The Club had a Roundtable in 2019, featuring University of Houston's Dana Holgorsen, TCU's Gary Patterson and former University of Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops. ESPN-Houston radio's John Granato emceed the event.
Former Texas Gov. Mark White enjoys the 2013 Baylor Big 12 championship trophy with TD Club Board member Gary Pearson. The photo was taken at the JW Marriott during the 2014 Baylor Luncheon.
Georgia Tech football coach Bobby Dodd receives the inaugural Touchdowner of the Year Award in 1966, the same year that the TD Club was founded. The gala was at the old Rice Hotel in downtown.
Rice football coach Jess Neely is presented the second Touchdowner of the Year Award in 1967. With him at the podium at the old Rice Hotel is Clyde Verheyden, one of the TD Club founders.
Winners from the UIL High School Awards Dinner in 2019 are, from left, Coach of the Year Brad Butler of Shadow Creek High School; Offensive Player of the Year Devon Achane of Thurgood Marshall High School; and Defensive Player of the Year Josh White of Cypress Creek High School.
Steve Leisz of Episcopal High School is named the Private High School Coach of the Year for the 2019 season at the Private High School Awards Dinner. He is pictured here with his family.
Texas A&M and Alabama coach Bear Bryant received the Touchdowner of the Year Award in 1971 at the old Rice Hotel. Presenting the plaque was Sonny Sowell, a TD Club founder.
The TD Club in 1968 recognized the top college football players in the state with, from left, Chris Gilbert of the University of Texas; Mack White of SMU, and Jerry LeVias of SMU. Talking to them is Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian.
SMU's Jerry LeVias and Texas' Chris Gilbert were honored in 1968 by the Club, and both also won the Touchdowner of the Year.
The TD Club sponsored a golf tourney in 2019 to honor Texas A&M and Seattle Seahawk lineman Jacob Green, who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame that year. Green presented a football to Houstin ISD AD Andre' Walker, who put the ball in an HISD trophy case. Green attended Kashmere in HISD.
Former Madison High School and University of Texas quarterback Vince Young frequently attends TD Club events. He is shown here at the TD Club's 50th Anniversary Dinner in 2016 surrounded by media at the Westin Galleria Hotel. Young was the TD Club's 2001 HS offensive player of the year.
Quarterback-punter Sam Baugh of TCU and the Washington Redskins receives the Touchdowner of the Year Award in 1977 at the old Rice Hotel. Presenting the plaque are Adrian Burk, left, a TD Club founder, and Fred Curry.
TCU coach Dutch Meyer received the Touchdowner plaque in 1975. Presenting are University of Texas coach Darrell Royal and Texas A&M coach Emory Bellard.
Texas coach Darrell Royal is awarded the Touchdowner of the Year Award in 1969, presented by TD Club founder Tex Thornton.
USC coach John McKay wins the Touchdowner of the Year Award in 1978. Presenting him the award is Jim Morris, a Touchdown Club founder.
Louisiana State University football coach Ed Orgeron spoke to the Touchdown Club of Houston in 2019, and was very entertaining. He gave a shoutout to the signees from Houston, an important part of Tiger recruiting.
Kenny Houston was named the Touchdowner of the Year in 2010. He is shown with his wife, Gustie.
University of Texas football coach Mack Brown talks to TD Club president Dr. Charles McClelland at the 2010 Longhorn Luncheon at the JW Marriott.
University of Alabama coach Nick Saban addresses the TD Club in 2011 at the JW Marriott Hotel.
Texas Tech coach Matt Wells talks to the TD Club in 2019 about the latest developments in Lubbock with the Red Raiders. The luncheon was at the Bayou City Event Center.
The Battle of the Piney Woods Luncheon in 2013 featured Ch. 13's Bob Allen, Stephen F. Austin coach Clint Conque, Sam Houston coach Willie Fritz, and Ch. 2's Randy McIlvoy. Allen graduated from SFA and McIlvoy from SHSU.
Rice coach Mike Bloomgren and University of Houston coach Major Applewhite hold the Bayou Bucket after a 2018 luncheon at the Bayou City Event Center. The TD Club created the Bayou Bucket, which is awarded to the winning team on the field each year the schools play.
Speaking to the TD Club in 2019 were Texas Southern coach Clarence McKinney and Prairie View A&M coach Eric Dooley. The TD Club created the Durley-Nicks Trophy, which is awarded to the winning team on the football field after each contest between the two schools.
LSU coach Les Miles spoke to the TD Club in 2014, as he discussed the highpoints for the Bayou Tigers. The event was at the JW Marriott in the Galleria.
University of Texas coach Tom Herman addressed the TD Club in 2018 at the JW Marriott, and drew a good picture for Longhorn followers. Sponsorship was by Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale, who was presented with a Touchdown Club-logoed football for his sponsorship.
The TD Club has supported the Senior Showcase since its beginning, where high school seniors who have signed an athletic scholarship can try out before dozens of coaches on the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA levels. One coach said it was like Wal-Mart for colleges.
Texans owner Bob McNair was given the Touchdowner of the Year Award in 2012. The Texans have assisted the TD Club in many projects, including giving out extra football cleats and equipment to area needy high schools, and has been a major contributor to the Senior Showcase.
