Tom Landry

The legendary coach of the Dallas Cowboys football team, Tom Landry (1924-2000) led the Cowboys to two Super Bowl victories. A native Texan, he was an All-Regional fullback in high school. During World War II, he flew 30 B-17 missions over Germany. After the war, he returned to Texas, and co-captained the University of Texas football team, earning All-Southwest Conference honors. He was an All-Pro with the New York Giants before becoming the team's defensive coach. He became the first head coach of the newly formed Dallas Cowboys in 1960, surviving one disastrous winless season before leading the team through 12 consecutive winning seasons. Over 29 seasons with the Cowboys, he earned the awe of his peers for his intricately calibrated strategy on the gridiron, revolutionizing the game in the years when football ascended to its peak of national popularity. Tom Landry was at the height of his success when he spoke to the Academy of Achievement, discussing his early career and the role of religious faith in his life.