts defeat themselves.”
with Commissioner Rozelle?

28. Paul Crume's
1972 Big D
Sunday. January 16. 1972 LAS VEGAS SUN GOV. PRESTON SMITH attended that Bonehead Club luncheon during the
week where President Nixon was presented the Bonehead of the Year award
for his colossal ignoring of Cowboy superiority.
As everybody knows, Gov. Smith is a Democrat.
During the meeting, Ralph Curry was introduced to the governor as the
republican nominee for governor back in the Eisenhower days.
"Yes, Governor," said Curry, a true Bonehead if there ever was one, "and if it
hadn't been for those Democrats, I would have been governor."
Said Gov. Smith. the Democrat: "That's the same group that has been giving
me a little bit of trouble this year."
NEW ORLEANS --- - To President Nixon I
say. "Welcome to the club," for being the
recipient of a Bonehead of the Year Award.
I won the Bonehead for making Super Bowl
odds that had Baltimore 17 over the Jets in
1969. I may be headed for another From James Collins,
Bonehead myself this year., but here's the
US Congressman
breakdown on why I rate the Cowboys six
points over the Dolphins for Super Bowl VI -
Normally, the Cowboys would receive the
one point for Intangibles on the basis of their
experience. But the Dolphins this year are to
football what the Mets were to baseball
when they upset Baltimore in the World
Series That's why I awarded them the
intangible point. " As you, Mr. President the
Dallas Bonehead Club might have wanted
see how your slant pass play In Warfield
works out In the Super Bowl.

29. Nixon Gets Top Coach Aide Title
1972 President Nixon is getting another jab from Dallas for his advice to the
Miami Dolphins on football strategy.
On the heels of the Dallas Bonehead Club award, Dallas City Council
members are sending an “award” to the President.
Though not made a part of the official city records, Mayor Wes Wise
and members of the City Council signed a document giving Nixon “a
special award for outstanding assistance to Dallas Cowboys football
fans through the giving of advice to that “other team’” and naming Nixon
“assistant coach of the year.”
“I hope he takes this in the right spirit,” commented Wise as he signed
the Jesse Price - Proposed award.
MEMPHIS, SATURDAY MORNING, JANUARY 15, 1972 Nixon
Shares Dallas Humor
DALLAS. Jan. 14. - (UPI) - President Nixon Friday accepted the bonehead-of-the-
year award "in the spirit in which it is given ... in good humor." Nixon was awarded the
trophy by the Bonehead Club of Dallas for his backing of the Washington Redskins
against the Dallas Cowboys during the regular National Football League season, and for
sending a play to Miami coach Don Shula. The Bonehead Club is a group of Dallas
businessmen. that each year honors some person connected with the sports world.
Former New York Yankee star Mickey Mantle, who lives at Dallas, accepted the award
for Nixon and read a crowd of 250 persons a telegram sent the zany organization. "To
my fellow sports fans and admirers of the Dallas Cowboys, I send my warmest, but
thoroughly impartial greetings," the President's telegram said. "To properly express my
appreciation for this singular tribute I have decided to make the ultimate gesture. and
you will be pleased to hear that for the Super Bowl, I have offered (Dallas Coach) Tom
Landry my complete playbook."

30. 1972

31. Monday, January 17, 1972
1972
T he D allas M orning N ews
DALLAS TIMES HERALD
Boneheads Cite President
“This is an honor I would truly like to For Football Predictions
share with anybody else, and I am
especially grateful it is presented only
once a year,” Nixon said in the President Nixon has done it again.
telegram. He has been picked "Bonehead of the Year" by
“To properly express my appreciation the Dallas Bonehead Club.
for this singular tribute” the The annual "Bonehead of the Year" trophy will
President’s message continued, “I
be presented Friday during giddy noon
have decided to make the ultimate
gesture, and you will be pleased to ceremonies in the Baker Hotel's Texas Room.
THANKS, MR. PRESIDENT: Tom Landry learn that for the Super bowl VI have It is doubtful President Nixon will show up up
chats with a “new” friend from offered Tom Landry my complete play for the ceremony. He was informed of the award
Pennsylvania Ave. book.” in a telegram sent to the White House over the
weekend.
The telegram read in part:
THE DENVER POST The "Bonehead of the Year" trophy is
Sunday, Jan. 16, 1972
presented each year to persons or institutions
that have endeared themselves to the sports-
Nixon Offers minded public by their desire to participate and
lose. There are many trophies awarded each
‘Play Book’ year to persons who have won, but ours is the
only trophy dedicated to honoring those who fall
DALLAS, Tex. -- (AP) --
by the wayside.
President Nixon late, Friday promised Dallas You, Mr. President, as America's No. 1 football!
Cowboy Coach Tom Landry his “complete
fan understandably could not control your
play book” for Super bowl VI in New Orleans
Sunday. emotions. Whereas, without considering the
The President made the offer in a telegram options, you let your heart rule your better
while accepting good naturedly the Dallas judgment and, remembering Custer, picked the
Bonehead Club’s annual a bonehead-of-the- Redskins to whip the Cowboys. Still undaunted,
year award. Nixon got the honor for sending you set out to become a coach for the Miami
Coach Don Shula of the Miami Dolphins a play Last year’s bonehead award went to Dolphins.
to use against Dallas in Sunday’s Super Bowl Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans
The award which we bestow upon you at this
in New Orleans. Saints for kicking a record 62-yard
field goal that beat Detroit. time is not to laugh at you, but to let the world
Baseball great Mickey Mantle accepted the
award for the President. If Dempssy hadn’t kicked that field know that you have learned to laugh with us.
The President also received some kidding goal, the Boneheads explained, New May you always have the ability to stir the
from Gov. Preston Smith at the Boneheads’ Orleans would have received the first sporting public's emotions, and we will always
annual award banquet. pick in the collegiate draft. recognize you as America's No.1 sports fan.

