W.W. "Windy" Nicklaus began his career excelling in athletics and went on to distinguish himself in areas of education and civic leadership as well.
He may hold a record being inducted into the most halls of fame. He is included in the Texas Tech Athletic Hall of Fame, the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame, the Amarillo High School Hall of Fame and the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.
Nicklaus was a man of firsts. The Amarillo native was the captain of the first Amarillo High football team in 1922. He was captain of the first Texas Tech football team in 1925. In 1955, he became the first principal at Palo Duro High School.
In high school and college he was a hard-running fullback. At 5-foot-5, 180 pounds, he was built so low to the ground he was difficult to knock off his feet. He helped lead the Golden Sandstorm to the state quarterfinals in 1922 and 1923. After graduating from Tech in 1928, he coached football at Tahoka for two years before returning to Amarillo in 1930 to coach at Buchanan Junior High, now Horace Mann Middle School.
He later coached Amarillo College to the state junior college football championship in 1935. Other coaching assignments took him to Altus (Okla.) Junior College, Shawnee (Okla) High School, Oklahoma Baptist University, Borger High School and West Texas State University. He also coached Altus and Shawnee to state football championships.
"Windy played football in college, but he excelled in baseball, basketball and everything he's ever done. I think he is one of the most outstanding men ever produced in the Panhandle," said Thad Ansley, a longtime friend.
He served as Palo Duro's first principal in 1955 before retiring in 1969. He then went into civic service. He was elected to the city commission and served until 1974 before health reasons prompted him to resign.
He served on the Amarillo Hospital Board of Managers from 1976 to 1981. He helped establish the Arthritis Foundation and helped start the Amarillo Senior Citizens Center in downtown Amarillo.
He played an active role in helping senior citizens until his death on Jan. 8, 1991, at age 87. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy, in 1976. His three children live in Amarillo - a son, Dr. Ted M. Nicklaus, and two daughters, Windene Mobley and Nancy Lynn Bennett.
Additional information by:
k b ([email protected])
He may hold a record being inducted into the most halls of fame. He is included in the Texas Tech Athletic Hall of Fame, the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame, the Amarillo High School Hall of Fame and the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.
Nicklaus was a man of firsts. The Amarillo native was the captain of the first Amarillo High football team in 1922. He was captain of the first Texas Tech football team in 1925. In 1955, he became the first principal at Palo Duro High School.
In high school and college he was a hard-running fullback. At 5-foot-5, 180 pounds, he was built so low to the ground he was difficult to knock off his feet. He helped lead the Golden Sandstorm to the state quarterfinals in 1922 and 1923. After graduating from Tech in 1928, he coached football at Tahoka for two years before returning to Amarillo in 1930 to coach at Buchanan Junior High, now Horace Mann Middle School.
He later coached Amarillo College to the state junior college football championship in 1935. Other coaching assignments took him to Altus (Okla.) Junior College, Shawnee (Okla) High School, Oklahoma Baptist University, Borger High School and West Texas State University. He also coached Altus and Shawnee to state football championships.
"Windy played football in college, but he excelled in baseball, basketball and everything he's ever done. I think he is one of the most outstanding men ever produced in the Panhandle," said Thad Ansley, a longtime friend.
He served as Palo Duro's first principal in 1955 before retiring in 1969. He then went into civic service. He was elected to the city commission and served until 1974 before health reasons prompted him to resign.
He served on the Amarillo Hospital Board of Managers from 1976 to 1981. He helped establish the Arthritis Foundation and helped start the Amarillo Senior Citizens Center in downtown Amarillo.
He played an active role in helping senior citizens until his death on Jan. 8, 1991, at age 87. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy, in 1976. His three children live in Amarillo - a son, Dr. Ted M. Nicklaus, and two daughters, Windene Mobley and Nancy Lynn Bennett.
Additional information by:
k b ([email protected])
W.W. "Windy" Nicklaus began his career excelling in athletics and went on to distinguish himself in areas of education and civic leadership as well.
He may hold a record being inducted into the most halls of fame. He is included in the Texas Tech Athletic Hall of Fame, the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame, the Amarillo High School Hall of Fame and the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.
Nicklaus was a man of firsts. The Amarillo native was the captain of the first Amarillo High football team in 1922. He was captain of the first Texas Tech football team in 1925. In 1955, he became the first principal at Palo Duro High School.
In high school and college he was a hard-running fullback. At 5-foot-5, 180 pounds, he was built so low to the ground he was difficult to knock off his feet. He helped lead the Golden Sandstorm to the state quarterfinals in 1922 and 1923. After graduating from Tech in 1928, he coached football at Tahoka for two years before returning to Amarillo in 1930 to coach at Buchanan Junior High, now Horace Mann Middle School.
He later coached Amarillo College to the state junior college football championship in 1935. Other coaching assignments took him to Altus (Okla.) Junior College, Shawnee (Okla) High School, Oklahoma Baptist University, Borger High School and West Texas State University. He also coached Altus and Shawnee to state football championships.
"Windy played football in college, but he excelled in baseball, basketball and everything he's ever done. I think he is one of the most outstanding men ever produced in the Panhandle," said Thad Ansley, a longtime friend.
He served as Palo Duro's first principal in 1955 before retiring in 1969. He then went into civic service. He was elected to the city commission and served until 1974 before health reasons prompted him to resign.
He served on the Amarillo Hospital Board of Managers from 1976 to 1981. He helped establish the Arthritis Foundation and helped start the Amarillo Senior Citizens Center in downtown Amarillo.
He played an active role in helping senior citizens until his death on Jan. 8, 1991, at age 87. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy, in 1976. His three children live in Amarillo - a son, Dr. Ted M. Nicklaus, and two daughters, Windene Mobley and Nancy Lynn Bennett.
Additional information by:
k b ([email protected])
He may hold a record being inducted into the most halls of fame. He is included in the Texas Tech Athletic Hall of Fame, the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame, the Amarillo High School Hall of Fame and the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.
Nicklaus was a man of firsts. The Amarillo native was the captain of the first Amarillo High football team in 1922. He was captain of the first Texas Tech football team in 1925. In 1955, he became the first principal at Palo Duro High School.
In high school and college he was a hard-running fullback. At 5-foot-5, 180 pounds, he was built so low to the ground he was difficult to knock off his feet. He helped lead the Golden Sandstorm to the state quarterfinals in 1922 and 1923. After graduating from Tech in 1928, he coached football at Tahoka for two years before returning to Amarillo in 1930 to coach at Buchanan Junior High, now Horace Mann Middle School.
He later coached Amarillo College to the state junior college football championship in 1935. Other coaching assignments took him to Altus (Okla.) Junior College, Shawnee (Okla) High School, Oklahoma Baptist University, Borger High School and West Texas State University. He also coached Altus and Shawnee to state football championships.
"Windy played football in college, but he excelled in baseball, basketball and everything he's ever done. I think he is one of the most outstanding men ever produced in the Panhandle," said Thad Ansley, a longtime friend.
He served as Palo Duro's first principal in 1955 before retiring in 1969. He then went into civic service. He was elected to the city commission and served until 1974 before health reasons prompted him to resign.
He served on the Amarillo Hospital Board of Managers from 1976 to 1981. He helped establish the Arthritis Foundation and helped start the Amarillo Senior Citizens Center in downtown Amarillo.
He played an active role in helping senior citizens until his death on Jan. 8, 1991, at age 87. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy, in 1976. His three children live in Amarillo - a son, Dr. Ted M. Nicklaus, and two daughters, Windene Mobley and Nancy Lynn Bennett.
Additional information by:
k b ([email protected])
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