ROBERT PORTER (BUDDY) TINSLEY, JR. (BIG DADDY)

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ROBERT PORTER (BUDDY) TINSLEY, JR. (BIG DADDY) August 16, 1924 - September 14, 2011 After several months of declining health, our beloved father, husband and friend passed away at the Tache Center. His unwavering faith in God was a comfort to Bud. Bud was born in Damon, Texas and was predeceased by his parents Robert, Sr. and Effie (Curtis), his sister Lucille and his beloved wife of 44 years Hazel (Stevens). He is survived by his children Cindy (Wayne Thompson) and Jack (Theresa), and second wife Jean of Ace, Texas. Bud 's family moved to Barbers Hill, Texas when he was quite young and he subsequently attended Barbers Hill High School where he was introduced to organized football. He played on the 1941 Texas High School State Championship team and has been inducted into the Barbers Hill High School Hall of Fame. His athletic ability led to a football scholarship to Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He volunteered for wartime service joining the U.S. Navy when he turned 18 years of age and was stationed at Corpus Christi, Texas in the Seaman Guard. In 1945, he was granted an Honourable Discharge with the rank of Sergeant-at-Arms. He returned to Baylor and continued playing for the Baylor Bears until 1949. He was the first member of his family to graduate from college. He was later inducted into the Baylor University Hall of Fame for his outstanding years of football while in college. In June of 1949, he married Hazel at Dancigar, Texas, where both families were then residing. Bud was drafted to the Los Angeles Dons of the American Football League and played his rookie year in professional football living in Hollywood with his new bride. At the end of the 1949 season, the professional football leagues were re-structured. By then, Bud's reputation as a fearsome tackle was far reaching. He was contacted by the Winnipeg Blue Bomber organization and was lured to Canada with the promise of wonderful hunting and fishing. Bud made lifelong friends upon his arrival. He spent many happy times with his hunting and fishing buddy Jack Collison and wife Veronica. The family spent countless days of fun and friendship with special friends and neighbours from Brereton Lake where the family has had a cottage since the early 1950s. Bud played tackle for the Blue Bombers from 1950-1960 serving as the perennial team captain and saw Grey Cup championships in 1958 and 1959. His numerous awards include, the Blue Bomber Hall of Fame, the CFL Hall of Fame and four time inductee into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame as a Blue Bomber player, championship team member and lastly as coach of the Canadian Champion 1963 St. James Rams of the Manitoba Senior Football League. Bud proudly became a Canadian citizen in 1957. That same year he joined the Masonic Lodge (Sturgeon Creek 145) and also became a Noble of Khartum Temple where he served as both President and Captain of the Drum and Bugle Corps. He was active in the Shrine for many decades. Following his career in football, Bud was the Western sales manager for Melchers Distilleries and also was partnered with Hazel in Tinsley Agencies. Bud lost his beloved Hazel to cancer after 44 years of marriage. In 1994, he married Jean Laughlin and spent many happy years being a snowbird enjoying the Texas climate in winter and the Manitoba summers at Brereton Lake. He has been unable to continue travelling since 2009 due to his declining health. Our Dad was a devoted family man and gave tirelessly of himself and his time. He was loved and respected by those who knew him in his many roles...friend, Dad, mentor, coach, water skiing instructor, oil painter, hunting dog trainer, archery and shooting instructor, golfer, crib player, gardener, barbeque chef and scratch biscuit maker and so much more. His death marks the passing of another noble old Texan. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the caregivers at the 5C Unit at Tache Center who provided Dad with extraordinary care and the family with immeasurable comfort and support. Cremation has already taken place. A celebration of Bud's life will be held at Neil Bardal Funeral Centre, 3030 Notre Dame Avenue (across from Brookside Cemetery) at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 22, 2011. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bud's memory may be made to the Manitoba Foundation for Sports - Bud Tinsley Scholarship, 145 Pacific Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2Z6, Interment will take place in the historic West Columbia Cemetery, in Texas. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE (204) 949-2200 nbardal.mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 17, 2011