32. Ralph "Shug" Jordan
1973 Bonehead of the
Year
By .JIM RODEN.~, Sports Writer, The Dallas times Herald
1973
It's a good thing for Auburn that Shug Jordan doesn't go a
long with the crowd. Otherwise, the Tiger's might not have
become the surprise team of the college football world in
1972.
When the football experts looked at Auburn's chances,
they decreed a dismal finish for the Tigers. No way Jordan's
team could come close to matching the sparkling 9-2 mark
of the previous season, they said.
After ail, hadn't Auburn lost its brilliant offensive punch of
Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan passing to wide
receiver Terry Beasley? To replace Sullivan at quarterback,
Jordan had to insert Randy Walls, a little known sophomore
who was so nervous in his .. first starting assignment
against Mississippi State that he went out for warm-ups with
his jersey on backwards.
As a passer, Walls wasn't even considered in the same A Shug from the Gov.
league with Sullivan. But Jordan obviously is a man who can
adapt. So he didn't have a proven passer. But he did have a
tremendous runner in tailback Terry Henley. He just Then it was the big one, the state championship game of Alabama with Jordan sending his
reconstructed his offense into a running game. Tigers against Bear Bryant's Crimson Tide of Alabama. The Tide was ranked second in the
While the guessperts were predicting all, sorts of dire nation and already had clinched the SEC crown. Bama carried a 16-0 lead into the final
things for the Tigers, Jordan, starting his 22nd season as period. At that point, it seemed more a case of the tigers just being able to keep the score
head coach at his alma mater, had the audacity to say that respectable.
his team was going to surprise a few folks. In the last five and a half minutes the Tigers turned in two stunning plays by blocking a pair
When he looked at the season before him, Jordan said, of Alabama punts and winning the game, 17-16.
"With all due respect to our opponents, and realizing it will A bid to the Gator Bowl already had been accepted but the Tiers were 11-point underdogs
take a superb effort on the part of all the players and to Colorado of the Big Eight Conference. Another brilliant show and the Tigers pulled a 24-3
coaches, we are not conceding anything." upset from their bag of tricks.
So the Tigers, who were picked to finish in the second After it was over, Colorado coach Eddie Crowder said, "I admire Auburn as much as any
division of their own Southeastern Conference, set out to team that I can remember. Auburn is a team totally dedicated, totally disciplined, totally
prove their point. They opened with a 14-3 win over motivated. They are a tribute to a great coaching job, especially by the staff and particularly
Mississippi State, then had to struggle to get past weak by Shug Jordan.
Tennessee - Chattanooga, 14-7 and everybody was ready Ralph Jordan, who got his nickname Shug because of his love for sugar cane when he was
to write the Tigers off. a youngster growing up in Alabama has a record of 156 wins, 69 losses and five ties since
Next up was a Tennessee team rated highly in the nation taking over at head coach at Auburn in 1951.
and that's when the Tigers began to make people look in He has had to overcome many obstacles in his career, including a winning flight with
their direction. With a superb defense and a fine rushing cancer a few years ago. He took over at Auburn when winning was almost a forgotten word,
performance by Henley, Auburn knocked off the Vols, 10-6. guiding the Tigers to a 5-5 mark his first season after an 0-10 record the year before he
Next came an upset win over Mississippi, 19-13. arrived. Since that time he has seen his team win a national championship, an SEC title and
A visit to the Tigers' den at LSU brought a disastrous 35-1 go the nine bowl games.
defeat but a spectacular fourth quarter rally the next week For taking a team that was barely favored to win more than one game and guiding it to a
earned a 24-14 win over Georgia Tech followed by wins 10-1 record, Shug Jordan's insistence that the prognosticators were incorrect has been
over Florida State, 27-14: Florida, 26-20; and Georgia, rewarded. He is the “Bonehead of the Year.”
27-10.

