The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Longhorns family loses one of all-time greats with passing of James Street
10.03.2013 | Longhorn Foundation
Street was a standout on football and baseball field, as well as in the community.
Photo gallery: In memoriam -- James Street (1948-2013)
AUSTIN, Texas -- The Longhorns family lost one of its all-time greats Monday with the sudden passing of James Street.
A gentleman both on and off the field, Street's loss has reverberated throughout The University of Texas community.
A two-sport star, Street was a perfect 20-0 as a starting quarterback from 1968-69 and helped lead UT to the 1969 National Championship. The Longhorns posted a perfect 11-0 record (7-0 in the Southwest Conference) and capped off their second national title with a 21-17 victory against No. 9 Notre Dame in the 1970 Cotton Bowl. Street earned consensus All-SWC honors that season.
On the baseball field, Street helped lead UT to three consecutive College World Series appearances and posted a career record of 29-8. Street ranks sixth in UT history with 21 complete games and ninth with a career 1.86 ERA and 302 strikeouts. He threw a perfect game in 1970 (vs. Texas Tech) and a no-hitter in 1969 (vs. SMU). Street was a two-time second-team All-America selection and a three-time All-SWC choice.
Street, 65, went on to run his own business, The James Street Group, a financial firm which aided plaintiffs in legal disputes. He was also active in the Austin community, working on a number of charitable endeavors, including the annual Rise School of Austin Golf Shootout, which he co-hosted with Texas Football co-offensive coordinator Major Applewhite.
Street, who was inducted into the Longhorn Hall of Honor in 1982, is survived by his wife, Janie, and five sons: Ryan, Huston, Juston, Jordon and Hanson. Huston helped the Longhorns to the 2002 College World Series title and pitches for the San Diego Padres. Jordon lettered for the Longhorns baseball team in 2005, and Juston lettered in 2007 and 2008.
For Thursday's Iowa State game, the Longhorns will wear a "JS" sticker on the back of their helmets in honor of James Street.
REMEMBERING JAMES STREET, A LONGHORNS LEGEND
DeLoss Dodds, Director, UT Athletics
We are sad to lose a Longhorn legend. James Street was a great college football player and an even better man. I am proud to have called him my friend. He started what became a great Street family legacy at Texas. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Janie and the boys.
Mack Brown, Texas Football head coach
Our thoughts and our prayers go out to his family and his many friends at this time of pain and sorrow. James was a very dear friend of mine. He and I have been very instrumental in working with the Rise School over many years and working in golf tournaments. As sad as it is to lose an icon like James from our university, we do want to celebrate his life and remember all the things that he's accomplished. You start talking about maybe the only quarterback in history never to lose a football game as a starter. He won 20 straight. He and Coach (Darrell) Royal and Coach (Emory) Bellard were so instrumental in changing the course of college football when they started the wishbone. He was so humble but at the same time so driven. He had tremendous integrity and was such a competitor. He used to say he started as the 14th quarterback on the depth chart and worked his way up to where he was. James is a guy that we will all really, really miss. You that didn't have a chance to be around him, get to know him, have his infectious personality help you, really missed something.
Major Applewhite, former Texas Football quarterback and current co-offensive coordinator
The first thing I think of with James Street is winner. He was the guy who won at everything he did when he was at Texas. He won as a baseball player, won as a quarterback, and won a National Championship. When I came here in 1997, obviously he was already done, but he was a winner in the community and trying to help people with social projects and was constantly at charity events. You saw his boys come through Westlake (High School) and go on to UT, and become quality people. It is upsetting to lose a friend and a fellow Longhorn. My thoughts go out to his wife, Janie, and his sons.
Augie Garrido, Texas Baseball head coach
The coaches, staff members and players on the Longhorn baseball team are shocked and deeply saddened by the news of James Street's passing. He is in the minds of Texans an immortal Longhorn, the ultimate father, courageous leader, and eternal champion, not only in football but also as an All-American pitcher. He made everyone he met and many that he never met better people. His contributions to our society are immeasurable. His unconditional love for his family, friends, fans and The University of Texas will live on forever in our hearts. Our prayers and love go out to the Street family as they grieve and cope with their tragic loss.