By Brenda Cannon Henley
In the summer of 2005, Chad Cooper, Sports Editor for The Examiner, asked me if I thought I might get an in-depth interview with the white-hat-wearing legendary Texas football coach, Bum Phillips. Coop knew that Bum and his wife, Debbie, lived in Goliad on a cutting horse ranch, and he wanted to use Bum’s story as the lead for the famous fall football guide.

Loving a good challenge, I dug in and soon found a contact number and spoke personally with Debbie and arranged a visit and interview. Then the news broke nationally that Bum had suffered a serious heart condition and was hospitalized. Thinking the interview would surely be cancelled, I again placed a call to Debbie to determine if we should change the date or completely disregard the planned visit. Her response was funny. “No, please come on out as planned and talk to Bum. He needs to be busy.” So, three weeks after his heart surgery, Ted and I drove to the scenic, historic town of Goliad for one of the times of our lives.

Arriving at the ranch, we entered the great room where Bum sat playing with a large Tonka front-end loader on the wooden coffee table. We admired the western décor, viewed the entire wall filled with white cowboy hats, saw the various spurs on the mantle and saw a number of pairs of leather cowboy boots. Debbie explained that Bum’s doctor had given him the big yellow toy in an attempt to keep him occupied and from slipping out one of the doors and getting on the real thing doing hard work on the ranch. He had been bored out of his mind, he said. And so began one of the interviews I will never forget and a highlight of my professional career. And, I was nice enough at the time to take Ted along with me. He still refers to that day with great appreciation. And, I won several awards for that exciting and fun story.

Bum and Debbie Phillips and Ted J. Henley, taken on one of Bum's favorite spots on his ranch in Goliad, Texas, in 2005. (Photo by Brenda Cannon Henley)

Bum’s coaching skills and antics are truly legendary as the leader of the famed Luv Ya Blu Houston Oilers and the New Orleans Saints, but what I found most interesting was his evident love of so many of the players that had become his family. He told one funny story after another and kept us in stitches all afternoon long. I had to struggle to keep us on track and to get back to hearing information I could print in the soon coming football guide.

He also spoke of his five daughters and one son, Wade, and we spent much time on Texas history. Bum was a true historian when it came to the state he loved. I can honestly say I learned more from him on that one day than I have ever learned since moving to my adopted state. We promised at the end of our time with him that we would that very afternoon drive into Goliad and tour the newly refurbished courthouse, go the mission grounds where so many died, and I have never forgotten that he admonished me to always add “and Goliad” when I wrote “Remember the Alamo.” We kept our promise and spent the rest of the early evening in his city.

Bum’s titles were many and he was indeed a coach, a character, and companion, but the most important of all, he shared with me that he had become a Christian in his 78th year. Bum had been born in Orange, Texas, and he asked Ted and I to see if his old house still stood. We located the address when we returned and found that the house was gone and we called and reported that to him.

Mike Barber, a wonderful Christian man and good speaker, was as close to Bum as any child could be, and according to Debbie, had been there for both she and Bum during good days and those that were not so good. Barber was a tight end drafted by Bum and had a remarkable football career before his retirement. He started a prison ministry in 1986 and often invited Bum and Debbie to join him in his engagements. Barber said that when Bum was introduced to a rowdy group of hard living prisoners, the auditorium became quiet and still and they hung on every word he had to say. He also spent time coaching prison football teams and made friends with many of the Angola Prison population. In fact, Bum’s casket was made with loving care by these same Angola prisoners.

One day as Bum and Mike left the prison, Bum turned to Mike and asked, “What did you mean when you told them they needed to be saved?” Mike explained to his old friend the simple plan of salvation and Bum asked Christ into his heart. After praying, he said, “Why in the world haven’t you told me it was that simple?” Bum spoke often of his faith, his love of the Word of God, and his various ministry opportunities. Bum was an obedient Christian and followed the Lord in baptism and became a church member enjoying the fellowship and love of fellow believers. The Bible became the famed coach’s playbook and he is responsible for leading many to the Lord.

He and Debbie have since founded the Bum Phillips Charities and in 2010 became very involved in a ministry to the deaf, along with Bum’s daughter Kim. The beautiful 250-acre ranch has become a retreat center and hosts many events each year including a summer camp for deaf children, HeartSign. They also remained active in the prison ministry. For more information on either, visit the Web sites for Bum Phillips Charities or Mike Barber’s Pro-Claim Prison Ministry.

(Published November 5, 2013)

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788 or at [email protected].

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