Kenneth Hall - All time leading rusher

[The Great Evaluator]

Here's some hard to find video - most of us have heard the name Kenneth Hall and for those who haven't, he is the all time leading rusher in the history of High School Football. His record has stood for over 50 years and likely will never be broken.

Link (http://www.chevyprepticket.com/video.aspx?itemID=1001213263)

[TheLoneRanger96]

Thats SUGARLAND for you baby! Back then it was only Imperial Sugar and Kenneth Hall, and now its the Southlake of Houston.

[drgnbkr]

Here's some hard to find video - most of us have heard the name Kenneth Hall and for those who haven't, he is the all time leading rusher in the history of High School Football. His record has stood for over 50 years and likely will never be broken.

Link (http://www.chevyprepticket.com/video.aspx?itemID=1001213263)

Cool story...11,000+ yards...unbelievable! Almost 4,000 yards a season.

[nsmustang]

The legend. His records stood for years and those left will probably never be broken. Never knew about the high school Heisman. What I think stinks about his career is the way he was treated by Bear Bryant. I was glad he stayed in Texas but I would have rather seen him have better pportunities on the college level somewhere else. In today's game he would get that chance. I want to say he did make an attempt at the pros, even playing for the Oilers at one time. Can anyone verify that?

[The Great Evaluator]

Back in Bear Bryant's day, he expected players to go both ways and as good as Hall was as a runner, he was average at best as a linebacker. John David Crow excelled on both sides of the ball and got the playing time.

Disillusioned, Hall left school and played in the CFL for Edmonton and had a respectable career before eventually catching on with the Houston Oilers. He was good but not great and I believe tore up his knee fairly early on and that ended his career. As far as schoolboy legends go, Hall is the Poster boy for that term.

What could have been right?

[BlackandRed05]

The legend. His records stood for years and those left will probably never be broken. Never knew about the high school Heisman. What I think stinks about his career is the way he was treated by Bear Bryant. I was glad he stayed in Texas but I would have rather seen him have better pportunities on the college level somewhere else. In today's game he would get that chance. I want to say he did make an attempt at the pros, even playing for the Oilers at one time. Can anyone verify that?

He did play in the pros. I think a bad knee is what ended his career.

[nsmustang]

Back in Bear Bryant's day, he expected players to go both ways and as good as Hall was as a runner, he was average at best as a linebacker. John David Crow excelled on both sides of the ball and got the playing time.

Disillusioned, Hall left school and played in the CFL for Edmonton and had a respectable career before eventually catching on with the Houston Oilers. He was good but not great and tore up his knee fairly early on and that ended his career. As far as schoolboy legends go, Hall is the Poster boy for that term.

What could have been right?

Interesting scenario back then. Players did go both ways. You would have thought the coaches would still give someone with his ability to pick up real estate a heavy chance at it regardless. But, in past wars they used to line up in file and shoot at each other by taking turns. :D

[markp912]

so is he still around or what? i know that he has a stadium named after him thats about it.

[dada]

so is he still around or what? i know that he has a stadium named after him thats about it.

Yep...still around.

[drgnbkr]

so is he still around or what? i know that he has a stadium named after him thats about it.

The film clip says he has a bar-b-que restaurant in Fredericksburg.

[The Great Evaluator]

Interesting scenario back then. Players did go both ways. You would have thought the coaches would still give someone with his ability to pick up real estate a heavy chance at it regardless. But, in past wars they used to line up in file and shoot at each other by taking turns. :D

Yeah, long before the era of specialization. I once heard him say that it was a wonder somebody didn't die in those days from the 2 a days that Bryant put them through.

Those truly were the days of no water breaks. They were allowed salt tablets before practice and that was it. I think he might have been one of the Junction boys.

[CyFallsMom]

Even with today's faster than lightning running and linebackers the size of which that would have scared many boys back then, I don't think the records that haven't yet been broken ever will be. He was the original GT (Gifted and Talented) football player and I hope those records still standing, stand forever.

I used to watch another very good player, Chris Gilbert, at Spring Branch. I was 5 and I used to sit under the bleachers or on the side so I could actually see the field instead of having to try and see over everyone. He was an amazing running back too and broke some records in his time and went on to UT and dating Farrah Fawcett but his records have all been vanquished over the years. Still, those were some great times over at Grob! We only went to state once but it was once I'll never forget:). I got to talk to him a couple of years ago for just a quick moment and I turned suddenly shy and awestruck (anyone who knows me knows that it takes a miracle to create that scenario:rolleyes: ).

[CyFallsMom]

Robert "Tiger" Easley played football at Spring Branch and his father was a Junction Boy under Bryant - that was brutal. Most unfortunately, we lost Tiger last year to cancer. Big loss that one was.

[Drake]

Even with today's faster than lightning running and linebackers the size of which that would have scared many boys back then, I don't think the records that haven't yet been broken ever will be. He was the original GT (Gifted and Talented) football player and I hope those records still standing, stand forever.

