Texas has a lot going for it. One of the things -- there is a lot of wealth and pride residing south of the Red River and the growth of North Texas continues unchecked. I remember back in the 1950s when I lived in a Dallas suburb and worked for a company called Chance Vaught, building jet airplanes. Each morning the routine was to check in then stand at attention while someone played a scratchy version of our National Anthem on the loudspeakers followed by the song “The Eyes of Texas.” Me? I was pretty finished when the National Anthem was. Ready to get to work. But the Texans there just stood there. Their hands over their hearts with perhaps a little tear in their eye. Then and only then were they ready for work time.

My boss, a native of course, noticed my inattention and blasé attitude and spoke with me about it. I told him I respected the national anthem and my country and all but had a problem with getting all chocked up over someone else’s school song. Well, that may have not been too smart on my part to say that, but that was the way I felt about it. And I got by with it but did manage to not slouch with so much vigor during the song after that encounter.

Time passes and things change. And boy have they. I never noticed any “racial” content in their song but in 2020 the UT band was “unable” to play the “eyes” song because many of its liberal members felt it was racist. Robert E. Lee had once used the song at a university where he was president. Of course, Lee was a respected educator and somewhat liberal activist in his time but is known only by our “Cancel Culture” generation as a man who fought to preserve slavery. So, there you are. Last year the UT band refused to play the school’s fight song at all so it didn’t get played. This refusal caused more uproar in Texas than their defeat in football at the hands of their dreaded enemy (OU) and some UT band promotors threatened to cut off donations to the band. They love the song.

Could such blasphemy on the part of the band lead to the demise of University of Texas football? The football team’s performance in the 2 ^nd half of last Saturday’s game left the University of Texas fans in attendance at the Cotton Bowl wondering. They left the game looking like they had just buried their mamas as OU made the most fantastic football comeback ever last Saturday. The eyes of Texas were for sure on Oklahoma that happy Saturday. There were no strains of “The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You” under the blazing Texas Sun last Saturday as OU put on the winner’s golden hat and wore it back across the Red River.

Like many of you, I wasn’t at the game. I don’t know if they played “The Eyes of Texas” or not. My family dumped Pat and me off at Virgil Guy’s residence while they proceeded to the big annual shootout. That was good too as I needed a good visit with Virgil, and I didn’t think I could survive the hours out in that hot sun. After the game the hot sun’s survivors all gathered with us for a sumptuous meal. And celebration. No, we didn’t fix the meal. We got a “food to go” scheme going and left the cooking to someone else.

Present besides Pat and I at the riotous celebration were Virgil, Mark and Ginger Garner, John Mark Garner, Dr. Ron Bullard, Lesli Costner, Traci Runge, Meegan Costner and Dr. Renetta Reeves. Thanks to the Garner’s and Virgil for their hospitality.

And one more thought about the booming North Texas economy. Could it have anything to do with the millions of dollars football crazed fans from Oklahoma spend every year as they entertain themselves beating Texas in Football? Probably not. All I have to say is this: “Money well spent.”

And for sure, let me remind you to go to church Sunday. They need you and you need them.

Wayne Bullard, DPh

cwaynebullard@gmail.com