Magnolia gridiron hero set records, struggled with pain

NFL star Buddy Dial may not have played football if not for an arm injury, and his many injuries would come to define his career. He grew up in Pinehurst, sang in church in Tomball and dreamed of being a pitcher for the Magnolia baseball team. When he hurt his arm in high school, he shifted his focus to football and quickly became recognized as Magnolia's finest player on both offense and defense.

Despite his play for Magnolia, Dial was largely ignored by college recruiters until he excelled in a state all-star game in August 1955. Dial was not expected to make a difference in the game, but his two touchdown receptions—including a game-tying catch in the fourth quarter—turned heads. Still, only Rice University was willing to offer the full scholarship that he needed to attend college.

It was at Rice that Dial first earned national attention. As a junior in 1957, Dial helped Rice win the Southwest Conference title and was a consensus All-American. He was as highly regarded within the conference for his rangy, acrobatic defensive play and blocking as for his receiving.

"I don't believe I've ever seen a pass-receiver with better hands than Buddy," said Rice head coach Jess Neely to the Chicago Tribune in 1959. "It is phenomenal the way he can hold on to the ball with defensive men all over him. He doesn't have great speed, but he's above average in that category and he has the knack of getting open."

Dial was chosen in the 1959 NFL draft by the New York Giants. Before the season began, he was injured in training and cut from the roster. However, Dial's college play had attracted the attention of Pittsburgh quarterback and former Texas star Bobby Layne, who encouraged his team to sign Dial.

Dial's play for Layne and the Steelers was record-setting—his 1961 franchise mark of 12 touchdown receptions has been tied by two players but not yet broken. His 21.6 yards per catch in 1963 is still the franchise best for a receiver with more than 1,000 yards.

Dial was traded to the Dallas Cowboys before the 1964 season, calling the trade "the greatest thing that ever happened to me." He starred on a variety show with quarterback Don Meredith and recorded an album of hymns. But he tore a leg muscle during training and would only start 10 games for Dallas before retiring after the 1966 season.

Dial then settled back in Tomball but struggled with pain from his many injuries and his history of playing through the pain. Three back operations and the pain in his arms and legs led to prolonged abuse of painkillers, leading to renal failure and multiple kidney operations.

"I always felt it was morally wrong to use social drugs, yet I abused pain medication in such excessive fashion it was unbelievable," Dial told the Boston Globe in 1982. "There's a lot of pressure to play hurt you know you're supposed to play in pain."

He became a speaker for charitable groups, warning of the dangers of substance abuse and advocating treating pain with a program of exercise and fitness.

Dial died in 2008 at age 71 and is buried in Magnolia. His archives, scrapbooks and memorabilia were donated by his family to the Magnolia Historical Society and may be viewed at the Historic Magnolia Depot.

Sources: Celeste Graves, Magnolia Historical Society archives; Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Victoria Advocate archives; pro-football-reference.com