The ballad of Danny B and 'Dem Boys

The Dallas Cowboys NFL franchise was created in 1960 and it didn’t take long before the organization was dubbed “America’s Team.,” eventually dominating season after season with a league record 33 playoff appearances and five Super Bowl victories. In 2018, according to the NFL, the Cowboys became the first sports team to be valued at $5 billion, making it the most valuable sports team in the world.

With millions of fans around the globe and thousands enamored locally, there’s one in Southeast Texas that likely sticks out among the “Cowboy Nation.” Say hello to the man they refer to as “Danny B.”

At 73 years old, the resident of Beaumont has been to more than 300 Cowboy games, which include three Super Bowls and owns thousands of pieces of Cowboy memorabilia such as an autographed Roger Staubach football. He attended the first game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington and was also featured in the Dallas Cowboys “Star Magazine,” which had his hero Randy White on the cover. He even received a FaceTime call from Aikman on his 70th birthday. To top it all, Danny B has a massive mural painted on his fence of players Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Randy White and Staubach, along with coaches Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson.

His infatuation with the team began in 1969 after graduating from Port Neches-Groves High School. Venturing into the workforce that summer with Pipe Fitters Union 195, Danny B was drawn to the “power of the star” and their iconic and legendary coach, Tom Landy.

“He reminded me a lot of my daddy (Clayton), who wore those same style fedora hats,” said Danny B. “Every player that he coached for 29 seasons had respect for him, plus he was a good Christian man and handled himself with professionalism on the sidelines.”

One player that Danny B was immediately immersed with was defensive standout Randy White, who was drafted by the Cowboys in 1975.

“He is one of my heroes,” said Danny B. “He was a hard-nosed player and was always in your face. He was a defensive player who loved to tackle and would do anything to win a football game. Every quarterback was scared to death of him.”

Then came players like Ed “Too Tall” Jones,” Harvey Martin, Charlie Waters and Cliff Harris.

“It was like a dream team to me,” he said. “They played football with their heart and it wasn’t about all the zeroes on their paycheck.”

Fans of sports teams definitely know the ups and downs, and one of those big ups, then downs, came in 1979 at Super Bowl XIII when Dallas met the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida.

Down 21-14 late in the third quarter, Staubach found a wide-open Jackie Smith in the end zone, but the pass was dropped. Instead, Dallas trimmed the lead to 21-17, but ultimately lost 35-31.

“I was gutted,” said Danny B. “To see him drop the ball in person was a terrible feeling.”

Another lonesome experience for Danny B came Jan. 10, 1982. The Cowboys traveled to San Francisco to play the 49ers in the NFC Championship with the winner advancing to the Super Bowl.

With Dallas just minutes away from winning, 49ers’ quarterback Joe Montana led his team on a game-winning drive in what was dubbed by many as “the greatest play in NFL history.”

Down 27-21 with 51 seconds remaining, Montana threw the ball to a location where only his receiver, Dwight Clark, could catch it – and he did just that. Clark jumped in the back of the endzone and grabbed the ball with the tips of his fingers to complete “the catch,” which gave the 49ers a 28-27 win over Dallas.

“I had to cancel reservations that I had already made for Detroit and Super Bowl XVI,” he said. “That was miserable.”

The die-hard Dallas fan had to wait to see his beloved Cowboys make the big game, though this time with much better results. Danny B followed his team to Super Bowl XXVII at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, and Dallas drilled Buffalo, 52-17.

Along the way, Danny B started a memorabilia collection that includes a little of everything, including a pair of Dallas Cowboy shoes.

One piece he treasures is an oil painting of his favorite player, Randy White, which he purchased in Miami at Super Bowl XXXIII in 1999.

Another favorite is a T-shirt with the printed words “Convicts vs. Carolina.”

“I went to a playoff game in January of 1997 where Dallas played at Carolina,” said Danny B. “Michael Irvin had just got arrested on drug charges and I saw this T-shirt and I bought it. We lost the game, too.”

Danny B was brought to tears when a friend and coworker, Kim Breaux, created a shadow box of some of his Cowboy items.

“It literally gave me chills,” he said. “She created that for me during a time when I was helping my father, who was really sick. I’ll cherish that forever.”

A shocker came his 70th birthday. Danny B’s sister Brenda, along with niece Caroline and nephew Cody, arranged a FaceTime phone call that he would soon never forget.

“I don’t know how they set it up, but they threatened me with my life,” he said. “They told me to be home and sitting in my Lazy Boy chair at 4:15 p.m. on June 30. My phone began ringing and it was FaceTime phone call from Troy Aikman himself. He was in his kitchen wishing me a happy birthday. That was crazy.”

Later that weekend, his sister along dozens of coworkers, was able to surprise Danny B yet again at a beach house on Bolivar Peninsula with a massive birthday banner and, of course, a Dallas Cowboys cake.

His latest, and most extravagant, comes in the form of a massive mural painted across his backyard fence alongside his storage building, which, you guessed it, is also painted silver and blue.

“I had this big Dallas Cowboys helmet and star on the back porch,” he said. “I kept looking outside and I thought I should do something.”

Something indeed.

Artist-painter Wendy Fontaine-Showalter used her creativity with renderings of Dallas greats and Danny B’s favorites as well as adding players’ and coaches’ autographs. After starting the mural in January, the artist took her time and finished the pieces in May.

“I love it,” he said. “It’s like looking at a Rolex watch. Ain’t no Timex here, buddy.”

Though his love for his football team ranks second to none, Danny B also enjoys NASCAR, NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) and Corvettes. He’s owned 25 ’Vettes and his favorite is the 1963 split-window 237 4-speed on the floor.

If that wasn’t enough, he has been on five cruises in 13 months and will soon set sail to Alaska.

So what’s left for Danny B to do?

A maintenance team leader employed by Indorama Ventures Facility in Port Neches, Danny B is up every morning at 3:15 a.m. and is at work by 6:30 a.m.

“I got too much left in me,” he said. “I’m older that dirt, but a lot of people can’t keep up with me. I started as a pipe fitter apprentice working for my father. It was tough, but I really like what I’m doing and love the company – Chad Anderson, Todd Anderson, Kimberly Hoyt – they do a lot for the community.”

As far as expectations for the Cowboys this season?

“We are gonna win more than we lose.”