Jack Crain

by Brandon Demoss & Bill Spencer

Jack Crain was born January 7, 1920, in Nocona, Texas.  Growing up in Nocona, Jack discovered that while relatively small in stature, he had exceptional speed plus remarkable quickness.  Sportscasters, coaches, and friends, while recognizing a talented young man, often called him “Jackrabbit” or “Cowboy”.  Later he would hone these physical talents, as well as social skills, leadership, and wisdom to become arguably the most famous man to spring from the small, rural community of Nocona, Texas.

Visit Jack Crain at Wikipedia, the on line encyclopedia.

Jack Crain graduated from Nocona High School in 1938 where he set rushing and scoring records for the Indian Football Team that have been untouchable to present day.  Jack’s high school career was phenomenal as he took at least two Nocona football teams to Regional Playoffs.  Jack scored seventy-one touchdowns in one season and had at least one game with 397 rushing yards.  The Nocona Indians wore orange jerseys, and later Jack would keep the same color scheme at college.  Before leaving for Austin, Jack played one more game as a high school star.  In  the 1938 Oil Bowl Game between Texas’ best and Oklahoma’s best high school footballers, Jack Crain earned the honor of most valuable player.  Almost fifty years later in 1994, Crain was inducted into the Oil Bowl Hall of Fame.

After the great season at Nocona High School, Jack was highly recruited by many major colleges; subsequently he went to play football at the University of Texas for Coach Dana X. Bible.  This Texas team was lackluster, hapless, and not even mediocre.  In Jack’s first varsity game, on his first carry, he went 42 yards.  Later on, he scored a touchdown from the 14 yard line.  Coach Bible kept Jack on the varsity after that; consequently, he went on to become an All-American in his sophomore year.  Coach Bible credited Jack for saving his program and helping put the Longhorns back in the national spotlight.

Jack Crain is still listed as the best in several areas in the UT record book.  He also earned national recognition at The University of Texas.  Some of the notable citations include:

Longest TD runs: 72 yards in 1941 and 69 yards in 1939

Rushing Yards: 100 plus game- 1939, 1941 and 1940

All Conference Selection: 1939 and 1941

Most Interceptions in a season:  Various years 1939-1941

Most Yards on an Interception:  Various years 1939-1941

All American Team: 1940 and 1941

Heisman Candidate:  Ranked tenth in national voting in 1941

Blue-Gray All Star: 1941

 After graduation from UT, Jack was called to serve his country in World War II.  He was commissioned in the Navy and served over four years.  In 1951 Jack married the former Jean Howard in 1951.  Jack earned a living as a farmer, rancher, and real estate agent, but in 1960 he was elected to represent his area as a State Representative from District 61.  After 3 successful re-elections to terms in the State House of Representative, Jack retired to spend more time with his family.

 Jack was active in the community and was considered a civic leader.  He taught Sunday school at The First Baptist Church and often preached sermons when the Pastor was gone.  He was known for his knuckle breaking handshake and his deep gravelly voice.  Perhaps most of the people he interacted with each day, saw a down to earth, unassuming man with a magnetic personality.  They probably did not know that he had been famous in politics, or that his name had made headlines on sport pages all across the country. However in a group of men, he would stand out as the alpha male exuding some unseen quality or confidence that might only be sensed by others.  Consequently, others deferred to him, and he led with intelligence, compassion, and distinction.

 In 1978 tragedy struck Jack Crain as well as Nocona.  Jack’s wife, Jean, was the proprietor for a clothing store at the corner of Clay and Elm.  It was an unusual winter’s day in North Texas, where snow was actually collecting in significant amounts on the ground.  A well-know local man, Clifton Baxter, who was delivering mail on his usual circuit through downtown Nocona, had just entered the door and was making his usual small talk with Jean.  Suddenly, all along Clay, shoppers and business owners heard what sounded like an explosion.  As each person ran to a door or window to look outside, it became apparent the clothing store roof had collapsed.  Jean and Clifton has been killed by the falling ceiling and roof of the building.  Apparently, accumulations of snow had weakened the structure and caused the mishap. p

Always a religious man, Jack turned to his faith to help him cope with his loss.  Jack had conducted prayer meetings with groups of men from time to time, and had also preached at churches and funerals on various occasions.  Out of this grew a ministry, primarily aimed at men, called Jean’s Men’s Bible Class.  A building on Main Street was remodeled into a small chapel where the meetings were held.  Jean’s Men’s Bible Class is still active today. This small church has been the predecessor for many other small nondenominational churches that have been established in north Texas.

Jack Crain died on October 22, 1994.  He left behind two children, Jan and Joe Jack.  He is known across Texas, as well as the Nation, for his pure athletic talent, his public service, and his spiritual devotion.  His community primarily remembers him for his honesty, generosity, integrity, and willingness to serve others.

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