Mike Brumbelow
Encyclopedia
Lester Michael "Mike" Brumbelow (July 13, 1906 – August 11, 1977) was an American football
and basketball
player and coach. He played football and basketball for Texas Christian University
from 1927 to 1929 and was the captain and most valuable player of the TCU Horned Frogs
undefeated 1929 football team that won the school's first Southwest Conference championship. He later served as an assistant football coach and head basketball coach at TCU from 1936 to 1941. He served in the U.S. Navy
during World War II
and attained the rank of lieutenant commander
. After the war, he served as an assistant football coach at the University of Mississippi
from 1946 to 1948. From 1950 to 1956 he was he head football coach at Texas Western College, now the University of Texas at El Paso
; he also served as the school's athletic director from 1950 to 1959.
. He was the son of William Brumbelow and Alice Helton Brumbelow, a ranching and farming family in Jack County, Texas
.
. He played at the guard
position from 1927–1929 and was selected as the captain and most valuable player on TCU's undefeated 1929 football team that won the school's first Southwest Conference championship. Brumbelow was selected as an All-American in 1929
and an All-Southwest Conference player in both 1928 and 1929. He also won the 1929 Rogers Trophy Award and played in the 1930 East–West Shrine Game. Brumbelow also played basketball at TCU and received two varsity letters in that sport. He was inducted into the TCU Lettermen's Association Hall of Fame in 1970.
, from 1930 to 1931, and susequently at Lufkin, Texas
.
during World War II
with the rank of lieutenant. In 1942, he served as the line coach of the football team at the Navy Pre-Flight School in Athens, Georgia
. He was promoted to head coach in January 1943, and in April 1943 was placed in charge of the entire nine sport program for the 2,400 cadets at the Pre-Flight School. He was discharged from the Navy in November 1945 with the rank of lieutenant commander.
. He served as the line coach at Mississippi from 1946 to 1948. During the 1949 football season, he scouted opposing schools for Southern Methodist University
.
(then known as Texas Western College). He had been operating sporting goods stores at Midland
and Odessa, Texas
(in partnership with Tex Carleton
) at the time of his hiring at UTEP. Brumbelow served as head football coach at UTEP from 1950 to 1956. He had a successful tenure as coach, guiding his teams to a 46–24–3 record. The team won eight or more games three times, in 1953, 1954 and 1956. He led UTEP to appearances in the 1954, 1955 and 1957 Sun Bowl
, two of which UTEP won. Brumbelow retired as UTEP's football coach in July 1957 and as athletic director in 1959. He was inducted into El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame in 1964, and the UTEP Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.
in El Paso and helped get a bond issue passed to finance its construction. He later served as the president of Sun Travel.
At the age of 71, Brumbelow died at Providence Memorial Hospital in El Paso after a long illness. He was survived by his wife Marjorie (Klein) Brumbelow and a daughter, Nancy (Brumbelow) Sisk.
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...
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player and coach. He played football and basketball for Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
from 1927 to 1929 and was the captain and most valuable player of the TCU Horned Frogs
TCU Horned Frogs football
The TCU Horned Frogs football team is the intercollegiate football team of Texas Christian University. TCU competes as a member of the Mountain West Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, but will move to the Big 12 Conference for the 2012 season. TCU began playing football...
undefeated 1929 football team that won the school's first Southwest Conference championship. He later served as an assistant football coach and head basketball coach at TCU from 1936 to 1941. He served in the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and attained the rank of lieutenant commander
Lieutenant commander (United States)
Lieutenant commander is a mid-ranking officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade of O-4 and NATO rank code OF-3...
. After the war, he served as an assistant football coach at the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
from 1946 to 1948. From 1950 to 1956 he was he head football coach at Texas Western College, now the University of Texas at El Paso
University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is a four-year state university, and is a component institution of the University of Texas System. Its campus is located on the bank of the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas. The school was founded in 1914 as The Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy,...
; he also served as the school's athletic director from 1950 to 1959.
Early years
Brumbelow grew up in Jacksboro, TexasJacksboro, Texas
Jacksboro is a city in Jack County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,533 at the 2000 census. Jacksboro is located at the junction of U.S...
. He was the son of William Brumbelow and Alice Helton Brumbelow, a ranching and farming family in Jack County, Texas
Jack County, Texas
*Bryson*Jacksboro*Jermyn *Joplin *Perrin *Gibtown-See also:*National Register of Historic Places listings in Jack County, Texas-External links:*...
