Greathouse, Myrle

Myrle Greathouse was a two-way all-state player at linebacker and running back at Amarillo High, helping the Sandies win a state championship in 1940. Following his service in World War II, he was a three-year letterman in football at the University of Oklahoma under legendary coach Bud Wilkinson.He was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals. In 1954 Greathouse went to work for Wes-Tex Drilling Company in Abilene, a company he later owned. His civic and business involvement included Chairman of the West Texas Rehabilitation Center of Abilene, a director of the First National Bank of Abilene, a director of the Board of Crockett County National Bank of San Angelo and Ozona, a director of the West Central Texas Oil and Gas Association, board member of the Petroleum Museum, and past president of the Petroleum Club of Abilene. He was named the 1988 Oilman of the Year by the West Central Texas Oil and Gas Association, and was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame in March, 1996. He died in 2000, and the annual Myrle Greathouse/Big Country Fellowship of Christian Athletes All-Star Football game in Abilene is named in his honor for his years of support of youth sports in the Big Country.