HomeMy WebLinkAboutAkins--part 1--5-13-074 v a , 1 0E
4 All,
''`t
t i w iii I �rries of tributes to members of "The Greatest
who served our country during World War 11
First of Two Parts
By Bill Youngkin
Special to The Eagle
Very few achieve the status of a legend among their
peers, but that is the situation with Ray Akins of the
Shiloh community In Robertson County. Robert Ray
Akins, or "Coach Akins" as he is known to hundreds of
former players, is such a legend In high school football
in the state of Texas.
Coach Akins coached Texas high school football for
38 years, amassing more than 300 career victories and
numerous championships, mostly at Gregory- Portland.
He coached several players who went on to play In
college, to include his son, Marty Akins, the All- American
quarterback for Texas in the 1970s, Both Coach Akins
and his son Marty are enshrined in the Texas Sports Hall
of Fame. Untll recently, they were the only father -son
combination enshrined there.
But there is the possibility that he may be part of
the only famlly to have three generations in the Texas
Sports Hall of Fame If his grandson, Drew Bross, the All-
Pro quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, is selected
for Induction someday In the future.
Coach Akins' primary supporter through his stellar
coaching career was the girl he married 58 years ago,
the former Virginia Shultz of New Baden, Texas. It was
her family roots that brought them to Robertson County,
as members of her family had owned and operated the
General Store at New Baden for more than 100 years.
As she said when asked about their years In
coaching, "Ray's years in the Marine Corps made a
greater Impression and impact on his life than anything.
After 38 years of coaching, the years and games tend
to flow together. But for Ray, being In the Marine Corps
was like yesterday ".
Robert Ray Akins was bom on a ranch seven miles
from Brady, Texas, as the oldest of five children.
"My dad was the straw boss of the east side of a
ranch that contained 31 sections of land. We had no
electricity, no running water and no Indoor anything
except a cook stave. To get water, my Dad and I would
drive the mules and wagon, which held the water
barrels, Into the water tank and we would dip the water
Into the barrels.
"i rode a horse to school, and If the weather got
very bad I would stay with my grandparents in Brady.
Sometimes it might be three days before I could get
home from school. We also broke horses for Mr. G.
Rollie White, a neighboring rancher, and I would buy
sodas at the drugstore in Brady run by Earl Rudder.
Growing up In Brady, the only college I ever heard of
was Texas ABM."
One thing that Ray found he liked and could do well;
in elementary school In Brady beginning In 4th grade.
My Junior year Pearl Harbor happened, so my senior
year I knew I was headed to the war. I wanted to go
as a Marine.
"There were about five seniors from the football
team that volunteered for the Marines in 1943. We went
to San Antonio, where there were about 75 -100 guys
that wanted to get into the Marines as well. We took a
physical exam as well as a battery of tests. Out of that
group they picked 10 to be Marines. I and a friend tram
Brady made It.
"I was ordered to report to San Diego. My Dad took
me to the train station. Before I boarded the train, my
Dad told me: 'Son, when you have a problem or a
question, all you need to do Is ask yourself how would
my Mother and Dad answer. That will be your answer.'
He also said. 'A lot of people are going to ask you to
have a drink with them. You'll have to figure out how
to handle that yourself.' I have used that advice for the
rest of my life and I've never taken a drink.
San Diego and Marine Corps basic training was an
eye - opening experience for young Ray Akins. "Our DI's,
Drill Instructors, were really mean rascals. They would
even get Into fights with each other. It was like two bulls
fighting. They scared the heck out of me. I remember
having to do push -ups on the parade ground when they
told us to do a push -up and dap. Then they told us to
clap twice and then dap three times. Somehow we did
it without busting our noses.
"Those Dls put the fear of God Into you. They told
us, 'Who told you you were going to live forever It you
worry about being killed, you weren't going to be worth
a damn as a Marine.' By the end of basic, I didn't think I
was going to be able It make it back from the war."
Training continued at a swift pace. "You knew the
training was serious when in bayonet training they had
us take off our bayonet covers. I still have scars from
that training. When they did that, you and the Marine
you were competing against realized this is for real and
we could get killed. We realized that where we were
going, it would be kill or be killed. A one -way ficket."
Part of the Marines Akins trained with became part
of the 3rd Marine Division and would be sent to Iwo
Jima. Akins would become part of the 1st Marine
Division and would be sent for further training at and
near Guadalcanal for the final Invasion of the War -
Okinawa.
Next week - Okinawa.
For more information, to make a contribution, or It
you know a World War 11 Veteran whose story needs to
be told, contact the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial at
www.veteransmemadatorg or Bill Youngkin at (979)
was play football. "Football was played competitively' 260 -7030.
The E gle
Here when you reed us
WW II vet Paul Stephens will be the guest on
"Veterans of the Valley" this week on KAMU -TV. veterans of
the Valley, hosted by WTAW's Tom Turbivilie, can be seen Fridays at -
8:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 6:30 p.m. 0'-w
"Mult...M"