I used to watch another very good player, Chris Gilbert, at Spring Branch. I was 5 and I used to sit under the bleachers or on the side so I could actually see the field instead of having to try and see over everyone. He was an amazing running back too and broke some records in his time and went on to UT and dating Farrah Fawcett but his records have all been vanquished over the years. Still, those were some great times over at Grob! We only went to state once but it was once I'll never forget:). I got to talk to him a couple of years ago for just a quick moment and I turned suddenly shy and awestruck (anyone who knows me knows that it takes a miracle to create that scenario:rolleyes: ).Mom... I played against Spring Branch's Mike Luck at Stallworth Stadium (Baytown) in 1979. Remember him?

[CyFallsMom]

yes, I sure do! He lived nearby. He went on to UT afterwards too. He was another one who was pretty darn quick - I still have the Chronicle articles on him in my SB scrapbook. I was at all of the games at that time so I am guessing that I saw you play and didn't even know it:). I'm not sure when we started playing y'all but we did for years it seems - I remember going out to do our halftime dance and we thought we were the bomb with our little cowgirl drill team outfits (there were 100 of us) and then what seemed like 400 girls marched onto the field with drums and bugles for Lee - blew us away!! I heard they disbanded that group a few years ago but what a history they had too. They were good.

[drgnbkr]

Even with today's faster than lightning running and linebackers the size of which that would have scared many boys back then, I don't think the records that haven't yet been broken ever will be. He was the original GT (Gifted and Talented) football player and I hope those records still standing, stand forever.

I used to watch another very good player, Chris Gilbert, at Spring Branch. I was 5 and I used to sit under the bleachers or on the side so I could actually see the field instead of having to try and see over everyone. He was an amazing running back too and broke some records in his time and went on to UT and dating Farrah Fawcett but his records have all been vanquished over the years. Still, those were some great times over at Grob! We only went to state once but it was once I'll never forget:). I got to talk to him a couple of years ago for just a quick moment and I turned suddenly shy and awestruck (anyone who knows me knows that it takes a miracle to create that scenario:rolleyes: ).


I went to South Houston back then, and remember going out to Spring Branch and watching the Trojans Play against Chris Gilbert. We had a running back named Bobby Allen who was all-state along with Gilbert.

[nsmustang]

I went to South Houston back then, and remember going out to Spring Branch and watching the Trojans Play against Chris Gilbert. We had a running back named Bobby Allen who was all-state along with Gilbert.

Back then, South Houston was a powerhouse. They were in that district with Galena Park, Baytown and Pasadena. At that time, the original "Little SWC."
I also remember Chris Gilbert and, Norman Bulaich from LaMarque. Both were terrors on the field. North Shore was a new school and Spring Branch and LaMarque both tore them to shreds. We had to play the Spring Branch schools
for 2-3 years then. Funny how it changes. Milby and Smiley were very strong teams every year also with NS being the doormat for everyone. My,my, how times change!

[ktCarl]

I went to South Houston back then, and remember going out to Spring Branch and watching the Trojans Play against Chris Gilbert. We had a running back named Bobby Allen who was all-state along with Gilbert.

Dang, you guys are old. South Houston was our old rivals at Dobie. I think we finally beat South Houston my Senior year quite decisively to win our first ever District Title.

[Maxthedog]

Chris Gilbert, couldn't catch him,,,

Norman Bulaich DIDN'T want to catch him:)
I don't know anyone that ever tackled Norm, and had fun doing it.
A beast. Muscle, plastic or pain. Take your pick when you hit him:)

[CyFallsMom]

blame it on shifting demographics I guess. I remember playing Smiley, Galena Park, Baytown Lee, the Pasadena schools and Victoria. Conroe too. They had some guy that weighed in at about 300 lbs (that was a LOT back then) named Angel something or other...they usually beat us but few others did. We would go 9-1 or 8-2 and since only one team went, it was usually the one who beat us - Conroe and Memorial come to mind:). We played the country schools - Cy Fair, Jersey Village and Katy and did very well against them. We had some players boy - the Tabor twins, the Achilles, the Wymans, Gilbert, Luck, Mark Thurmond (who pitched in a world series) - back then it was all about the families of 10 sending their kids to become Mighty Bears and all the boys played football and the girls were in Brigade. Katy is the one school around Houston that absolutely reminds me of SB in its glory days. Many of our parents went to Reagan or Milby or San Jacinto and just shifted West and then we shifted further west (i.e. the changing demos).

[drgnbkr]

Dang, you guys are old. South Houston was our old rivals at Dobie. I think we finally beat South Houston my Senior year quite decisively to win our first ever District Title.

Old?.....I'd rather think of it as wise.....:p

[CyFallsMom]

Let's just say we were around when Texas high school footbal was young (well, younger anyway:) ). Nothing like watching a game on wooden bleachers and getting splinters in your butt! Last nights episode of FNL reminded me of those days of the wooden seats and real grass and playing no matter what the weather was like. We had a game this year where there was some lightning (most Houston schools playing that night had the same situation) where we got to the game at 6:00 and started playing at 11:00 pm. We left the stadium at 1:00 in the morning! Back in the day, those boys would have played on time and in the mud!!

