Landry was known as a quiet, religious man, unfazed by the hype that surrounded the Cowboys, then being billed as "America's Team". He was in a comic book promoting Christianity in the 1980s. Landry was active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Landry's departure came shortly after the Cowboys were sold to Jerry Jones before the 1989 season. Jones hired Jimmy Johnson, his former teammate at the University of Arkansas, from a position coaching the University of Miami football team. When Landry met with his players two days later, to tell them how much he would miss them, he began to cry. The players responded with a standing ovation.[1] Landry's unceremonious dismissal by Jones was denounced by football fans and media as totally lacking in class and respect. In the years since, while most fans retain their support for the team, there persists significant levels of derision towards Jones over his mistreatment of Landry.[citation needed]
Landry's success during nearly three decades of coaching was the impetus for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990, less than two years after his last game. Landry was inducted into the "Ring of Honor" at Texas Stadium in 1993. Landry had declined several earlier offers by Jones (a one man committee) to enter the Ring of Honor before accepting in 1993.
Landry died in Dallas of leukemia on February 12, 2000. He was interred in the Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery in Dallas. The Cowboys wore a patch on their uniforms during the 2000 season depicting Landry's trademark fedora.
A bronze statue of Landry stands outside of Texas Stadium. The section of Interstate 30 between Dallas and Fort Worth was named the Tom Landry Highway by the Texas Legislature in 2001. The football stadium in Landry's hometown of Mission, Texas was named Tom Landry Stadium to honor one of the city's most famous former residents.
2007-12-01
00:44:43
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