Former Texas A&M football standout and Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Joe Wellborn Jr. '66 passed away on Wednesday, according to his family.
A three-year letterman from 1963-65, Wellborn was inducted in the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013. He served as a team captain as a senior on head coach Gene Stallings' first Aggie team in 1965. He earned All-Southwest Conference honors at linebacker in 1965 while posting two interceptions and recovering a fumble.
Wellborn was Texas A&M first-ever recipient of the Aggie Heart Award, which honors intangibles such as effort, desire, determination, competitiveness, leadership and courage. The Aggie Heart Award remains the highest honor that a Texas A&M football player can receive more than 50 years later.
Wellborn's teammate Jim Singleton stated, "There is a Dick Butkus Award because there was a Dick Butkus. There is an Aggie Heart Award because there was a Joe Wellborn."
After earning his bachelor's degree in management, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Wellborn played two seasons for the New York Giants. An ardent supporter of Texas A&M Athletics, Wellborn was an active member of the Lettermen's Association and a 12th Man Foundation Endowed Donor.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
A three-year letterman from 1963-65, Wellborn was inducted in the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013. He served as a team captain as a senior on head coach Gene Stallings' first Aggie team in 1965. He earned All-Southwest Conference honors at linebacker in 1965 while posting two interceptions and recovering a fumble.
Wellborn was Texas A&M first-ever recipient of the Aggie Heart Award, which honors intangibles such as effort, desire, determination, competitiveness, leadership and courage. The Aggie Heart Award remains the highest honor that a Texas A&M football player can receive more than 50 years later.
Wellborn's teammate Jim Singleton stated, "There is a Dick Butkus Award because there was a Dick Butkus. There is an Aggie Heart Award because there was a Joe Wellborn."
After earning his bachelor's degree in management, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Wellborn played two seasons for the New York Giants. An ardent supporter of Texas A&M Athletics, Wellborn was an active member of the Lettermen's Association and a 12th Man Foundation Endowed Donor.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.