The Oil Bowl is a high school football all-star game in Wichita Falls, Texas. The game began in 1938, originally between East and West Texas high school football all-stars. In 1945, the game began pitting teams from Oklahoma and Texas, and continued in that format until 2012 (except for 1961 and 2009). In 2013, a dispute concerning the disposition of Oklahoma's share of the game's charitable proceeds led the Oklahoma Coaches Association to withdraw from the game, and the 2013 game matched two Texas teams. For the years in which Texas and Oklahoma teams played, the overall record was 46-19-1 in favor of Texas.
The name also applies to a high school football game played annually between Natrona County High School and Kelly Walsh High School, two cross team rivals located in Casper, Wyoming.
Distinguished alumni
These are players and coaches who distinguished themselves with their achievements after participating in the Oil Bowl game.
Players
Jack Crain (Nocona, Texas; 1938) "Jackrabbit" Crain was a two-time All-American running back at the University of Texas and finished 10th in the Heisman Trophy voting his senior year. After graduation, he served four terms as state representative for District 61 in Texas.
Hub Bechtol (Lubbock, Texas; 1943) Played for both the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Texas Longhorns. As an end at Texas in 1944, 1945 and 1946, Bechtol became the first Southwest Conference player to become a three-time All-American. In 1946 Cotton Bowl Classic, he was on the receiving end of nine of Bobby Layne's completions in a 40–27 win over Missouri. Played three seasons with the Baltimore Colts.
Bobby Layne (Highland Park, Texas; 1944) Layne is a member of both the College Football and Pro Football hall of fames. Set eleven passing records as a quarterback at Texas and led the Longhorns to a 10-1-0 record his senior year. Led the Detroit Lions to NFL titles in 1952, 1953, and 1957 and quarterbacked the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1958 to 1962.
Dick Harris (Wichita Falls, Texas; 1945) Played both center and guard at Texas and joined Bobby Layne as the only Longhorns to win All-Southwest Conference honors four times. Was first-round draft pick of Chicago Bears in 1949.
Lindy Berry (Wichita Falls, Texas; 1946) An All-American quarterback at TCU his senior season, Berry was a key player for the Frogs for four years. He was All-Southwest Conference as a junior and senior. As a sophomore, he led the nation in punt returns with 494 yards and as a junior was fourth in the nation in total offense.
Hayden Fry (Odessa, Texas; 1947) Although he was a good college quarterback at Baylor, Fry made his name as a college coach. He was head coach at SMU, North Texas, and Iowa. At SMU, he signed the first African American recruit in Southwest Conference history, Jerry Levias. He coached 20 seasons at Iowa and retired with 232 Division I victories.
Bud McFadin (Iraan, Texas; 1947) Played offensive guard and defensive tackle for Texas from 1948 through 1950 and made All-American both ways and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983. Was the MVP of the Chicago Tribune All-Star Game after his senior year and played professionally for the Rams, Broncos, and Oilers.
Billy Howton (Plainview, Texas; 1948) After playing college football at Rice, Howton spent twelve seasons in the NFL with the Packers, Browns, and Cowboys. A four-time Pro Bowl participant, he caught 503 for 8,459 yards and 61 touchdowns.
Byron Townsend (Odessa; 1948) An All-Southwest Conference running back at Texas in 1950 Ran for 105 yards and a touchdown against Tennessee in the 1951 Cotton Bowl Classic.
Eddie Crowder (Muskogee; 1949) An All-American quarterback and safety for Oklahoma for 1950-52 and was a member of OU's first national championship team in 1952. Drafted by the New York Giants but a nerve injury in his throwing arm prevented him from having an NFL career. Instead, he went into coaching and became head coach and later athletic director at Colorado.
Buck McPhail (Oklahoma City; 1949) In 1951, McPhail was an All-American at OU as he and Heisman Trophy winner Billy Vessels made up one of the greatest rushing tandems of all-time. McPhail set a national collegiate record that year by averaging 8.56 yards per rush. Drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1953.
Billy Bookout (Wichita Falls; 1950) An All-Big Seven cornerback at Oklahoma before finishing his college career as a Little All-American at Austin College. Played for the Green Bay Packers before starting a coaching career. Was the first head football coach at Hurst Bell and later coached at nearby Euless Trinity.