What's in the Water in Midland, Texas?

By: Glenn Whittington ‘ 61

My first memories of Doc were in 1959, my Sophomore year at MHS. He had taken the job as the head athletic trainer at MHS.  He also taught Social Studies, more on that later.  After football season ended he became the trainer for Coach Bob Todd for the basketball program.  At this time I had moved to the B team after being a star on the C team under one of the great basketball minds Ralph Schultz who also taught shop.  I truly think he knew more about shop than basketball.  Some of the outstanding players making the move to the B team were Ron Peavy, Bob Speed, Jody Black and Charles Dishman more on each of them in future chapters.  Back to Doc Dodson.Doc ‘s first home as you may know by now was “three trash cans West of the Press Box” .  Many hours were spent in that palace as Doc not only served as a trainer, teacher but he really excelled in counseling young athletes in their pursuit of stardom in athletics and our failed love lives. He loved TCU and his Phi Delt brothers back in Fort Worth.  His pursuit of being back in Ft. Worth with his Phi Delta brothers almost got me in big trouble.  He once gave me his car keys (I was underage to drive at the time) and told me to go to this particular corner where there was a pay phone (remember those?). I was to get this wire coat hanger that was bent a certain way, dial the assigned number and tell the frat brother he would be in that weekend. After dialing the number, drop the coin in the slot, place the coat hanger up the slot and the coin would come back down. Then I was to repeat the process until the cost of the call would allow it go through.  I did as directed –but an operator came on and said there seemed to a problem and I was to remain in that location until someone would be there to discuss the problem.  NOT ME!  I returned to Doc and explained he needed someone with more experience than me!   My athletic career did not progress  as I expected. Dishman became all-state, Black became gunner-junior after Dishman, and Peavy learned to dribble with both hands. Coach Todd and Doc got together and decided to offer me the assistant trainers job.  I would be able to be with my buddies and travel with the team.  Not a bad gig.I will be forever grateful to these 2 great men, Doc and Coach Todd.  Doc even taught me how to tape and got me an interview with Elmer Brown at TCU.  I was provided a scholarship for my first 2 years until I found it interfered with my fraternity life.Doc became such a member of my family that when he was stationed in Fort Polk in 1961 he called my aunt and uncle in Shreveport on Thanksgiving and asked if he could come to Shreveport as he was lonely.  He was welcomed with open arms.  Doc was a man who meant so much to me and is one of the memories of Midland that I will always cherish.