Jack Eskridge, Designer of Dallas Cowboys Logo, Dies at 89
The Cowboys' first equipment manager and designer of the iconic blue star logo has died.
The Cowboys’ first equipment manager and designer of the iconic blue star logo has died.
DallasCowboys.com (“Cowboys’ First Equip. Manager, Creator of Star Passes Away“):
One of Tom Landry’s first-ever hires and a man responsible for the Cowboys logo we see today, passed away this week.
Jack Eskridge died Monday morning at Centerpoint Medical Center in Valley Falls, Kansas at the age of 89. His family is holding funeral services and chapels this weekend in Independence, Missouri.
Eskridge joined the Cowboys in 1959, a year before the inaugural season. With the team needing a new logo, it was Eskridge who designed the blue star, giving it a white border outline to provide a 3D-effect.
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But Jack Eskridge had quite a life, which included memorable moments long before he started with the Cowboys. According to his official obituary, Jack was a Marine who witnessed both flag raisings at Iwo Jima, before playing basketball at the University of Kansas and later some professional gigs with the Chicago Stags and Indianapolis Jets. He later returned to Kansas, where he was an assistant coach and equipment manager under “Phog” Allen and helped recruit the likes of Wilt Chamberlain.
The Cowboys’ star is arguably the most recognizable team logo in all of sports.
All 8 people still living in Detroit are very angry at this statement.
very arguably…
@Neil Hudelson: The Lions have changed their logo numerous times. Furthermore, aside from NFL fans, most people wouldn’t know *which* lions were being represented by the logo.
@rodney dill: I don’t think Green Bay has anything like the international fan base as the Cowboys. They’re consistently one of the most popular teams in the league, but I don’t think their helmet logo is iconic.
The only other US professional team logo that I’d think even in the discussion is the Yankees’ NY.
Debbie didn’t choose to Do Detroit or Green Bay for nothing, after all…
@James Joyner:
I was speaking of the Red Wings logo. Been around a few decades longer, pretty instantaneously recognizable through all of sports.
@Neil Hudelson: In all honesty, I think it is impossible that a hockey team, any hockey team, would have enough exposure to be one of the most recognizable logos in all of sports since hockey simply doesn’t have exposure comparable to football and baseball (or even basketball).
I will admit that the Red Wings’ logo is probably one of the most recognizable in hockey, however.
@Neil Hudelson: The logo sure looks awesome.
These days, Jerry Jones would have paid a marketing and design group at least $10M to come up with that blue star logo.
I got to spend the last 6 months of this wonderful man’s life with him. He was a resident at my nuraing facility. I knew his family and never knew these exciting things about him. I was astonished to learn all about him….unfortunately too late. He was a very wonderful person.