St. Francis of Assissi said, "He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.” Phil Brannan is a wood carving artist who has spent a lifetime pursuing a passion. It is a passion that has burned within him always, through his life'…

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.... If this is true, then the photo production of Bart Bragg and Wayne Rogers would be prolific enough to fill a library! Bart and Wayne talk with Buck about their 60-plus years of photographing the people and events of Southeast Texas, including: Their early interest in photography; Working alongside Mu…

On the Wings of Eagles.... 1979 was a Cinderella football season for the Stephen F Austin Eagles of Port Acres, Texas. Projected to finish 7th in tough District 18-2A, the Eagles overcame an 0-3 pre-district record to capture SFA's first District title since 1965. Seniors Chuck Anderson, Ty Coburn, David Lutcher, Richard Smith, and Ricky Sonnier we…

"Ooh...let's go... boom...boom...boom... Another one bites the dust!"--by Queen bassist John Deacon Coach Ronnie Thompson and quarterback Todd Dodge were football legends at Port Arthur Thomas Jefferson High School. Under Thompson's coaching genius, and Dodge's quarterbacking excellence, the #1-ranked Yellow Jackets rode the "Another One Bites the …

"Runnin' down a dream...that never would come to me... Workin' on a mystery...goin' where ever it leads... Runnin' down a dream..."--Tom Petty Allen Wrinkle, one of Texas' premiere ultra trail runners, is here to talk with us about a few of his many experiences seeking out challenges that push the envelope of human endeavor. Hear Allen talk with Bu…

"Always be Faithful... To Purple and White..." No one exemplified these words than Beaumont High graduate and longtime PN-G educator Butch Troy. Hear Coach Troy, in his last public communication, talk with Buck and Brad about: pitching the Beaumont High Royal Purples to the 1959 state baseball championship; pursuing his dreams of playing profession…

"I want to fly like an Eagle, let my spirit carry me..." The Stephen F. Austin High School Eagles of Port Acres, Texas, did just that in 1986, as they soared through a season of triumph, culminating in a historic State Semifinal matchup with Cuero and its sophomore phenom Robert Strait. Hear SFA seniors Kenny Ford, Allen Griggie, Kevin Henry, Damon…

Championship Fridays and Championship Saturdays... Greg Davis, legendary Port Neches-Groves High School graduate, talks about his storied football career, including: his years as a student at Woodlawn Junior High and PN-G; quarterbacking the Indians on their 1968 District Championship run; his return to PN-G as offensive coordinator, where the Indi…

Memorial Day. Memorial Day is set aside for honoring and mourning the men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. We at Down Trails of Victory podcast are privileged to present our tribute to the heroes of Memorial Day by telling the story of one of Southeast Texas’ heroes, Army First Lieutenant Bruce Churan. Bruce,…

Glory Days of 1955 come alive!! Players on the Port Neches-Groves Indians 1955 state football champions--Riley Burnett, Jeff Council, and Don Harper--recall their miraculous state championship run! Hear their recollections about: Head Coach Lewis Ford and his all coaching staff; The 1954 State Finalist football team, and how the 1955 team compared …

Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler!!! Senior players on the Port Neches-Groves Indians state football champions--Jack Collazo, Gary Geoffroy, Andy Gilbert, Kirk Romero, Karl Segura, and Wilson Weber--recall those magical days of 1975. Hear their recollections about: Head Coach Doug Ethridge and his all star coaching staff; The 1974 Semifinalist season, …

Are you ready to ROCK 'N ROLL???!!! Rock star Edgar Winter, on break from his tour with Ringo Starr, is here to talk about his life and career. Hear Edgar talk with Buck about: His latest album, Brother Johnny, a star-studded tribute dedicated to his brother Johnny Winter; Growing up in Beaumont, Texas; Southeast Texas' influence on his musical fou…

On the Wings of Eagles... David Greer, Brian McZeal, Daniel Miguez, and Kevin Simien were players on Port Arthur Stephen F. Austin's 1983 Co-Semifinalist football team. Hear them talk with Buck (who was a coach on the team) about: Their experiences attending school at Stephen F. Austin; Their remembrances of Texas Hall of Fame Head Coach Richard Ma…

A game so fine it's played on diamonds... Dr. Ben Weber was part of an Anaheim Angels team that captured the ultimate prize of Major League Baseball--a World Series title! Hear Dr. Weber talk about: His early experiences on the Little League fields of Groves, Texas; His years as a student at Port Neches-Groves High School; The Indians' Bi-District …

