Down Trails of Victory
28 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 5 ratingsThe mission of Down Trails of Victory podcast is to seek out stories of Southeast Texas through the podcast medium, featuring schools and their associated personalities, alumni, eras, and traditions, for the purpose of providing a historical record to contribute to the heritage of Southeast Texas.
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Episodes
S4 E1--Bart Bragg and Wayne Rogers
February 19, 2024 03:00 - 1 hour - 47.6 MBThey say a picture is worth a thousand words.... If this is true, then the photo production of Bart Bragg and Wayne Rogers would be prolific enough to fill a library! Bart and Wayne talk with Buck about their 60-plus years of photographing the people and events of Southeast Texas, including: Their early interest in photography; Working alongside Museum of the Gulf Coach Hall of Fame photographer Frank Cricchio; Stories surrounding some of their most memorable experiences photographing c...
S3 E7--Stephen F Austin High School--1979 Regional Finalists
December 05, 2023 23:00 - 2 hours - 82.6 MBOn the Wings of Eagles.... 1979 was a Cinderella football season for the Stephen F Austin Eagles of Port Acres, Texas. Projected to finish 7th in tough District 18-2A, the Eagles overcame an 0-3 pre-district record to capture SFA's first District title since 1965. Seniors Chuck Anderson, Ty Coburn, David Lutcher, Richard Smith, and Ricky Sonnier were senior players on that historic campaign--a campaign that influenced the future of SFA football for years to come. Hear these seniors of th...
S3 E6--Ronnie Thompson and Todd Dodge
October 29, 2023 15:00 - 1 hour - 66.1 MB"Ooh...let's go... boom...boom...boom... Another one bites the dust!"--by Queen bassist John Deacon Coach Ronnie Thompson and quarterback Todd Dodge were football legends at Port Arthur Thomas Jefferson High School. Under Thompson's coaching genius, and Dodge's quarterbacking excellence, the #1-ranked Yellow Jackets rode the "Another One Bites the Dust" steamroller to a showdown with Odessa Permian in the 1980 State Finals. Thompson, known for his innovative offensive philosophy, is a 1962...
S3 E5--Allen Wrinkle
October 04, 2023 02:00 - 2 hours - 87 MB"Runnin' down a dream...that never would come to me... Workin' on a mystery...goin' where ever it leads... Runnin' down a dream..."--Tom Petty Allen Wrinkle, one of Texas' premiere ultra trail runners, is here to talk with us about a few of his many experiences seeking out challenges that push the envelope of human endeavor. Hear Allen talk with Buck and Wanda Carole about: his running inspirations; his early years marathon experiences, including Houston, Austin, and Beaumont's Gusher; ...
S3 E4--Butch Troy
September 03, 2023 23:00 - 1 hour - 50.6 MB"Always be Faithful... To Purple and White..." No one exemplified these words than Beaumont High graduate and longtime PN-G educator Butch Troy. Hear Coach Troy, in his last public communication, talk with Buck and Brad about: pitching the Beaumont High Royal Purples to the 1959 state baseball championship; pursuing his dreams of playing professional baseball; hiring on at Port Neches Junior High in 1965; his years as head baseball coach at PN-G; his years as an assistant football co...
S3 E3--Stephen F Austin High School--1986 State Football Semifinalists
August 16, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 78.5 MB"I want to fly like an Eagle, let my spirit carry me..." The Stephen F. Austin High School Eagles of Port Acres, Texas, did just that in 1986, as they soared through a season of triumph, culminating in a historic State Semifinal matchup with Cuero and its sophomore phenom Robert Strait. Hear SFA seniors Kenny Ford, Allen Griggie, Kevin Henry, Damon Martin, and Derek Moore talk with Buck (who was an assistant coach for the Eagles) about that 1986 season, including remembrances about: atten...
