Obert Logan
Encyclopedia
Obert Clark "Butch" Logan (December 6, 1941 - January 21, 2003) was a former American football
Safety in the National Football League
for the Dallas Cowboys
and the New Orleans Saints
. He played college football
for Trinity University
. Logan, whose nickname was "The Little O", was the last person in the NFL to wear the single digit 0 before its use was discontinued by the league.
Logan was small for an NFL player. He was 5' 10" and while listed at 182 pounds appeared to weigh closer to 160. He was possessed of good but not overwhelming speed. What set him apart and made him a star athlete was tremendous courage and a full out style of play that gave evidence of his knowledge of, and love for, the game of football. Logan was well liked and respected by his teammates and his courage and attitude toward the game greatly influenced their lives beyond football. Recruited to Trinity as a defensive back Logan was so far the best athlete on the team that his coaches persuaded him to play both ways. Lettering in all four years at Trinity, Logan played defensive back, halfback, and wide receiver. After leaving Trinity, Logan surprised observers by making the Cowboys opening day roster after training camp. Early in his first season with the Cowboys, Logan ran full speed into the receiver on a kickoff forcing a fumble that resulted in a touchdown. In the final minute of the Dallas- Philadelphia game in 1965, Logan picked off a Norm Snead pass to give the Cowboys the win. In the last game of the 1965 season, Logan returned a blocked field goal attempt for a touchdown. The resulting 38-20 victory over the New York Giants gave the Cowboys the first non-losing season in their history. During the 1967 season Logan played safety for the New Orleans Saints. Logan was featured on football trading cards as a New Orleans Saints Safety (1967 Philadelphia #126 Obert Logan, 1968 Topps #4 Obert Logan).
After the NFL Logan played semi-pro football for several teams, notably the San Antonio Toros, before going into coaching. He last coaching job was for the St. Paul Cardinals of Shiner, Texas. He contracted colon cancer and died in Luling, Texas at his home on January 21, 2003 at the age of 61 Logan would often tell friends that the most memorable thing about playing football for the Cowboys was Coach Tom Landry. Logan remembered that the first thing Landry told the rookies at training camp was that his priorities were "God, family and the Dallas Cowboys". Logan recalled being surprised that football was not Landry's first priority.
At Logan's funeral many of his Cowboy's and NFL teammates served as his pall bearers, among them were Lee Roy Jordan
, Walt Garrison
, Bob Lilly
, Don Meredith
, and Tex Schramm
( General Manager of the Cowboys). Logan had maintained life long friendships with all of these men. After Logan's death Cowboy great Lee Roy Jordan said of him, "Obert was just a nice guy. I loved being around him. He was undersized and under-everything else but he proved right away that he was a great competitor. He represented the Dallas Cowboys well." Obert Logan was survived by his mother Fannie Mae Logan, wife Patricia, and brother James. Logan has been elected to the Trinity University
Hall of Fame.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
Safety in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
and the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for Trinity University
Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
. Logan, whose nickname was "The Little O", was the last person in the NFL to wear the single digit 0 before its use was discontinued by the league.
Logan was small for an NFL player. He was 5' 10" and while listed at 182 pounds appeared to weigh closer to 160. He was possessed of good but not overwhelming speed. What set him apart and made him a star athlete was tremendous courage and a full out style of play that gave evidence of his knowledge of, and love for, the game of football. Logan was well liked and respected by his teammates and his courage and attitude toward the game greatly influenced their lives beyond football. Recruited to Trinity as a defensive back Logan was so far the best athlete on the team that his coaches persuaded him to play both ways. Lettering in all four years at Trinity, Logan played defensive back, halfback, and wide receiver. After leaving Trinity, Logan surprised observers by making the Cowboys opening day roster after training camp. Early in his first season with the Cowboys, Logan ran full speed into the receiver on a kickoff forcing a fumble that resulted in a touchdown. In the final minute of the Dallas- Philadelphia game in 1965, Logan picked off a Norm Snead pass to give the Cowboys the win. In the last game of the 1965 season, Logan returned a blocked field goal attempt for a touchdown. The resulting 38-20 victory over the New York Giants gave the Cowboys the first non-losing season in their history. During the 1967 season Logan played safety for the New Orleans Saints. Logan was featured on football trading cards as a New Orleans Saints Safety (1967 Philadelphia #126 Obert Logan, 1968 Topps #4 Obert Logan).
After the NFL Logan played semi-pro football for several teams, notably the San Antonio Toros, before going into coaching. He last coaching job was for the St. Paul Cardinals of Shiner, Texas. He contracted colon cancer and died in Luling, Texas at his home on January 21, 2003 at the age of 61 Logan would often tell friends that the most memorable thing about playing football for the Cowboys was Coach Tom Landry. Logan remembered that the first thing Landry told the rookies at training camp was that his priorities were "God, family and the Dallas Cowboys". Logan recalled being surprised that football was not Landry's first priority.
At Logan's funeral many of his Cowboy's and NFL teammates served as his pall bearers, among them were Lee Roy Jordan
Lee Roy Jordan
Lee Roy Jordan is a retired American football linebacker. After attending the University of Alabama, playing under head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, he spent 14 years in the National Football League playing for the Dallas Cowboys between 1963–1976...
, Walt Garrison
Walt Garrison
Walter Benton Garrison is a former American football fullback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys...
, Bob Lilly
Bob Lilly
Robert Lewis Lilly is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League and photographer. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.-College career:...
, Don Meredith
Don Meredith
Joseph Don "Dandy Don" Meredith was an American football quarterback, sports commentator and actor. He spent all nine seasons of his professional playing career with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League . He was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his last three years as a player...
, and Tex Schramm
Tex Schramm
Texas Earnest "Tex" Schramm, Jr. was the original president and general manager of the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys franchise. Schramm became the head of the Cowboys when the former expansion team started operations in 1960.-Early life and career:Despite his name, Schramm was not born...
( General Manager of the Cowboys). Logan had maintained life long friendships with all of these men. After Logan's death Cowboy great Lee Roy Jordan said of him, "Obert was just a nice guy. I loved being around him. He was undersized and under-everything else but he proved right away that he was a great competitor. He represented the Dallas Cowboys well." Obert Logan was survived by his mother Fannie Mae Logan, wife Patricia, and brother James. Logan has been elected to the Trinity University
Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
Hall of Fame.