In Memoriam: Homer Jacobs passes away
By Olin Buchanan
August 26, 2014
We’re told to value the people in our lives. We’re told to live every day like it’s our last. We’re told that tomorrow is never assured.
Yet, we often forget. Then the cruelest, most shocking and devastating reminder comes.
It came Tuesday morning.
Homer Jacobs, the editor of the 12th Man magazine and a friend to hundreds — perhaps thousands — suddenly passed away Tuesday morning.
He was just 49.
Just seconds before that terrible news, the TexAgs office was abuzz with excitement and energy.
Texas A&M’s upcoming football season-opener was a little more than 48 hours away. I was typing out a column about Steve Spurrier. Billy Liucci was writing a preview for the upcoming South Carolina game and waiting on a call from the Tim Brando Show. Logan Lee was phoning advertising clients. Stewart Wade was doing Google analytics. Gabe Bock was on his radio show interviewing former A&M receiver Chad Schroeder.
We wandered around the office in stunned disbelief.
No doubt, the same reaction occurred in the 12th Man Foundation offices, the Texas A&M football offices and any office where employees knew Homer.
There are good guys. There are great guys. And then there was Homer. I knew him for 20 years and can honestly say without hesitation that I never heard him speak poorly about anyone.
“He was a pretty upbeat, positive guy,” Burson said while struggling to remain composed. “He loved life. He loved his job. He felt like he was blessed that he covered A&M sports as long as he did.”
Homer was son of an El Paso doctor. He came to Texas A&M in the early ‘80s and never really left. Oh sure, he had stints as sports editor of the Sherman Democrat and Galveston Daily News, but his heart remained in Aggieland. It was always just a matter of time until he’d return.
“He’s the reason I’m here and the reason I bleed maroon,” said Burson, who worked with Homer at the Galveston Daily News and then with the 12th Man Magazine. “He was always talking about A&M this and A&M that. I was kind of intrigued.”
Homer returned to Aggieland 1992 as editor of Aggies Illustrated. That job eventually led to his position with the 12th Man Magazine.
It was Homer’s dream job. But, truly, any job that would bring him closer to A&M would have been his dream job.
“For years, Homer and I about once a month used to go to lunch at Abuelos,” Liucci said. “He was so passionate. All he wanted to do was talk Aggie football. We shifted for a few years to talk Aggie hoops during the Gillespie years. We had fun talking Aggie sports.”
Homer had given much of his life to Texas A&M sports. But last April he decided the Aggies would have to share him.
“He was more happy at 49 than he’d ever been because he did have a life outside Aggie football,” Burson said. “It didn’t make him love A&M football any less, but he loved Laurie.
“I went to the wedding. He was glowing. He’d talk about how great married life is.”
He’d even talk about that instead of his beloved Aggies.
“He’d gotten married,” Liucci said. “They just got a puppy. He’d talk about his marriage and how excited he was. That was about the only time in years we shifted our conversation away from Aggie sports.”
Now, even with another season approaching — another season that Homer so looked forward to — Aggie sports just don’t seem as important right now.
Homer won’t be there in the press box.
He won’t be coming in for his weekly guest appearance on TexAgs Radio.
He won’t be asking questions at the weekly press conference.
Our hearts ache for his wife.
Our hearts ache for his family.
Our hearts just ache.
“He was a great friend,” Burson said. “We worked together for 24 years. I’ve known him longer than I’ve known my wife. He was really part of my family.”
A lot of close friends and Aggies feel the same way.
Texas A&M press release...
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Aggie family mourns the loss of Homer Jacobs ’87 who left this world much too soon on August 26, 2014. Jacobs, 49, passed away unexpectedly after experiencing a sudden illness. He died at the College Station Medical Center. The cause of death is unknown and an autopsy has been ordered.
Jacobs was the editor of the 12th Man Magazine and devoted much of his career to his life-long passion for Texas A&M athletics. A 1987 graduate of Texas A&M with a BA in journalism, Jacobs came to the 12th Man Foundation in 1996 and was the first editor of 12th Man Magazine. He also spent time working at the Sherman Democrat, the Galveston Daily News and Aggies Illustrated prior to joining the 12th Man Foundation.
On April 24, 2014, Jacobs was married to the former Laurie Lindsey, who has four grown boys.
Funeral arrangements are pending and more information will be released in the future.
Media Contact: Mark Riordan (979) 260-7989 or (979) 587-0011 (c)
Yet, we often forget. Then the cruelest, most shocking and devastating reminder comes.
It came Tuesday morning.
Homer Jacobs, the editor of the 12th Man magazine and a friend to hundreds — perhaps thousands — suddenly passed away Tuesday morning.
He was just 49.
Just seconds before that terrible news, the TexAgs office was abuzz with excitement and energy.
Texas A&M’s upcoming football season-opener was a little more than 48 hours away. I was typing out a column about Steve Spurrier. Billy Liucci was writing a preview for the upcoming South Carolina game and waiting on a call from the Tim Brando Show. Logan Lee was phoning advertising clients. Stewart Wade was doing Google analytics. Gabe Bock was on his radio show interviewing former A&M receiver Chad Schroeder.
