Playing on one of the Lamesa Golden Tornadoes’ state championship hoop squads, earning a football scholarship at Texas Tech and coaching three state champion tracksters are among Tommy Doyle’s highlights.
He said he is grateful for all of his athletic experiences.
“It helps give you a purpose. More than anything it helped keep me on the straight and narrow as well as get a college education,” Doyle said.
In high school, Doyle was a three-sport letterman for the Golden Tors, competing in football, basketball and track. In football, Doyle made all-state at end despite playing on a team that didn’t win a district ball game.
In 1960, Doyle played on the Golden Tornadoes’ first of three state boys’ basketball championship teams. After high school, Doyle played football at Texas Tech. Doyle played on both offense and defense. After getting a degree in industrial management, Doyle got a degree in education and was a graduate assistant coach at Texas Tech. While coaching in Lamesa, Doyle helped coach Robert Maxwell win a state championship in the high hurdles.
Doyle moved to Snyder where he coached football, basketball and track for the 29 years before retiring in 2007.