Obituary of Howard J. Twilley

Howard J. Twilley (#81)

Howard Twilley passed away peacefully on the morning of February 5th, surrounded by family and friends, at the age of 81. He fought and won four battles with cancer before ultimately losing his final one, displaying the same resilience and determination that defined his life.

Born and raised in Galena Park, Texas, Howard was the beloved son of Bessie and Howard Sr. His love for football began in elementary school when he played on the literal “barefoot” team. At Galena Park High School, he excelled both academically and athletically playing on both offense and defense for a football team that advanced to the 4A State Championship.

Though he dreamed of playing at the University of Houston, Howard received only one football scholarship offer—from the University of Tulsa (TU). He accepted, setting in motion one of the most remarkable college football careers in history.

Upon arriving at TU in 1962, legendary coach Glenn Dobbs initially questioned his new recruit’s size and stature, greeting him with, “You’re Twilley? I guess you’ll do.” Howard’s work ethic quickly erased any doubts. He rewrote the record books, finishing his career with 261 receptions for 3,343 yards and 32 touchdowns. In 1964, he led the nation in scoring and receiving with 95 receptions, 1,178 yards, and 13 touchdowns, earning All-American honors.

His 1965 season was one for the ages. Howard led the nation in scoring with 261 points (16 touchdowns and 31 extra points) and topped the charts with 134 receptions and 1,779 receiving yards. Tulsa capped off the year in a Bluebonnet Bowl appearance, finishing 8-3. He was the Heisman Trophy runner-up to USC’s Mike Garrett and earned a long list of accolades, including consensus First Team All-American, UPI Lineman of the Year, and Academic All-American.

Drafted by both the Minnesota Vikings (NFL, 14th round) and the Miami Dolphins (AFL, 12th round), Howard chose the Dolphins—an expansion team in its inaugural season. While adjusting to life in professional football, he finished his degree at Tulsa during the offseason and married the love of his life, Julie Laudon.

Miami struggled in its early years, but that changed with the arrival of Coach Don Shula, an inspirational mentor in Howard’s life. Shula valued Howard’s reliability, toughness, and ability to catch and block—key components of the Dolphins’ success. Howard was a proud member of the legendary 1972 Dolphins team, the only team in NFL history to complete a perfect season (17-0). He scored the first touchdown in Super Bowl VII and played in three Super Bowls (VI, VII, VIII) over his 11-year career with Miami. He finished with 212 receptions, 3,064 yards, and 23 touchdowns, starting 82 of 123 games.

His legacy was cemented in Tulsa, where the University of Tulsa retired his jersey (#81), and he was inducted into multiple halls of fame, including: Tulsa Athletic Hall of Fame (1984), GTE Academic All-American Hall of Fame (1990), National College Football Foundation Hall of Fame (1992), Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (1995), and the Walter Camp Football Foundation All-Century Team (2001).

While still playing, Howard earned his MBA at the University of Miami, preparing for life after football. He and Julie moved back to Tulsa, where they raised their three sons. Howard entered the business world, purchasing a single Athlete’s Foot shoe store and growing it into a successful chain of 30 stores across Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas. After selling the business in 1990, he became a financial analyst for Merrill Lynch. He remained deeply involved in his community, serving on boards for Western National Bank, Goodwill Industries, The Salvation Army, and Metro Christian Academy, among others. “Coach Twilley” also gave his time as a volunteer football coach, inspiring young athletes, including his own children.

In 1994, he considered a run for U.S. Congress but instead chose to support his longtime friend and former TU teammate, Steve Largent. In retirement, Howard moved to Dallas to be closer to his sons and grandchildren.

Above all, Howard’s faith and love for people will be his most enduring legacy. His life changed profoundly after becoming a Christian during his early years in Miami, a transformation he fondly referred to as the moment of “After Jesus and Julie.” His faith guided his actions, and he loved sharing his testimony. He led Bible study groups, taught Sunday School, and spoke at Fellowship of Christian Athletes events, always eager to encourage others. His kindness was evident in the way he treated people, often telling strangers, “You have a great smile. You must know that God loves you.”

Howard was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Julie; three sons, Michael, Blaine, and Mark; and six grandchildren.

A memorial service celebrating Howard’s life will be held on February 28th at 2:00 PM at First Methodist Church, 1115 South Boulder Ave, Tulsa, OK 74119.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to First Methodist Church (tulsafmc.org), the Salvation Army (salvationarmyusa.org), or University of Tulsa Athletics (tulsahurricane.com).

Ninde Funeral & Cremation | (918) 742-5556 | ninde.com