There are good guys. There are great guys. And then there was Homer. I knew him for 20 years and can honestly say without hesitation that I never heard him speak poorly about anyone.
{"Module":"quote","Alignment":"right","Quote":"There are good guys. There are great guys. And then there was Homer. I knew him for 20 years and can honestly say without hesitation that I never heard him speak poorly about anyone.","Author":""}
Gabe’s in-studio guest was Rusty Burson, perhaps Homer’s dearest friend for 24 years. Rusty delivered the sad news.We wandered around the office in stunned disbelief.
No doubt, the same reaction occurred in the 12th Man Foundation offices, the Texas A&M football offices and any office where employees knew Homer.
There are good guys. There are great guys. And then there was Homer. I knew him for 20 years and can honestly say without hesitation that I never heard him speak poorly about anyone.
“He was a pretty upbeat, positive guy,” Burson said while struggling to remain composed. “He loved life. He loved his job. He felt like he was blessed that he covered A&M sports as long as he did.”
Homer was son of an El Paso doctor. He came to Texas A&M in the early ‘80s and never really left. Oh sure, he had stints as sports editor of the Sherman Democrat and Galveston Daily News, but his heart remained in Aggieland. It was always just a matter of time until he’d return.
“He’s the reason I’m here and the reason I bleed maroon,” said Burson, who worked with Homer at the Galveston Daily News and then with the 12th Man Magazine. “He was always talking about A&M this and A&M that. I was kind of intrigued.”
Homer returned to Aggieland 1992 as editor of Aggies Illustrated. That job eventually led to his position with the 12th Man Magazine.
It was Homer’s dream job. But, truly, any job that would bring him closer to A&M would have been his dream job.
“For years, Homer and I about once a month used to go to lunch at Abuelos,” Liucci said. “He was so passionate. All he wanted to do was talk Aggie football. We shifted for a few years to talk Aggie hoops during the Gillespie years. We had fun talking Aggie sports.”
Homer had given much of his life to Texas A&M sports. But last April he decided the Aggies would have to share him.
He’d gotten married. They just got a puppy. He’d talk about his marriage and how excited he was. That was about the only time in years we shifted our conversation away from Aggie sports.
{"Module":"quote","Alignment":"left","Quote":"He’d gotten married. They just got a puppy. He’d talk about his marriage and how excited he was. That was about the only time in years we shifted our conversation away from Aggie sports.","Author":"TexAgs co-owner Billy Liucci"}
He married Laurie Lindsey. He’d never been happier.“He was more happy at 49 than he’d ever been because he did have a life outside Aggie football,” Burson said. “It didn’t make him love A&M football any less, but he loved Laurie.
“I went to the wedding. He was glowing. He’d talk about how great married life is.”
He’d even talk about that instead of his beloved Aggies.
“He’d gotten married,” Liucci said. “They just got a puppy. He’d talk about his marriage and how excited he was. That was about the only time in years we shifted our conversation away from Aggie sports.”
Now, even with another season approaching — another season that Homer so looked forward to — Aggie sports just don’t seem as important right now.
Homer won’t be there in the press box.
He won’t be coming in for his weekly guest appearance on TexAgs Radio.
He won’t be asking questions at the weekly press conference.
Our hearts ache for his wife.
Our hearts ache for his family.
Our hearts just ache.
“He was a great friend,” Burson said. “We worked together for 24 years. I’ve known him longer than I’ve known my wife. He was really part of my family.”
A lot of close friends and Aggies feel the same way.
Texas A&M press release...
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Aggie family mourns the loss of Homer Jacobs ’87 who left this world much too soon on August 26, 2014. Jacobs, 49, passed away unexpectedly after experiencing a sudden illness. He died at the College Station Medical Center. The cause of death is unknown and an autopsy has been ordered.
Jacobs was the editor of the 12th Man Magazine and devoted much of his career to his life-long passion for Texas A&M athletics. A 1987 graduate of Texas A&M with a BA in journalism, Jacobs came to the 12th Man Foundation in 1996 and was the first editor of 12th Man Magazine. He also spent time working at the Sherman Democrat, the Galveston Daily News and Aggies Illustrated prior to joining the 12th Man Foundation.
On April 24, 2014, Jacobs was married to the former Laurie Lindsey, who has four grown boys.
Funeral arrangements are pending and more information will be released in the future.
Media Contact: Mark Riordan (979) 260-7989 or (979) 587-0011 (c)
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Discussion from...
3:12p, 8/26/14
He was the doctor. Was like a brother to me and one of my best friends. We need to leave his seat for him in the press box. He loved Aggieland. There will never be another Homer. RIP, dear friend.
5:52p, 8/26/14
Here. When a man dies who possessed the knowledge of a particular subject like Homer did, it is no different than a library burning to the ground.
11:58p, 8/26/14
Here
Sad news indeed.. Did not know Homer personally but very much enjoyed reading his work.
Sad news indeed.. Did not know Homer personally but very much enjoyed reading his work.