Frank Eidom was born in Port Arthur in 1932.  He was a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School. During his High School football career, he was named an All American in his junior and senior years and Outstanding Amateur Athlete for the State of Texas.  Frank went on to Southern Methodist University where his career continued to attract national attention.  While at SMU, he was an All-American and was named All-Southwest Conference.  Eidom was drafted by the Detroit Lions of the National Football League in 1954, but did not play as he had a military obligation to fulfill first.  On one of his trips home in 1955, Frank Eidom was killed in an auto accident near Gonzales, Texas. 

The "Thomas Jefferson Yellow Jackets .... 1950"

(Photo courtesy of Shelby Pierce, TJ Class of 1950)

The names of the above are as follows (as Mr. Pierce remembers):
First Row [left to right]:  2nd Don Wyble,   3rd Billy Whaley,   4th Herb Estes &   5th Ronald Amuny
Second Row:  4th Frank Eidom,   5th Paul Tanner,   6th Shelby Pierce  & 9th Gordon Satterwhite.
Third row:  1st Harold O'Brien,  4th Donald Hall,  5th J. M. McCurley,   7th Frank Finchum &   8th Buddy Perkins.
Fourth Row:    2nd Claude Gaspard,    4th Tommy Hendrickson,    5th Pal McLaughlin,    6th Bill Brauninger,    7th Richard Parsons & 8th   Freddy Lucas.
Coaches:    John (Bud) Tomlin  and  Emile (Moe) O'Brien

Thomas Jefferson Yellow Jackets' Frank Eidom in flight.
TJ vs. Pine Bluff, AR Thanksgiving Day, 1950
Thomas Jefferson ... 35
Pine Bluff ............... 0

Thomas Jefferson Yellow Jackets -- 1953
First Row (L-R): Carl Larpenter, Larry Kern, Charles Truett, Bruce Hendrickson, Walter Umphrey, Joe DeLeon, John Middelton.
Second Row:  Kenneth Rozell, Skipper Thompson, Jamey Hill, J.R. DeLord, Alfred Simon, Lloyd Hebert, Steve LeBure
Third Row:  Coach Tomlin, J.W. Beal, Ronnie Hosea, Gene Hebert, Walter Miles, Sidney Little, Eldred McDaniels, Henry Walden, Manager Roland Lee.
Fourth Row:  Assistant Coach Pete Pense,  ---?---, Jimmy Taylor, Glen "Sugar" Wyble, Charles Melancon, Billy Parham, Joe Williams, Edgar Blitch, Managers Gene Hargrove and Lynn Parker.
Top Row:  Assistant Coach Billy Willard, Wayne Williams, Gabe Urbina, Donald Dodd, T.W. Kimble, Jimmy Brown, Joe Escabor
                                                                             (Photo Courtesy of Wayne Williams)

Thomas Jefferson Yellow Jackets (1954-1955)

Standing Left to Right:  Gabe Urbina, Charles Melancon, Wayne Williams and Steve LaBure.  
Kneeling Left to Right:  Kenneth Rozelle, J.W. Beal, Walter Miles, Floyd Dussetchleger, Bruce Hendrickson, Lamar Hebert and Kenneth Watler.
(Photo courtesy of J.W. and Pat Beal)

Austin Gonsulin was born in Port Arthur in 1938.  He graduated with the Thomas Jefferson High School Class of 1956.  Austin played football in high school for the Yellow Jackets and had an outstanding career as a halfback.  He chose Baylor University to continue his education and his football career, graduating in 1960.  The Denver Broncos of the old American Football League drafted Austin as a safety/defensive back.  During his professional career, he was name an AFL All Star and played in six Pro-Bowls.  Gonsulin finished his sports career playing for the San Francisco '49ers.  In 1984, he was inducted into the Colorado Hall of Fame and the Denver Bronco Stadium Ring of Fame.

          Port Arthur Yellow Jackets (School Year 1957-1958)
Studying strategy for playoff game against the Stephen F. Austin Maroons of Austin, TX.
(L-R front Row): Guard Mickey Walker, Quarterback Ronnie Stanley, Halfback Ronald Doty (holding papers) and End Earl Boyanton.  Behind, looking over Doty's shoulder, are Guard Rufus Williams, Tackle Carl Graham, Halfback Gary Dorsey, End Dave Simmons, Center Kenneth St. John, Tackle Jay Hebert and Fullback Greg Thompson.

                           "Winner's Circle"  (School Year 1958-1959)
Happy but tired, the Port Arthur Yellow Jackets whoop it up in the dressing room after a 27-0 romp over the Port Neches-Groves Indians giving them the District 11-AAAA co-championship and the right to advance to the state playoffs against the Pasadena Eagles.