S3 E2--Greg Davis
July 20, 2023 22:00 - 1 hour - 71.1 MBChampionship Fridays and Championship Saturdays... Greg Davis, legendary Port Neches-Groves High School graduate, talks about his storied football career, including: his years as a student at Woodlawn Junior High and PN-G; quarterbacking the Indians on their 1968 District Championship run; his return to PN-G as offensive coordinator, where the Indians won a State title in 1975, made a Semifinal appearance in 1976, and another Final appearance in 1977; his career in collegiate coaching;...
S3 E1--Memorial Day 2023
May 26, 2023 05:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBMemorial Day. Memorial Day is set aside for honoring and mourning the men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. We at Down Trails of Victory podcast are privileged to present our tribute to the heroes of Memorial Day by telling the story of one of Southeast Texas’ heroes, Army First Lieutenant Bruce Churan. Bruce, a 1966 graduate of Port Neches-Groves High School, is one of the 58,318 names inscribed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall. Joining Buck and Brad in...
S2 E8--Riley Burnett, Jeff Council, and Don Harper
November 09, 2022 13:00 - 1 hour - 69.7 MBGlory Days of 1955 come alive!! Players on the Port Neches-Groves Indians 1955 state football champions--Riley Burnett, Jeff Council, and Don Harper--recall their miraculous state championship run! Hear their recollections about: Head Coach Lewis Ford and his all coaching staff; The 1954 State Finalist football team, and how the 1955 team compared to it; Their undefeated district campaign; Their playoff run, which included two of the most unbelievable wins in Indian football history--t...
S2 E7--Jack Collazo, Gary Geoffroy, Andy Gilbert, Kirk Romero, Karl Segura, and Wilson Weber
October 19, 2022 05:00 - 2 hours - 84.3 MBLaissez les Bons Temps Rouler!!! Senior players on the Port Neches-Groves Indians state football champions--Jack Collazo, Gary Geoffroy, Andy Gilbert, Kirk Romero, Karl Segura, and Wilson Weber--recall those magical days of 1975. Hear their recollections about: Head Coach Doug Ethridge and his all star coaching staff; The 1974 Semifinalist season, and how that season impacted 1975; Their undefeated district campaign; Their playoff run, which culminated in their state championship victo...
S2 E6--Edgar Winter
August 31, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 65.9 MBAre you ready to ROCK 'N ROLL???!!! Rock star Edgar Winter, on break from his tour with Ringo Starr, is here to talk about his life and career. Hear Edgar talk with Buck about: His latest album, Brother Johnny, a star-studded tribute dedicated to his brother Johnny Winter; Growing up in Beaumont, Texas; Southeast Texas' influence on his musical foundation and development; Insights into local musicians that he played with; His gig playing at Woodstock in August 1969; The formation of ...
S2 E5--David Greer, Brian McZeal, Daniel Miguez, and Kevin Simien
May 31, 2022 13:00 - 1 hour - 74.6 MBOn the Wings of Eagles... David Greer, Brian McZeal, Daniel Miguez, and Kevin Simien were players on Port Arthur Stephen F. Austin's 1983 Co-Semifinalist football team. Hear them talk with Buck (who was a coach on the team) about: Their experiences attending school at Stephen F. Austin; Their remembrances of Texas Hall of Fame Head Coach Richard Marler; The SFA Eagles' coaching staff; The 1982 off season and regular season; The 1983 regular season and playoff run; Highlights of games...
S2 E4--Dr. Ben Weber
April 29, 2022 22:00 - 1 hour - 56.4 MBA game so fine it's played on diamonds... Dr. Ben Weber was part of an Anaheim Angels team that captured the ultimate prize of Major League Baseball--a World Series title! Hear Dr. Weber talk about: His early experiences on the Little League fields of Groves, Texas; His years as a student at Port Neches-Groves High School; The Indians' Bi-District Baseball title runs of 1987 and 1988; His journey from PN-G graduate, to his first Major League Baseball appearance at 30-years old; The An...
