Tom Brookshier - Football Star, TV Broadcaster & Roswell Witness is Dead At 78

Football fans across the nation, especially in Philadelphia, are mourning the passing of All-Pro, Eagles great, nationally renowned TV broadcaster and Roswell, New Mexico's favorite son, Tom Brookshier [pronounced "Brook-sher" by local Roswellians]. According to press reports, he passed away peacefully Friday evening December 29th, 2009 in-hospital after a seven month battle with gall-bladder cancer. Almost no one knew that he was even sick, as Tom wanted it that way. Outside of his immediate family, only long-time friend and former broadcast partner, Pat Summerall who was at his side at the end, was aware.

Knowing that Tom Brookshier was from Roswell but lived locally, Roswell investigator Tom Carey had the good fortune of interviewing him at length twice in 2007 about his football career as well about his home town of Roswell and the events of 1947 there. Carey had planned an additional sit-down interview with him this spring, but it was not to be. As it was, "Brookie, " as his many friends affectionately called him, had provided Carey with much background information about the town of Roswell at the time of the 1947 "Roswell Incident" as well as with a list of people whom Carey should contact about it. We can reveal that one of those names is still living in Roswell and, if we can convince him to talk, he may become one of the most important witnesses ever. Brookshier's comments about the famous case, which he clearly remembered from being a 16 year old at the time, will be featured in our next book.

Tom Brookshier's number #40 was retired by the Eagles some years ago. A 1949 Roswell High School graduate, and after graduating from the University of Colorado in 1953, Brookshier was drafted by the Eagles in the 10th round in 1953. He went on to become an All Pro defensive back best known for his speed, fierce tackling and shut-down pass defense [he was always assigned the task of covering the opposing team's best receiver]. His career was cut short in 1961 when he suffered a severely broken leg in a game against the Chicago Bears. The Eagles were never the same after that, and the Eagles' 1960 NFL Championship, of which Brookshier was an integral part, remains as the franchise's last NFL championship. Almost immediately, Tom effortlessly went on to a long career in TV broadcasting, and he was instrumental in starting up the 24/7 all sports talk concept at a local Philadelphia radio station of which he was part owner. As a football star for the Roswell High Coyotes, Tom Brookshier's name is etched in bronze on a plaque at the NMMI football stadium along with other NFL greats, such as Roger Staubach of the Dallas Cowboys, who played at least one game there. He was known for his easy-going nature, quick wit and an infectious sense of humor.

Former KGFL [Roswell] and KOB [Albuquerque] announcer, features reporter and Roswell witness himself, the late Frank Joyce, remembered Tom Brookshier to us a few years ago. A bear of a man, Joyce was an all-state tackle at Roswell High in the early 1940's and received a football scholarship to play at the University of Alabama. Joyce relates the following anecdote. "When I was a senior at Roswell High, we were at football practice one day, when the coach comes over with a kid who I would say was no more than 11 or 12 years old. The coach says, 'Boys, this is Tommy Brookshier, and he's going to be a star some day.' Well, I was pretty good myself, so I took some little offense at that. So, I yell out, 'Let's see what he can do, Coach.' Even though Brookshier was in street clothes, the coach put him in there at offensive halfback for the next play. I was on the defensive side of the ball at tackle when the ball was snapped to Brookshier. The offense was in the single-wing formation in those days.So, the ball went right to the kid." "How'd the play go?" we asked. Joyce's response was short and to the point. "I crushed him." Decades later, when asked if he remembered Frank Joyce, Brookshier's response was also short and to the point, "Oh, yeah."

Tom Brookshier broadcaster with former Eagles head coach, Dick Vermiel [circa 1980]