In Memory

Jerrald Wayne "Jerry" Rhodes

Jerrald Wayne Jerry Rhodes

BORN: February 28, 1946; DIED: December 31, 2020, Austin, TX

ACTIVITIES:  "T" Association, Football - 2 years, Track - 2 years, Football Captain



 
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01/02/21 11:55 AM #1    

Jerry Thomas Akers

Love you mucho, Jerry.  Will never forget you.  Cannot forget you.  Right and left tackles, seasons 1962-63, John Tyler Lions.  We shared mucho time together.  Godspeed, my friend.  Akers.


01/02/21 01:27 PM #2    

James Lynn Teel

 

My first recollection of Jerry Rhodes was in a Jr High football game.  He was on the line across from me and I thought he was terrifying.  He was big and he looked mean.  We eventually became teammates in highschool.  He was still terrifying.  When coach Myers had us line up to do "one on one" tackeling drills and I realized that Jerry was soon to be my opponent, I got a lump in my throat.  Jerry was tough and motivated to win.  

Jerry and I soon became great friends and along with Homer Turbeville, Captains of the JT football team. Even though he was a tough cookie, he was also very smart and a gentleman.  I have great memories of our double dating, dragging Broadway, and along with Smith, Turbeville and Smuts, chasing parkers on the backroads around Bellville Lake.  (Please forgive us if, while you were in the arms of your "true love", you were the unfortunatte recipient of one of our water filled baloons, dropped in your lap through the rolled down front window of your car.)

I could talk at length about the great memories of our friendship; in highschool, afterward during our college years and about our frequent family visits during our budding career years, when Jerry was selling trucks and I was selling copiers.  We were still competing.

Unfortunately, at some point, a I allowed a relatively insignificant incident sever our friendship.  We didn't talk to each other for about 25 years. We avoided each other at reunions.  It was a sad situation. I missed my friend.

Then one day about five or six years ago, out of the blue, I got a call from Jerry.  He asked, if he flew to Central Florida, would I have lunch with him. Needless to say, the call was quite a surprise and I didn't know quite how to react. After stammering a little, I agreed.  He was here the next day.  We met at a nearby restaurant in down town Winter Park. Jerry immediately made the first step, apologised and said that he had really missed his friend.  I was humbled and a little embarrassed but thrilled that I now had my friend back. It was one of the neatest experiences of my life. 

In our conversation, Jerry gave his spiritual testimony of how he had asked Christ into his life and in doing so become a new man. Afterwards, we spoke frequently on the phone, sometimes re-living old times, and sometimes grumbling about how our bodies had forsaken us.  On one of our calls I found that Jerry was having surgery as a result of colon cancer.  Because of his faith, he was remarkably calm and unafraid. The surgery did not go well.  However, through all the pain and complications, Jerry maintained a "stiff upper lip", a positive attitude and an eagerness to talk about old times.  As we know, Jerry ultimately lost his battle with cancer.  He did, however, have full conficencce that he was gaining the ultimate prize.

Jerry was a great friend.  I will miss him.

 

 

 

 


01/02/21 02:44 PM #3    

Jerry Thomas Akers

James Teel, from Jerry Akers.  I like your comment, reading it was very good.  Yes, Jerry did look mean across the line, and truth is, he was mean, not just to the guy across the line, but to me too on occasions, and hurtful.  With that said, it's all OK, it's good, it's all good.  I haven't been perfect, either.  Jerry and I became very close during those football years, friends.  Take care, Teel, and Happy 2021.


01/02/21 02:55 PM #4    

Dennis Earl Smith

Jerry was a great friend and teamate at JT. I had alot of great memories-we both dreamed of playing in the state championship game our senior year. we continued our friendship at TJC and went off to UT together with close friends Paul Clinkscales and Van Johnson and continued to build more great memories. Over the years we have stayed in touch and I look forward to seeing him in heaven someday.


01/02/21 04:29 PM #5    

John Louie Evans

Jerry and I grew up on the same side of Tyler. Played baseball together until he fell in love with football. (My mom always said she had difficulty telling us apart on the field because we were both so dark from summer tans.) We were always in the same school; Elementary through 2 years at TJC. (Don't think he ever forgave me for choosing A&M over UT).
Yes, Jerry was tough and often "looked" mean but As James Teel mentioned, I can attest that Jerry Rhodes was a man of God. He "fought the good fight", he "finished the race"...STRONG, in the Lord Jesus Christ. My prayer is that we will all see him again in heaven. 
John Evans


01/03/21 11:36 AM #6    

Johnny Durham

Jerry and I shared the same passion for Our Lord & Savour Jesus Christ. We were not close in high school, but through a reunion, I learned that Jerry was a Christian brother. We had lunch and talked for hours about JT, football, baseball, girls & Jesus.  RIP my brother


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