Richard L. McGee
2821 Apple Valley
Garland, TX 75043
214-727-6084
June 10, 2006
Coach Mack Brown
UT Football Office
P.O. Box 7399
Austin, TX 78713
Dear Coach,
I am writing to express our thanks—from his sisters Megan and Mollie and from Bonnie and me—for all you have done for Richmond, for your excellent leadership of the UT football program, and for just being the quality of person that you are. Last month Richmond graduated from The University of Texas. It has been quite a ride for all of us these last five years. You are an integral part of it and of our memories of this wonderful experience. His college years have been beyond our wildest expectations. We are grateful for it and we are honored to have been associated with you and your program.
Thank you for giving Richmond a chance as a freshman walk-on—to be on the squad and to compete for a spot in spring training. Thanks to you and to the quality coaches you hired, he got a look, a fair evaluation of his potential and a chance to compete. Richmond’s starting for three years kicking off and three years punting at such an elite program as UT is something that looked extremely unlikely back in 2001. To finish by playing and lettering four years on a team with a Cotton Bowl win, two Rose Bowl wins, the 45-6 best four-year record in UT history and the national championship is just unbelievable.
Thank you for sticking with Richmond this year. Because of his back, he was not at his peak performance, but apparently you decided it was best for your team to continue with him on the field. How sad it would have been for him (and for us his family!) if he had missed playing in this very special and historic season. You have shown that people are important.
Thank you for the quality program you have built and led at UT. Your mission statement, “Win championships with good kids who graduate,” is one of the most succinct, crisp and focused mission statements I have ever seen. I have shared it with many people I know, both in ministry organizations and in businesses. With this year’s team, you did something few people ever actually do—you in fact reached and fulfilled your mission statement! You won the Big 12 and National Championships with good kids, the vast majority of whom have or will graduate from one of our country’s elite universities. We are thrilled that Richmond could be part of this team that embodies your mission statement and helped you achieve it.
Thank you for having the character—the values and the personality—that you do. I first noticed your integrity when one of the compliance officers called me in 2001 asking about a $1000 scholarship Richmond received that year because he is a minister’s child. The thoroughness in your program, even checking out an obscure walk-on, impressed me. Also, your friendliness and kind demeanor has always been an encouragement. I can’t think of another head coach that I would have rather Richmond played for. I definitely can think of a number of them that I would have not wanted him to be around!
Thank you for showing Richmond and the other boys what character is. You have shown them what it looks like going through tough times and defeats as well as many victories. You have taught them by your example what to say when people are talking badly or nicely about you.
Your and my paths first crossed in 1975 when you joined the coaching staff at the University of Southern Mississippi, although I’m not sure we actually met. I had arrived there a year earlier to direct the student ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. Bonnie and I met and married there, and years later while visiting her parents in Hattiesburg, I had Richmond in USM’s stadium practicing his punting. That was when he was in high school, at about the same time you arrived at UT. The year after you started at UT, our daughter Mollie became a freshman and we attended our first football game with her. She made sure we wore orange, as you had mandated! So our paths began to cross again, culminating two years later when Richmond enrolled and our college football adventure began.
Mack, I trust that our paths will continue to cross, and that you will feel free to call on me if I can ever assist you in any way. We are so very happy for this National Championship for you—you richly deserve it. I hope you are still savoring it, as we are and always will.
Thank you again for letting Richmond and our family be a part of your life and your program these last five years. We pray that the love of God through Jesus Christ will surround you and your family, and we wish you every continued success.
Very sincerely,
Richard L. McGee
