LC legend Miller goes into Panola Hall of Fame

[KFDM COOP]

LC legend Miller goes into Panola Hall of Fame
Van Wade
The Orange Leader

LITTLECYPRESS — Many around the Little Cypress community these days know Robert E. (Ted) Miller as Tayler and Tiffani Thompson’s grandfather as he’s attended a slew of girls basketball games over the last several years.

Many remember him as the Little Cypress Elementary principal and administrator until he retired in 1988.

A lot remember him as the first Little Cypress High School head football coach. He led the Bears to an undefeated district championship in 1961 and had a solid 50-37 record.

However, not many folks know that he was an excellent quarterback and fullback at Panola College.

Miller was a key cog in leading the Ponies to a state championship in 1949 and 1950.

Miller and his teammates were honored Jan. 23 as they entered the Panola College Athletic Hall of Fame.

“It was a tremendous honor,” said Miller. “We were able to achieve a lot of great things. To be inducted with your fellow peers was the best thing about it. It brought back a lot of tremendous memories and to see some of the fellows again, that was the best part about the trip.”

Miller, a graduate of Newton High School, didn’t know what quite to expect when he ventured to Panola, but found out quickly.

“Practices were extremely tough,” said Miller. “It made men out of boys fairly quick. We got after it from the first day all the way through the season. You didn’t stop for water breaks, you practiced and practiced and practiced. Breaks, they were unheard of back then. Facemasks, we didn’t know what those were.”

The experience and success made it all worthwhile for Miller.

“In about three days, I lost around 20 pounds,” said Miller. “We seen a lot of kids that came and went because they just couldn’t take it. Our coaches were tough but were honest and we had so much fun. Winning, that’s always fun.”

Panola College opened its’ doors in 1947 and football was the first athletic program started. In only their second and third year of play the Panola Ponies dominated the Texas Junior College Athletic Conference by going 10-1-1 in 1948 and beating Odessa, 14-7, for the State Championship.

The State Champions then challenged McNeese Junior College to a post-season contest in Carthage for the first Gas Bowl. The Ponies trampled McNeese, 33-8.

In 1950, the Ponies repeated the 10-win season with an Eastern Division Championship and another State Championship when they beat Odessa for a second straight season, 33-7.

In 1951, the football program at Panola College was canceled due to the expense of the sport, and the Panola teams literally went down in history on the top of the football world at that time.

Members of those great teams with Miller included: Coach Bill DeFee, Coach Solon Holt, Bill Amburg, Roy Anderson, Leonard Arias, Doyle Armstrong, Charles Arney, George Bates, Norman Glenn Bishop, William G. Blair, James Bogue, Philip Bolton, Floyd Dean Boze, Lavelle Brewster, Marvin Briggs, Guy Broussard, Donald Churchill, Danny Cowart, Mart Crawford, Jack Dancer, Eli Davis, Paul Desha, Larry Dickerson, Chapple Dowell, Herman Fountain, James Gray, James Higgins, Ran Holman, Horace Horn, Bill Hugo, Don Ingram, O’Neal Ingram, Glyn Johnston, Carson Joines, Jimmy Dale Jones, Harmon Knight, Bobby Laird, Kenneth Lyle, Price Martin, Louis Mogabgab, Bobby Myers, Bobby Nissen, Ed Nusko, Jack Reeves, Jack Roberson, Bobby Rogers, James Rogers, Durward Ross, Jimmy Samford, Willie Saunders, Clyde Smith, James Spruill, Nolan Suiter, Wendell Swann, Joe Teague, Jerrell Terrell, James ”Buddy” Terry, Harold Tiller, William Wall, Hall (Sonny) Westmoreland, Max Whitley, Bob Williams, Robert Williams and Homer Young.

Miller went on to play football and baseball at Northeast Louisiana, which is now called Louisiana-Monroe. He then went in the Army and got out in 1955. He eventually met Little Cypress superintendent E.A. Bates and the rest was history as he helped start up the Little Cypress football program and was a superb administrator.

Miller and wife Carolyn have raised a tremendous family.

Their son Trey is director of technology in the Evadale school district. Daughter Tana teaches at LC-M and is also a cheerleading sponsor, and youngest daughter Terri is a counselor in the Anderson-Chiro school district.

“I’ve been blessed to have such a wonderful family,” said Miller. “Watching my granddaughters play at LC-M has really been a treat. I still go to as many events as I can. Sports, especially football, is definitely in my blood. I’m going to keep following the Bears, they look like they’re heading in the right direction again.”

[Lost in Leakey]

Congratulations Coach Miller.  A great man and a great coach.  His baseball teams were regional champoins several times during his tenure as base ball coach.  Regional was as far as the 2A baseball playoffs went in those days.  His track teams won several district championships.  I had the pleasure of having him as a coach, and Carolyn Miller as a teacher at Little Cypress high school.  What a great couple.

One of the most memorable days of my life occurred in August 1965 at two a days.  Coach Miller started having shoulder pains and was continuing to coach practice.  Other coaches, Bill Hoffman and Preston Prince, insisted he go to the hospital.  I was detailed to drive him ther in his pick-up truck.  It was decided I could get him to the hospital sooner than an ambulance could come to the school and get him to the hospital.  We left in a  hurry, and broke the speed limit all the way.

Coach Miller got into the truck rubbing his shoulder and saying he did not feel well.  Coach Miller go worse as we drove to the hospital.  on the way to the hospital, we drove past his doctor's office,  He sai that the felt really bad and did not think he could make it to the hospital.  He said stop at my doctor's office.  He scrambled out of the truck and went into the office.  He came back out with a nurse before I could get the truck parked and follow him inside.

The nurse said the doctor was at the hospital and she would call the hospital and tell them I was coming with the coach.  I drove like mad to the hospital and took every short cut I knew.  Coach Miller looked at me and said I am glad you know the short cuts, I am not sure I can make it much longer.  We made to the emergency room entrance, and a nurse helped him into the building.  they told me I did not need to be there, and I went back to the school dazed not knowing if he would make it. This was quite an experience for a seventeen year old.

Coach Miller was diagnosed with a heart attack,  This was in the days before stents and bypass surgery.  His recovery was in doubt for
several seemingly endless days.  He did recover, but he never coached football again.  He did get clearance to watch several of our games from a car parked behind the end one.  Coach Hoffman took over the Bears for the football season, and coach Prince took over the baseball team.  Coach Miller did coach the Bears to another district track championship that year.  He moved on to become the elementary principal the next school year.

Coach Miller was an inspiration as a coach, and with the way he handled his recovery.

I still get choked up when I hear about coach Miller and his family.  I thank God that he survived, and that I had a small part in saving his life.  I look at the children he had after his heart attack, and the contributions he made and I am humbled...