33. Boneheads To
Honor No-Shows
New Orleans trumpeter AI Hirt will accept
1974
this year's Bonehead of the Year award on
behalf of more than a million pro football
fans who bought game tickets but never
showed up for the games, the Dallas
Bonehead Club announced Tuesday.
Hirt was selected to accept the award
because he, the club said, is the fan-of-
fans.
The presentation will be made at noon
Friday in the Grand Ballroom of Holiday Inn
Central during a banquet attended by
movie actress Ruta Lee, singer Frankie
Lane, Jimmy 'The Greek' Snyder and
other celebrities and former recipients of
the award.

34. 1975 1976
In 1974 The Bonehead of the Year trophy was sent to Al Hirt in New Orleans, where it resided in
his club for almost a year. When he was contacted in 1975 about returning it for representation to
a new winner, We were told that it had disappeared. No trace was ever found.
In 1976 Dr. Brad Angers & Dr. George Bushong contacted art classes at S.M.U. and had a three
dimensional Bonehead emblem made. The metal working class made us several copies to be
used on award plaques. It became the new Bonehead of the Year symbol.

35. T he D allas M orning N ews
Saturday, February 5,1977
Bonehead Coors
may lead pack
By AL ALTWEGG Business Editor of the News
They laughed when Bill Coors arrived in Dallas to accept the Bonehead of the
1977
Year award for his company’s new pop-top beer can opener that many people
find difficult to operate. But Bill Coors may have had the last laugh - because,
after all, Coors is still selling all the Coors beer there is.
His public relations department was aghast and appalled when it heard that he'd
accepted the invitation to visit Dallas and accept the Bonehead of the Year honor,
according to William K. Coors, President and Board Chairman of the Adolph
Coors Co of Golden, Colo. Similarly, Raymond Willie .Ir .. President of
Willowbrook Inc., the nation's largest Coors beer distributor serving the greater
Dallas beer market. says he was opposed to the whole idea when Brad Angers of
the Dallas Bonehead Club proposed it.
But Bill Coors liked the idea. And, In the final analysis, he's the boss. What's
more, he says he's more of an engineer and production man and not a marketing But "there's a ground swell of public opinion" in favor of the
man for Coors. but he knew. why he wanted to come to Dallas. mandatory deposit, Coors says. "We had to demonstrate that the
What it came down to was that he thought he and the Coors company were aluminum can is preferable, before the bottle bills got passed.
right, and he thought the Bonehead occasion gave him a chance to explain. "The industry can live with the mandatory deposit." Coors admitted,
TO PEOPLE WHO object to their bartender's finger getting into their beer in "but it can't live with the returnable bottle.
opening what Coors calls the two- holer, Press-Tab Two opener, Bill Coors told Asked pointblank whether' he favored or was opposed to the
the Boneheads. that It just proved his beer was finger - licking good. mandatory deposit, Bill Coors was reluctant to answer. But then he
When the Boneheads had a 4-year old chimpanzee by the name of Deena try manfully faced up to the question, .
and fail to open a Coors can, Bill Coors said that just proved that "monkeys can't "I feel that in the best interests of our society it's going to be
open it either." enacted. It's not in the best interests of our industry. The problem lies
Coors also suggested to the Boneheads that history has been shaped by the with the retailers." The returnable bottle would create monumental
monumental goofs by the boneheads of the past. problems for retailers. he pointed out.
He cited as the Bonehead of All Time, Moses, who led his people out of "It's coming. It's inevitable. We're going to have to face up to it,"
bondage and turned left instead of right. If he had just turned right, "guess who Bill Coors said, And he argues that the aluminum can with a non-
would' have had all that oil." removable opener would take the burden off the retailers,
He cited the inventor of Indoor plumbing who is responsible for our water ASKED IF SOME people's displeasure with Press-Top Two - which
pollution problems. He cited the Inventor of the automobile who gave us today's be claims can be opened easily and with almost anything, by rolling
oil problem and air pollution problem - but the alternative, he noted, would have a golf ball over the top, by pushing down on the opening with a knife
been "something like 5 billion horses." handle, a spoon, "almost anything, the corner of this desk" - had
(The one-holer. Press-Tap One. had to be replaced because some ingenious caused economic trouble for Adolph Coors Co., Bill Coors quoted
soul discovered that two of the circles from it could be glued together and used as some figures he got from the Dallas distributor. Willowbrook.
a dime on coin-operated machines. The Treasury demanded that Coors stop its Last year, Willowbrook sold 45 per cent of the Dallas beer market -
counterfeiting.) 6,7OO,OOO cases of Coors beer,
Furthermore, Coors said his company had done surveys and found an Last November, the first full month after introduction of Press-Tab
overwhelming public support for something like mandatory deposits on beverage Two, Willowbrook. sold 47 per cent of the canned beer market here.
containers. And in December that rose to 49.2 per cent.
Frankly, Coors is adamantly opposed to the returnable bottle, which "Don't misunderstand me, we've lost some good customers," Bill
environmentalists and originally the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were Coors said, in his frank and disarming way.
urging. Coors research has convinced the EPA to do a 18O-degree turn on the "But it isn't putting us out of business," he added, smiling. The
matter; now the EPA sees that the aluminum can is better, Bill Coors says. Bonehead of the Year may still have the last laugh.