PRESIDENT'S COLUMN DAVID COURREGES, UNIVERSITY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys…
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ne of my favorite songs as a child was “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys.” Written by Sharon Vaughn, and originally performed by Buddy Holly’s bassist and popularized by an encyclopedia salesman from Abbott, “Heroes” contrasts the celebration of the idyllic childhood hero with the harsh realities of actually living the life once dreamed. My heroes were, indeed, Cowboys… and Longhorns. More specifically: Tony Dorsett, Bob Lilly, Tom Landry, Roger Clemens, Eric Metcalf, Travis Mays, and Peter Gardere. These were all men whom I cheered without waiver, pretended to be, and wanted to be more than anything. Yes, they all had their flaws, but isn’t that
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AUSTINLAWYER | OCTOBER 2021
what makes a good hero? Not necessarily. The classic definition of “hero” is derived from the Greek term “heros,” meaning demigod—someone who possesses great power but is not quite a god. However, the meaning of words evolve, and the term “hero” is no exception. There are now twelve traits that make up the modern definition of “hero.1” A hero: • is brave; • has moral integrity; • has unwavering conviction; • has courage (obviously my favorite); • sacrifices self; • protects others; • is honest; • is selfless; • is determined; • is a saver of lives; and • is an inspiration to others2. While Peter Gardere’s heralded four-and-0 record against the Sooners surely qualifies as admirable, it is not heroic. The same goes for Tony Dorsett’s 99-yard touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings, Roger Clemens’s seven Cy Young Awards, and post-childhood icon Vince Young’s nearly demi-god-like
My heroes have always been women—and they still are, it seems.
The meaning of words evolve, and the term “hero” is no exception. performances in his two Rose Bowl appearances. Nope! So who is a hero to me? A My hero is my mom, the woman who taught me what a first down was, why triple-doubles and no-hitters were magic, and who reminds me annually of The University of Oklahoma’s respiratory ineptitude while also telling me the time. She’s the woman who selflessly taught me,
provided for me, saved my life from countless knee scrapes and one significant chin gash, played catch with me for hours on end, and exhibited relentless determination in raising a highly spirited son as a single mother in a time and place where “equal pay for women” was simply not a thing. A My hero is Karen R. Johnson, a Texas legal legend and former Austin Bar Association