.
Athlete at TCU
Brumbelow attended TCUTexas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
. He played at the guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
position from 1927–1929 and was selected as the captain and most valuable player on TCU's undefeated 1929 football team that won the school's first Southwest Conference championship. Brumbelow was selected as an All-American in 1929
1929 College Football All-America Team
The 1929 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1929 college football season...
and an All-Southwest Conference player in both 1928 and 1929. He also won the 1929 Rogers Trophy Award and played in the 1930 East–West Shrine Game. Brumbelow also played basketball at TCU and received two varsity letters in that sport. He was inducted into the TCU Lettermen's Association Hall of Fame in 1970.
High school coach
Brumbelow began a coaching career as a high school football coach in El Paso, TexasEl 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...
, from 1930 to 1931, and susequently at Lufkin, Texas
Lufkin, Texas
Lufkin is a city in Angelina County, Texas, United States. Founded in 1882, the population was 35,067 in 2010. It is the county seat of Angelina County, and is situated in Deep East Texas.-History:...
.
TCU
In June 1936, Brumbelow was hired as the line coach at TCU. He continued to serve as TCU's line coach through the 1941 season. Brumbelow also served as the head coach of the basketball team at TCU from 1937–1941. In four seasons as TCU's head basketball coach, the team compiled a record of 22-64.Military service
Brumbelow entered the U.S. NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
with the rank of lieutenant. In 1942, he served as the line coach of the football team at the Navy Pre-Flight School in Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
. He was promoted to head coach in January 1943, and in April 1943 was placed in charge of the entire nine sport program for the 2,400 cadets at the Pre-Flight School. He was discharged from the Navy in November 1945 with the rank of lieutenant commander.
Mississippi and SMU
In August 1946, Brumbelow was hired as an assistant football coach at the University of MississippiUniversity of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
. He served as the line coach at Mississippi from 1946 to 1948. During the 1949 football season, he scouted opposing schools for Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
.
UTEP
In June 1950, Brumbelow was hired as the head football coach and athletic director University of Texas at El PasoUniversity of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is a four-year state university, and is a component institution of the University of Texas System. Its campus is located on the bank of the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas. The school was founded in 1914 as The Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy,...
(then known as Texas Western College). He had been operating sporting goods stores at Midland
Midland, Texas
Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the state's western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County. As of 2010, the population of Midland was 111,147. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas...
and Odessa, Texas
Odessa, Texas
Odessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of the city extends into Midland County. Odessa's population was 99,940 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Odessa, Texas Metropolitan...
(in partnership with Tex Carleton
Tex Carleton
James Otto "Tex" Carleton was a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1932 to 1940 for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and Brooklyn Dodgers. Carleton threw a no-hitter on April 30, 1940 when he was with the Dodgers. Only a year earlier he had been sold down to the minors and released...
) at the time of his hiring at UTEP. Brumbelow served as head football coach at UTEP from 1950 to 1956. He had a successful tenure as coach, guiding his teams to a 46–24–3 record. The team won eight or more games three times, in 1953, 1954 and 1956. He led UTEP to appearances in the 1954, 1955 and 1957 Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl
The Sun Bowl is an annual U.S. college football bowl game that is usually played at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl...
, two of which UTEP won. Brumbelow retired as UTEP's football coach in July 1957 and as athletic director in 1959. He was inducted into El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame in 1964, and the UTEP Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.
Later years
After retiring as UTEP's athletic director in 1959, Brumbelow worked in the advertising and public relations department of the El Paso Natural Gas Co. He was one of the leaders in the effort to build the Sun Bowl StadiumSun Bowl Stadium
The Sun Bowl is an outdoor football stadium, on the campus of the University of Texas at El Paso. It is home to the UTEP Miners of Conference USA , and the late December college football bowl game, the Hyundai Sun Bowl...
in El Paso and helped get a bond issue passed to finance its construction. He later served as the president of Sun Travel.
At the age of 71, Brumbelow died at Providence Memorial Hospital in El Paso after a long illness. He was survived by his wife Marjorie (Klein) Brumbelow and a daughter, Nancy (Brumbelow) Sisk.
Football
External links
- Mike Brumbelow at College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com