Jim Swink comes home. (original) (raw)

Jim Swink, the lanky halfback who thrilled high school and Texas Christian University football fans in the 1950s, has returned home to his roots.

Born in 1936 at Sacul in Nacogdoches County, Swink grew up �in the country� and attended school in Cushing before moving to Rusk at thirteen to live with the Obie Walkers and fulfill a desire to play sports in high school.

Known as �the Rusk Rambler,� he became one of the most famous high school athletes in East Texas during the 1950s, excelling in football and basketball, and went on to Texas Christian University in Fort Worth to become a star halfback, leading TCU to a Cotton Bowl championship in 1957.

Jim resisted the advances of George Halas to play professional football with the Chicago Bears, but Lamar Hunt persuaded him to play with the Dallas Texans.

But Jim had his heart set on becoming a physician, so he left the Texans after three years to enter medical school, becoming a Tyler physician and later an orthopedic surgeon.

He became an Army medic during the Vietnam War and earned a Purple Heart.

In 2006, Swink was honored with the eighth Doak Walker Legends Award during a ceremony in Dallas. As he looked over the crowd, including former Rusk teammates Jim Perkins and James (Bubba) Jared, he joked about his career, never talking about his accomplishments.

Sportswriter Dan Jenkins, who covered Swink�s games with TCU, said he was a great field runner because he had �eyes on each side of his head.�

Jim�s coach at TCU, Abe Martin, once called Swink �just a little ol� rubber legged outfit that nobody could catch.�

Despite the numerous awards for his athletic skills, Swink has always maintained his roots in Cherokee County, owning a farm where he raises Angus cattle, and recently moved back home with his wife Jeanie to live in Rusk and be with his old friends.

Famous for his warm smile and sense of belonging to the land which gave him a wealth of opportunities, Jim Swink remains a humble, unassuming individual. Put another way, he�s just a darn nice guy.

On September 7, a display of Swink�s career can be seen for two weeks in the lobby of Citizens 1st Bank in downtown Rusk. If you remember the 1950s and Jim Swink, you�ll want to visit Rusk.