"Growing up in Port Neches in the late 40's early 50's--that's as close to Mayberry USA as you're gonna get!"--Dr. Rodney LeBoeuf Dr. Rodney LeBoeuf was an integral part of the legacy of excellence of Port Neches-Groves ISD, as a student, as a teacher/coach, and ultimately as PN-G's high school principal. Hear Dr. LeBoeuf talk about: Growing up in …

"Like smoke through a keyhole"... That's how University of Oklahoma Coach Barry Switzer described the running style of his All-American runningback Joe Washington. Both Joe and his brother Ken were leaders in vaulting the Port Arthur Lincoln High School Bumblebees to Southeast Texas' dominating high school sports power in the early 1970s. Hear Joe …

We're baaaccckkk!!! Down Trails of Victory podcast is back for a second season, and in this kickoff episode, Buck and the show's producer Wanda Carole Wrinkle Ford... give some brief comments about Season One; issue "thank you's" to various people; and give a preview of Season Two's first guests, Joe and Ken Washington, legendary brother combinatio…

Introducing our Keynote Speaker... Damon West, world-wide best selling author and motivational speaker, talks with Buck and Brad about... growing up in Port Arthur; attending school at Woodrow Wilson and Edison Middle Schools; attending Thomas Jefferson High School, where he was a three-year starting quarterback; his journey from college quarterbac…

Always be Faithful... Lynne James, long-time Port Neches-Groves ISD educator, talks with Buck and Brad about... growing up Groves; attending school at Groves Junior High; attending Port Neches-Groves High School, where she was drum major, valedictorian, and student body president; writing the words to PN-G's Cherokee Fight Song; serving as Indianet…

All Aboard!!... Matt Burnett, Port Neches-Groves football legend, talks with Buck and his brother Brad about... growing up in Port Neches; family influences on him; his years at Port Neches Middle School; playing football Port Neches-Groves High School; the transition into the Coach Doug Ethridge era in 1973; the 1974 State Semifinalist football ru…

Batter up!!! Lew Ford, Port Neches-Groves baseball legend, talks with Brad and his father Buck about... growing up in Port Neches, and playing Little League ball for the Yankees; his years at Port Neches Middle School; playing football and baseball at Port Neches-Groves High School; his amazing five-year journey from not being recruited out of high…

Black, Gold, and a Crimson Tide... Leon Fuller, a Nederland 1950s legend, talks about his career, including: growing up in Nederland; playing sports for the Bulldogs, including football under legendary coach Bum Phillips; his All American seasons at Tyler Junior College; playing at Alabama--as captain and two-way starter--for Coach Bear Bryant; his…

Runners to the starting line... Mike Simpson, legendary multi-sport athlete at Port Neches-Groves High School, breaks the tape as he talks about his career, including: his early years at Groves Junior High; playing football at PN-G under legendary coach Bum Phillips; running on PN-G's 440-yard Relay team that set a National Record at the State Trac…

Attention passengers... Now boarding at Gate # 24... Jeff "The Jet" Bergeron, legendary Texas high school running back, takes listeners on a round trip, first class flight, as he cruises through: his early years at Port Neches Junior High; his historic All State and All American football career at Port Neches-Groves High School; his experiences as …

Are you ready to ROCK-a-noo???!!! Every superhero has its origin... Legendary Texas high school volleyball coach Barbara Comeaux of Port Neches-Groves High School serves up an ace, as she talks about: her early years at Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur; playing volleyball at Lamar University; her first job as a 9th grade teacher/coach at…

Ladies and Gentlemen...Welcome to the MAIN EVENT! Introducing, in the Green corner... Bubba Busceme and Gerry Mouton, graduates of South Park High School in Beaumont. Bubba and Gerry join the show to talk to Buck and Brad about: Greenie Pride; the Southeast Texas music scene in the 1970s; Bubba's boxing career, including his four National Golden Gl…

Coach Wade Phillips joins the show to talk with Buck and Brad, and they take a deep dive into Wade's Southeast Texas roots, including his years: at Nederland when his dad Bum Phillips was head coach of the Bulldogs; at Port Neches-Groves HS where he met his future wife Laurie Nunez; as a linebacker at the University of Houston; as an assistant coac…

Drop the mic!! It's the inaugural episode of Down Trails of Victory podcast, with your host Dr. Jon Buck Ford and his podcast partner Judge Brad Burnett. In The Launch, Dr. Ford and Judge Burnett discuss the origin of the Down Trails of Victory podcast, and give listeners previews of upcoming guests, including Southeast Texas legends Wade Phillips,…