Jim Swink's Death, a Sad Day in East Texas
By Deborah Burkett
A mere 8 months ago, along with the Heritage Center of Cherokee County, I worked on an exhibit and also penned a column honoring Dr. Jim Swink. Working with Jim and his wife, Jeannie was a delight. As I poured over Jim's yearbooks, newspaper clippings, photos and telegrams, I lamented it wouldn't be easy finding words that would do justice to a man who had excelled in so many facets of life. Once again I find myself faced with such a task. This time it's bitter sweet because the "Rusk Rambler" has died.
For this column, I've selected memories that speak to moments in Swink's life which illustrate not only his athletic prowess but the fine man he became.
Long before Swink was given the moniker, "Rusk Rambler", at Texas Christian University (TCU), he was making a reputation locally as a gifted athletic and all around good guy. As Jim's high school coach in Rusk, the late Elmer "Hot Dog" Thompson, once said, "Swink was just a great kid, fine student and good Christian boy--the type that comes along just once in a lifetime..." By all accounts everyone agreed with "Hog Dog". I know I do.
Coach Thompson explained how Swink eluded tacklers, "He didn't have great speed, but he had real good moves, could run sideways and backwards as good as he could straight ahead. He could break away for a touchdown anywhere on the field…" Thompson remembered a game against Crockett in Swink's senior year, "We were backed up against the goal line with the score tied 21-21. I sent in a dive play for Swink and he ran 98 yards for a touchdown..."
Some say Swink was as good a basketball player as he was a football player. As a starting guard he averaged 30 points a game and Rusk won or tied for district during his three-year stay on the team."Swink was a good jumper and shooter for his size, very unselfish. If he had wanted to, he could have scored twice as many points…" explained Thompson.
The photos selected here illustrate traits attributed to Swink. Smiling at us from his Rusk High School yearbook, he displays joy and goodness which served him well throughout his life. At TCU he was voted "most typical freshman boy"; the prize was a date with a Broadway starlet who was in town for a play. He was also named Mr. TCU his junior year. Another award for Swink was traveling to New York City and having his photo made with Kim Novak, the Hollywood movie star and official hostess for Look magazine's All-American team. Swink is seen (center) with his TCU teammate, Hugh Pitts (left) and Univ. of Texas' Herb Gray (right).
The image of Swink with the basketball gives us a look at what his coach at TCU, Abe Martin, once described as "… a little ol' rubber legged outfit that nobody could catch…" Swink led the Horned Frogs to consecutive Southwest Conference championships in 1955 and '56, resulting in back-to-back trips to the Cotton Bowl. Was twice named All-American and was runner up for the Heisman Trophy.
This small town boy, born 1936 during the Great Depression in the Sacul community near Rusk, didn't shirk his duty to his country, far from it. Drafted into the army (1966) he worked in an Evacuation Hospital near Saigon. Among the many metals awarded Swink were the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for heroism in ground combat. Later he became a successful orthopedic surgeon in the Dallas/Ft worth area. Over his lifetime there were too many awards to mention. I'll conclude with just two. In 2005 he was given the Doak Walker Legends Award during a ceremony in Dallas; in the audience along with high profile sport celebrities were his former Rusk teammates and good friends, Jim Perkins and James (Bubba) Jared. The last honor to be bestowed upon Swink came October 17, 2014, when the Rusk High School football stadium was renamed in his honor. The "Rusk Rambler" passed away December 3, 2014.
Jim Swink Yearbook Photo
Swink excelled in Baseball and Basketball
Swink is seen (center) with his TCU teammate, Hugh Pitts (left) and Univ. of Texas' Herb Gray (right). They are pictured with Kim Novak.