Don Perkins - by Richard Melzer (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Don Perkins led a life as one of the most honored athletes in the history of the University of New Mexico and the Dallas Cowboys. But Perkins's life was far more complex and, at times, controversial. He experienced the traumas of racial discrimination, death, divorce, football-related injuries, and a never-ending search for his own identity. In his search, Perkins ventured into sportscasting, public speaking, community relations, big-rig trucking, government work, and even amateur theater, where he portrayed Frederick Douglass and other famous Black leaders. Through it all, he remained a kind, unassuming, charismatic man, universally admired by family members, friends, and millions of fans. Don Perkins: A Champion's Life is the final tribute he so greatly deserves.

Review Quotes

Richard Melzer does a thorough in-depth story on the great Don Perkins, a former football star from UNM and then in the NFL, that any Lobo football fan--and especially Dallas Cowboys fans--will enjoy reading.--Gary Herron, author of Fifty Years at the Pit: The University of New Mexico's Legendary Venue

About the Author

Richard Melzer is a regents professor emeritus of history at the University of New Mexico's Valencia Campus. A former president of the Historical Society of New Mexico, Melzer is the author or coauthor of numerous books, including Ernie Pyle in the American Southwest, Captain Maximiliano Luna: A New Mexico Rough Rider, and A History of New Mexico Since Statehood (UNM Press).