S2 E3--Dr. Rodney LeBoeuf
March 23, 2022 18:00 - 1 hour - 67.2 MB"Growing up in Port Neches in the late 40's early 50's--that's as close to Mayberry USA as you're gonna get!"--Dr. Rodney LeBoeuf Dr. Rodney LeBoeuf was an integral part of the legacy of excellence of Port Neches-Groves ISD, as a student, as a teacher/coach, and ultimately as PN-G's high school principal. Hear Dr. LeBoeuf talk about: Growing up in Port Neches; The Indians' 1953 State Championship playoff run, upon which he was co-captain; His brother, PN-G's legendary running back Gordo...
S2 E2--Joe and Ken Washington
February 15, 2022 06:00 - 1 hour - 53.9 MB"Like smoke through a keyhole"... That's how University of Oklahoma Coach Barry Switzer described the running style of his All-American runningback Joe Washington. Both Joe and his brother Ken were leaders in vaulting the Port Arthur Lincoln High School Bumblebees to Southeast Texas' dominating high school sports power in the early 1970s. Hear Joe and Ken talk about: Moving from Bay City to Port Arthur, Being raised by and playing football for their father, Texas High School Hall of Fam...
S2 E1--Season Two Kickoff
February 05, 2022 20:00 - 13 minutes - 9.26 MBWe're baaaccckkk!!! Down Trails of Victory podcast is back for a second season, and in this kickoff episode, Buck and the show's producer Wanda Carole Wrinkle Ford... give some brief comments about Season One; issue "thank you's" to various people; and give a preview of Season Two's first guests, Joe and Ken Washington, legendary brother combination from Port Arthur Lincoln who are both members of the Texas High School Hall of Fame! Be sure to get your Season Two Tickets, available at n...
S1 E11--Damon West
October 18, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 62.9 MBIntroducing our Keynote Speaker... Damon West, world-wide best selling author and motivational speaker, talks with Buck and Brad about... growing up in Port Arthur; attending school at Woodrow Wilson and Edison Middle Schools; attending Thomas Jefferson High School, where he was a three-year starting quarterback; his journey from college quarterback to convicted felon to redemption; the people along his life's path that believed in him; his mission to give back and effect positive cha...
Damon West
October 18, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 62.9 MBIntroducing our Keynote Speaker... Damon West, world-wide best selling author and motivational speaker, talks with Buck and Brad about... growing up in Port Arthur; attending school at Woodrow Wilson and Edison Middle Schools; attending Thomas Jefferson High School, where he was a three-year starting quarterback; his journey from college quarterback to convicted felon to redemption; the people along his life's path that believed in him; his mission to give back and effect positive cha...
S1 E10--Lynne James
October 04, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 59.9 MBAlways be Faithful... Lynne James, long-time Port Neches-Groves ISD educator, talks with Buck and Brad about... growing up Groves; attending school at Groves Junior High; attending Port Neches-Groves High School, where she was drum major, valedictorian, and student body president; writing the words to PN-G's Cherokee Fight Song; serving as Indianette director for eleven years; honoring the Indianettes on their 70th anniversary with new, never-before-heard material; and other topics!...
S1 E9--Matt Burnett
September 20, 2021 23:00 - 1 hour - 57.8 MBAll Aboard!!... Matt Burnett, Port Neches-Groves football legend, talks with Buck and his brother Brad about... growing up in Port Neches; family influences on him; his years at Port Neches Middle School; playing football Port Neches-Groves High School; the transition into the Coach Doug Ethridge era in 1973; the 1974 State Semifinalist football run, and its coaches, games, and players; and other topics! The podcast brings up a wide range of names from Southeast Texas, including Jim...
S1 E8--Lew Ford
September 07, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 59.6 MBBatter up!!! Lew Ford, Port Neches-Groves baseball legend, talks with Brad and his father Buck about... growing up in Port Neches, and playing Little League ball for the Yankees; his years at Port Neches Middle School; playing football and baseball at Port Neches-Groves High School; his amazing five-year journey from not being recruited out of high school to being drafted and signed by the Boston Red Sox; his baseball stops along the way, including the Nederland Babe Ruth League, Texas...
