Mount Vernon Optic-Herald

The whole world loved Don Meredith, but we loved him first

One of Mount Vernon’s favorite sons, “Dandy” Don Meredith, has died at the age of 72. He was a stand out in both football and basketball in high school, a two time All American at SMU, led the Dallas Cowboys in their early years, and was a Monday Night Football icon.

He died Sunday, Dec. 5 at 6:17 p.m. at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe after suffering a brain hemorrhage and lapsing into a coma. He had battled emphysema for several years.
A private funeral service is being planned and his remains will be buried at the Mount Vernon City Cemetery in the near future.
Mr. Meredith is survived by his wife of 38 years, Susan, and his three children, Mary Donna, Heather, and Michael.
Joe Donald Meredith was born April 10, 1938, to Jeff and Hazel Meredith in Mount Vernon. Billy Jack, their first born, was five.
Growing up in Mount Vernon, Mr. Meredith was a leader both at school and at church. He also led on both the football field and basketball court. As a freshmen, he was named All-District in basketball. During the December 1954 Dr. Pepper tournament in Dallas, Mr. Meredith, a junior at the time, scored 164 points during the five games and 52 points in a single game of the tournament setting an all-time individual scoring record.
After graduating from Mount Vernon High School in 1956, Mr. Meredith attended Southern Methodist University. There were seven quarterbacks on the Mustang’s roster, so Mr. Meredith began playing outside linebacker. He became the starting quarterback during his sophomore season and led the nation in passing that season.
Mr. Meredith was the first quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, having signed a personal services contract with Clint Murchison before the Cowboys were named as a NFL expansion team. He then went on to play football for the Dallas Cowboys  for nine seasons from 1960-1968.
He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and led the Cowboys to their first championship in 1966. He was also named NFL Player of the Year in 1966 and was inducted into the Cowboy’s Ring of Honor in 1976. He still holds the record for the longest pass completion in franchise history, a 95-yard touchdown pass to Bob Hayes in November 1966, and he is tied for having completed five touchdowns in a single game for another franchise record. He retired from professional football at the age of 31, claiming he had lost the desire to compete.
Mr. Meredith was an original member of ABC-TV’s Monday Night Football broadcast crew and brought his wit and folksy humor to the broadcast booth for a total of 12 seasons. His stories about Mount Vernon and calling himself “Jeff and Hazel’s baby boy” brought recognition to his hometown community. His off-key singing and down-home style made him a favorite to many fans. He received an Emmy award for sportscasting in 1971. He also received the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award in 2007.
In the 1970s, he expanded his career, making movies and Police Story segments, co-hosting The Dinah Shore Show, and becoming a spokesman for companies like Lipton Tea, Nabisco, RJR, and K-Mart.
An exhibit including his Ring of Honor bowl and jacket, high school jersey, Emmy award, and many more items of memorabilia are on display at the Old Fire Station Museum in downtown Mount Vernon. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, Mrs. Meredith requested donations be made to either the Meredith Scholarship administered by the Mount Vernon Rotary Education Trust % Frankie Cooper at P.O. Box 909, Mount Vernon, Tex. 75457 or to support the Meredith Exhibit through the Franklin County Historical Association at P.O. Box 289, Mount Vernon, Tex. 75457.