SMU head football coach Sonny Dykes speaks to the TD Club before the 2018 season. The luncheon was at the Bayou City Event Center.
Legendary University of Houston coach Bill Yeoman was the TD Club's Touchdowner of the Year in 1987. Bill regularly attended TD Club events, usually the Touchdowner dinner as well as the Bayou Bucket event between UH and Rice. He is shown here with ESPN-Houston radio's Fred Faour.
The TD Club gives out the Ron Stone Media Excellence Award each year, and gave the trophy to Ch. 26 sports director Mark Berman in 2015. With him are Ron Stone Jr., center, and the TD Club's Neal Farmer.
Kinkaid coach Nathan Larned is awarded Coach of the Year in 2017 by former Katy High School and Houston Christian coach Mike Johnston at the JW Marriott.
At the Texas A&M luncheon in 2018, current Texas A&M football coach Jimbo Fisher says hello to former Aggie coach Jackie Sherill at an event at the JW Marriott.
Coach Kevin Sumlin has spoken to the Touchdown Club many times over the years, when he was head coach at the University of Houston, Texas A&M University and the University of Arizona. He spoke here in 2011 while at UH at the Bayou City Event Center.
Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy spoke to the TD Club at the JW Marriott in 2009. He is with TD Club board member Chad Clay, left, and SportsRadio 610 morning host Sean Pendergast.
The Touchdown Club tries to have a golf tournament each year to raise funds. Here are the sports celebrity participants in the Club's 50th anniversary golf tournament in 2016 at Wildcat Golf Club.
The TD Club celebrates what is right with high school football with a Sportsmanship Luncheon each year. Here, Alief Elsik won the Class 6A division in 2020 for the 2019 season. The event was at the Bayou City Event Center.
Former Madison High School coach and Prairie View A&M grad Ray Seals is recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2011 Texas Southern-Prairie View A&M Luncheon by the Touchdown Club for his 50 years of unselfish service to high school football in the city of Houston.
The TD Club is 2010 gave Lisa Nicks special recognition for her grandfather, Billy Nicks, who coached football at Prairie View A&M for 17 years. Under Nicks, the Panthers won five mythical National Black Championships and seven Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships.
Baylor University football coach Matt Rhule addressed the Bear faithful in 2018 at the JW Marriott.
Rice head football coach Ken Hatfield used the triple-option offense for the Owls and was named the TD Club's Touchdowner of the Year in 2002. With him at the JW Marriott is former Ch. 2 sports director Craig Roberts.
Former Houston Oiler and Pro Football Hall of Famer Elvin Bethea was named Touchdowner of the Year in 2003. With him at the JW Marriott are, from left, Kenny Houston, Dan Pastorini, Bethea, Ed Biles and Oilers owner Bud Adams.
Former Houston Oilers head football coach Bum Phillips congratulates All-Pro defensive lineman Elvin Bethea during Bethea's Touchdowner of the Year dinner in 2003 at the JW Marriott.
Darrell Luckett belts out the National Anthem at a recent Touchdown Club of Houston gala. Darrell and his golden voice have been constants at TD Club events for approximately 10 years.
Members of the TD Club Board of Directors meet after a news conference with a program that assisted HISD student-athletes.
Thurman Thomas of Willowridge, Oklahoma State and the Buffalo Bills was the Touchdowner in 2009. Shown at the JW Marriott are former Touchdowners Eddie Joseph, left, and Bill Yeoman. Thurman was 1983 high school offensive player of the year and a Touchdowner - the only person to win both.
Houston Texans head football coach Bill O'Brien attened the TD Club's 50th anniversary dinner in 2016 and answered questions from the media at the gala.
Former Pittsburth Steelers quarterback and Fox Television football analyst Terry Bradshaw was named the Touchdowner of the Year in 2018. Presenting his plaque was Murry Bowden, right, who was the Touchdowner of the Year in 2017.
Past Touchdowner Award winners John David Crow, right, and R.C. Slocum, second from right, both Aggies, talk with Longhorn greats Don and Diron Talbert at a TD Club gala in the late 2000s.
One thing that could always be counted on was former Texas Tech football coach Spike Dykes, center, showing up at the Touchdown Club event with great one-liners.
The members of the TD Club Board who attended the 50th anniverary dinner in 2016.
Texas A&M 1957 Heisman winner John David Crow with an Aggie fan at an event in 2014 at the JW Marriott.
University of Texas coach Steve Sarkisian addresses the TD Club at the Bayou City Event Center.
University of Arkansas head football coach Sam Pittman talks to the TD Club at the Bayou City Event Center in May, 2022. Pittman signed footballs for fans.
Wade Phillips wins the Touchdowner of the Year plaque in 2022. Presenting him the award is Jackie Sherrill, who was the Touchdowner winner in 2021.
The Touchdown Club is the Houston chapter of the NFF. Founded in 1947 with leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame -- a non-profit educational organization -- runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people.
Who We Are-
The Touchdown Club of Houston is an organization dedicated to the sharing of fellowship through football. We are a ‘non-denominational’ organization, meaning we have members who support football teams at all levels and in different geographic areas. Although we put an emphasis on having fun at banquets and luncheons, we also are a community-service organization that uses football as our catalyst.