S1 E7--Leon Fuller
August 19, 2021 23:00 - 52 minutes - 36 MBBlack, Gold, and a Crimson Tide... Leon Fuller, a Nederland 1950s legend, talks about his career, including: growing up in Nederland; playing sports for the Bulldogs, including football under legendary coach Bum Phillips; his All American seasons at Tyler Junior College; playing at Alabama--as captain and two-way starter--for Coach Bear Bryant; his career journey as a coach, including his stints at Wyoming, Colorado State, the University of Texas, and the Denver Broncos, among others;...
S1 E6--Mike Simpson
July 26, 2021 23:00 - 58 minutes - 40.3 MBRunners to the starting line... Mike Simpson, legendary multi-sport athlete at Port Neches-Groves High School, breaks the tape as he talks about his career, including: his early years at Groves Junior High; playing football at PN-G under legendary coach Bum Phillips; running on PN-G's 440-yard Relay team that set a National Record at the State Track Meet in 1965; winning the 220-yard Dash at that same State Track Meet; playing football at the University of Houston; his four seasons w...
S1 E5--Jeff "The Jet" Bergeron
July 08, 2021 05:00 - 3 hours - 128 MBAttention passengers... Now boarding at Gate # 24... Jeff "The Jet" Bergeron, legendary Texas high school running back, takes listeners on a round trip, first class flight, as he cruises through: his early years at Port Neches Junior High; his historic All State and All American football career at Port Neches-Groves High School; his experiences as the #1 football recruit in the state of Texas; his post high school football career at the University of Houston, Stephen F. Austin Univers...
S1 E4--Coach Barbara Comeaux
June 23, 2021 15:00 - 59 minutes - 41 MBAre you ready to ROCK-a-noo???!!! Every superhero has its origin... Legendary Texas high school volleyball coach Barbara Comeaux of Port Neches-Groves High School serves up an ace, as she talks about: her early years at Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur; playing volleyball at Lamar University; her first job as a 9th grade teacher/coach at French High School in Beaumont; her first head coaching job at Port Neches-Groves High School; the 1972 state title run in her first yea...
S1 E3--Bubba Busceme and Gerry Mouton
June 08, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 65.7 MBLadies and Gentlemen...Welcome to the MAIN EVENT! Introducing, in the Green corner... Bubba Busceme and Gerry Mouton, graduates of South Park High School in Beaumont. Bubba and Gerry join the show to talk to Buck and Brad about: Greenie Pride; the Southeast Texas music scene in the 1970s; Bubba's boxing career, including his four National Golden Gloves titles, his 1972 Munich Olympic Games experiences, and his 1982 World Lightweight title fight against Alexis Arguello in the biggest sp...
S1 E2--Coach Wade Phillips
June 01, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 64.9 MBCoach Wade Phillips joins the show to talk with Buck and Brad, and they take a deep dive into Wade's Southeast Texas roots, including his years: at Nederland when his dad Bum Phillips was head coach of the Bulldogs; at Port Neches-Groves HS where he met his future wife Laurie Nunez; as a linebacker at the University of Houston; as an assistant coach at Lutcher Stark HS in Orange; as an assistant coach with the Luv Ya Blue Houston Oilers; as defensive coordinator of the Super Bo...
S1 E1--The Launch
May 23, 2021 00:00 - 36 minutes - 24.8 MBDrop the mic!! It's the inaugural episode of Down Trails of Victory podcast, with your host Dr. Jon Buck Ford and his podcast partner Judge Brad Burnett. In The Launch, Dr. Ford and Judge Burnett discuss the origin of the Down Trails of Victory podcast, and give listeners previews of upcoming guests, including Southeast Texas legends Wade Phillips, Barbara Comeaux, Jeff Bergeron, Leon Fuller, Lew Ford, Mike Simpson, and South Park alumni Bubba Busceme and Gerry Mouton! Get your backpacks re...