Billy Bookout
Encyclopedia
Billy Paul Bookout was an American football
player
and coach
. After a stellar high school
and college career
, Bookout spent two seasons with the Green Bay Packers
before starting a coaching career at the high school level.
Despite an outstanding career at Wichita Falls
, Bookout did not drew the attention of college scout
s. Blessed with uncommon competitiveness and determination, the 160 pounds (72.6 kg) Bookout hitchhiked to Norman, Oklahoma
, and tried to make the Sooners
team as a walk-on. In the first practice, he hit All-American halfback
Billy Vessels
in the sternum and caused him to fumble. Soon after, he was awarded a scholarship
by Sooners coach Bud Wilkinson
.
After his sophomore season, Bookout transferred to Austin College
, where he received Little All American honors and served as co-captain. Although he went undrafted in the 1955 NFL Draft, Bookout made the roster of the Green Bay Packers
, beating out former All-Pro cornerback Clarence Self
. During the 1955 NFL season
, Bookout registered 2 interceptions and 3 caused fumbles. He left the NFL after the 1956 season
.
Pursuing a coaching career, Bookout got his first job as junior varsity coach at Austin High School
of El Paso, Texas
. After the season, he was hired as head coach at newly founded El Paso Burges
. At age 25, Bookout was at the time the youngest head coach in the state's highest classification. His lack of experience, however, caused the program to struggle. Bookout had to leave Burges two seasons later, and finally became an assistant coach at Bell HS
in the Dallas suburb of Hurst
. In 1968, he was again hired to initiate a football program at a newly founded high school, at Euless Trinity
. Bookout served the school for eight years before retiring as head coach.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player
Player (game)
A player of a game is a participant therein. The term 'player' is used with this same meaning both in game theory and in ordinary recreational games....
and coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
. After a stellar high school
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
and college career
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
, Bookout spent two seasons with the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
before starting a coaching career at the high school level.
Despite an outstanding career at Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls High School
Wichita Falls High School or WFHS is a public school in Wichita Falls, Texas . It is part of the Wichita Falls Independent School District and is one of the district's three high schools....
, Bookout did not drew the attention of college scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
s. Blessed with uncommon competitiveness and determination, the 160 pounds (72.6 kg) Bookout hitchhiked to Norman, Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
, and tried to make the Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
team as a walk-on. In the first practice, he hit All-American halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
Billy Vessels
Billy Vessels
Billy Vessels was a standout football player in his hometown of Cleveland, Oklahoma, where he was known as "Curly." He went on to play college football for the University of Oklahoma and win the 1952 Heisman trophy. He was the first Oklahoman to win the award, which is given to the nation's top...
in the sternum and caused him to fumble. Soon after, he was awarded a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
by Sooners coach Bud Wilkinson
Bud Wilkinson
Charles Burnham "Bud" Wilkinson was an American football player, coach, broadcaster, and politician. He served as the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1947 to 1963, compiling a record of 145–29–4. His Oklahoma Sooners won three national championships and 14...
.
After his sophomore season, Bookout transferred to Austin College
Austin College
Austin College is a private liberal arts college affiliated by covenant relationship with the Presbyterian Church and located in Sherman, Texas, about 60 miles North of Dallas....
, where he received Little All American honors and served as co-captain. Although he went undrafted in the 1955 NFL Draft, Bookout made the roster of the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, beating out former All-Pro cornerback Clarence Self
Clarence Self
Clarence Elbert Self is a former professional American football defensive back and halfback who played in the National Football League...
. During the 1955 NFL season
1955 NFL season
The 1955 NFL season was the 36th regular season of the National Football League. NBC paid $100,000 to replace DuMont as the national television network for the NFL Championship Game...
, Bookout registered 2 interceptions and 3 caused fumbles. He left the NFL after the 1956 season
1956 NFL season
The 1956 NFL season was the 37th regular season of the National Football League. CBS became the first network to televise some regular season games across the nation...
.
Pursuing a coaching career, Bookout got his first job as junior varsity coach at Austin High School
Austin High School (El Paso, Texas)
Stephen F. Austin High School is a secondary school in El Paso, Texas, opened in 1930. It is part of the El Paso Independent School District. The school's mascot is a Golden Panther named "Henry." The school was designed by Texas contractor and architect Robert E. McKee. When the local school...
of El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
. After the season, he was hired as head coach at newly founded El Paso Burges
Burges High School (El Paso, Texas)
Burges High School in El Paso, Texas, USA, is a comprehensive high school in the El Paso Independent School District. It is located in the Cielo Vista neighborhood on the near east side of El Paso, north of the large shopping center Cielo Vista Mall and south of El Paso International Airport, and...
. At age 25, Bookout was at the time the youngest head coach in the state's highest classification. His lack of experience, however, caused the program to struggle. Bookout had to leave Burges two seasons later, and finally became an assistant coach at Bell HS
L. D. Bell High School (Hurst, Texas)
Lawrence Dale Bell High School, more commonly known as L. D. Bell High School, is a public high school in the cities of Hurst and Bedford, Texas and part of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District. The school is named for Lawrence Dale Bell, the founder of nearby Bell Helicopter...
in the Dallas suburb of Hurst
Hurst, Texas
Hurst is a city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States. Hurst is one of the Mid-Cities between Fort Worth and Dallas, but is a suburb of Fort Worth. The city was founded by William Letchworth Hurst...
. In 1968, he was again hired to initiate a football program at a newly founded high school, at Euless Trinity
Trinity High School (Euless, Texas)
Trinity High School is a public high school in Euless, Texas. It administers grade levels 10–12 and is a part of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District....
. Bookout served the school for eight years before retiring as head coach.