[nsmustang]

I can remember being at Dement field in Galena Park in a hurricane-like down pour. There was none of this "We'll hold up or postpone after the storm" business. The game went on, rain, mud whatever. The band got soaked also.
Texas City was a huge power team along with Brazosport. Also, Norman Bulaich was an Earl Campbell type. He would crush you if tried to tackle him.
I watched him drag one of our safety's 25 yards into the endzone. The safety had him wrapped around the leg and just held on but it did no good.

[Bobcat81]

Kenneth Hall vitals & info:

Date of birth December 13, 1935 (age 71)
Place of birth Madisonville, Texas
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg)
Position(s) QB / RB
College: Texas A&M (6 ft 1, 180 lbs)
NFL Draft 1958 / Round 14 / Pick 165
Statistics Pro Football Reference
DatabaseFootball

Team(s) Pro
1958–1959 Chicago Cardinals
1959-1961 Houston Oilers
1961 St. Louis Cardinals

[Bobcat81]

Another very good article on the life of Kenneth Hall.

http://www.nflhs.com/news/features/Legends_KenHall_09062005_lcb.asp

I think you guys at Southlake should invite this guy to flip the coin at the opening of the MNW game. What a tribute.

[Bobcat81]

Here's some hard to find video - most of us have heard the name Kenneth Hall and for those who haven't, he is the all time leading rusher in the history of High School Football. His record has stood for over 50 years and likely will never be broken.

Link (http://www.chevyprepticket.com/video.aspx?itemID=1001213263)

Thanks for the post Evaluator. Good video ;)

[BlackandRed05]

Let's just say we were around when Texas high school footbal was young (well, younger anyway:) ). Nothing like watching a game on wooden bleachers and getting splinters in your butt! Last nights episode of FNL reminded me of those days of the wooden seats and real grass and playing no matter what the weather was like. We had a game this year where there was some lightning (most Houston schools playing that night had the same situation) where we got to the game at 6:00 and started playing at 11:00 pm. We left the stadium at 1:00 in the morning! Back in the day, those boys would have played on time and in the mud!!

Jaspers stadium reminds me of the old days. No track around it, visitors bleachers are about 15 rows and only about 10 feet from the team bench, separated by a chain link fence. http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s134/p-nut_015/tbhs_jasper.jpg

[The Great Evaluator]

Another very good article on the life of Kenneth Hall.

http://www.nflhs.com/news/features/Legends_KenHall_09062005_lcb.asp

I think you guys at Southlake should invite this guy to flip the coin at the opening of the MNW game. What a tribute.

I couldn't agree more - who better to represent our great state than the legendary "Sugarland Express!"

[The Great Evaluator]

Thanks for the post Evaluator. Good video ;)

No problem, I know a lot of us here appreciate the history of the game and that's about as good as it gets when you talk about football in Texas.

[Redhoss]

Twenty plus years ago, I was on a business trip and boarded a flight.

I pulled out the magazine published by the airline and there was an article on Ken Hall.

I had not heard of him until then and was totally blown away.

[CyFallsMom]

I forgot about the nickname "Sugarland Express". Wish I could have seen Kenneth Hall in person too but I missed that one by a few years. No matter how much I love football today and root for kids like McGuffie to run all over the place, I hope Hall's old records still standing remain for all time.

[Kingwolf]

DCTF had a great 2-3 page article on him a few years ago...I remember it saying something about Bryant forcing him to play FB and he never recovered from that experience...

The cool stat about all of those yards: he sat out of the second half in about 30% of his high school football games....that dude was a stud!

[0487]

I am trying to figure if I am in that gray zone. The zone where where since I am a fan no one looks at

[mojotrain]

Twenty plus years ago, I was on a business trip and boarded a flight.

I pulled out the magazine published by the airline and there was an article on Ken Hall.

I had not heard of him until then and was totally blown away.

If you have a copy of 2003 Dave Campbells Texas Football there is a nice article about him with current photos of him and his wife. One stat mentions, 11,232 yds. rushing playing in never more than 12 games a season and on top of that sitting out most of the second half in most ball games. O yeah it said he played both ways.

[mojotrain]

DCTF had a great 2-3 page article on him a few years ago...I remember it saying something about Bryant forcing him to play FB and he never recovered from that experience...

The cool stat about all of those yards: he sat out of the second half in about 30% of his high school football games....that dude was a stud!

Sorry, I missed this post.:o

[lonny23]

I first read about Ken Hall back in 1982. It was the Sports Illustrated issue that covered the NFL strike and shows a flat football on the front saying "Pffft" or something along that spelling. It was a very good article that came out in late September or early October 1982.

[chap fan]

He may still live in Fredericksburg, but I think he sold the barbecue place a few years back.