Hall of Fame - Athletes

1988

LEE MONTEZ

Texas

Football, Basketball - Texas, Houston

Mr. Montez still is considered as one of the all-time greats in deaf prep football. He led his Texas School for the Deaf to nine straight victories with no defeats and a top-heavy total of 516 points to 13 for the opponent teams. They were acclaimed the 1947 National Champion of the Prep Deaf Schools. This was 12 more than the all time collegiate team record for a single season which was made by the Army in 1944. Lee Montez was the most outstanding boy on this smooth machine as he scored 30 touchdowns and 59 extra points for 239, which is still the highest scorer in the school for the deaf football ranks.

Born in the little village of Chapman Ranch, Texas near Corpus Christi in 1926, Robert Lee Montez has kept up the Texas School for the Deaf's tradition of turning out some of the best athletes in the country. But it is doubtful that any have been as versatile or depending in any sport as the Mighty Mite who stands only five feet and seven inches and tipped the scale of 152 lbs. One shake of his hands will convince you he was made up of solid muscle.

His quarterbacking was one of his outstanding features. He was the shiftiest, smoothest, and hardest runner on the team. He was feared by every opposing team and defenses were planned to stop him. His work on defense was equally outstanding, intercepting and breaking up forward passes and making tackles coming up from the safety position.

Montez also proved himself equally proficient in basketball. After his great record at school he joined the Houston Silents team and journeyed to Philadelphia for the American Athletic Association for the Deaf (AAAD) basketball tourney where he was unanimously voted the Most Valuable Player. He was fast, tricky and good on passes besides being able to hit the hoop from anywhere on the court.

Though tough as a boot, Montez was shy and a genial fellow who was never seen without his contagious smile. He did not let important games excite him. The tougher they came the better he played.