David Thomas took a moment to gather himself as he recalled a seminal moment in his football career.
The former NFL tight end shared the story about learning he made Frenship's varsity squad as a freshman. The interaction with then-Tigers coach Bobby Davis remained with him.
"When I opened the door, there was Bobby. He was moving me up to the varsity," Thomas said, before almost 20 seconds of silence. "And he saw something in me. He believed in me. He wanted me to be challenged every day. Whether you were a young coach that he was teaching, any one of us as players, he believed in us.
"He wanted us to reach the potential that was inside of us."
Like many gathered at LakeRidge Methodist Church, Thomas said, his successful career "started with Bobby" and the longtime coach's support and molding. About 50 former players and colleagues made up a group of more than 200 in attendance at Davis' celebration of life Saturday.
The "legend" and winningest coach in Frenship history, Davis died Monday at his home in Lubbock. He was 88. Eight rows made up the contingent of family, which included Davis' three sons. Each followed their dad into the coaching profession.
Donnie Hart, former Texas Tech receiver and member of Frenship's class of 1995, chalked that up to one of Davis' most important roles.
"Why? Because he was their hero," Hart said. "Just like he was a lot of our's hero. And I don't think you can have a bigger accomplishment in your life than being your child's hero."
Davis, a Plainview grad, coached for 44 years, including 38 as athletic director and head football coach. He led programs at Wilson, Post and Corpus Christi Calallen. His longest and most successful tenure came with Frenship, where he spent 25 seasons and picked up the last of his 251 career wins. Davis twice guided the Tigers to the state semifinals among seven quarterfinals appearances.
Along the way, Davis was inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Association's Hall of Honor and received the organization's Tom Landry Award. The distinction is bestowed on a coach "whose life and actions have provided a positive role model for athletes."
UIL executive director Charles Breithaupt attended the event and echoed the sentiments of Davis' impact.
"I just think so highly of him," Breithaupt said, "and just will always remember how he treated me. … (Coaching) does mean a lot. It's the lifeblood of a school and a community. To have a man that coached for as long as he did at Frenship, it really does tell the story about how that fellowship and family and friends come together on Friday night."
Football was chief among the themes Saturday, including the family's entrance to Kenny Chesney's "Boys of Fall," but those who spoke described a bigger influence. Mark McMillan, a friend of 32 years, called Davis "one of the best men I've ever been around."
"How many coaches impacted as many as Bobby did? The list is short," McMillan said. "How many could say they were best man at each of their son's weddings? Coach Bobby was one of a kind. He had a legendary impact on my life. … He not only wanted to mold football players, he wanted to mold men for life. And he did that."
Hart had time to reflect on his former coach's passing while helping his daughter move to college this week. He said Saturday how Davis' lessons during football show up in life as a parent, particularly in showing how to work hard to achieve goals.
"That's not a blueprint that I invented," Hart said. "… We were taught it by one of the very, very best to ever teach it. That's why we have so many of us in here today that feel like family."
Thomas spoke of a coach who was "just as loyal" as he was tough. Hart said that contributed to the continuity of a Frenship staff that "in their own way, every one of them's a Bobby Davis."
Thomas labeled Davis an innovator for his offensive approach, which included the often-used play-action pass to the fullback every Tiger learned. Thomas joked the "fashion icon," who sported Wrangler jeans and cowboy boots on the sideline, wore enough product his hairdo could survive any West Texas wind.
Hart noted the similarity in his and Thomas' memories, even from "different eras." Consistency was another hallmark of Davis.
"I cannot tell you how proud I am to be a Frenship Tiger," Hart said. "More proud to be a Frenship Tiger than I am to be a Red Raider. Not to take anything against Texas Tech, but I met a lot of friends at Tech, and I don't think they have the high school foundation that I have. My friends at 48 are guys that I grew up with in Wolfforth that went through this program and share in a lot of the values that I did. I think that's the teacher in Bobby. …
"Bobby Davis is Tiger pride, and I'm filled with it today."
