Kirk Bohls: Chris Gilbert, former Texas and Spring Branch star running back, dies at 79

AUSTIN — Former Texas All-American running back Chris Gilbert, one of the best in school history, died Monday morning at a Houston hospital. He was 79. Gilbert was one of the best schoolboy running backs in history at Spring Branch High School before he helped usher in the sensational wishbone era at Texas. He became the first college player to rush for more than 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. Gilbert ran the ball 595 times for 3,231 yards and 28 touchdowns as a Longhorn, averaging an astounding 5.4 yards per carry. He was a three-time All-Southwest Conference honoree and earned All-American status in 1968. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999. He was also the first Texas player to be chosen as the team MVP for three years in a row.

“He was such a smooth runner,” said former teammate Billy Dale, who was also a running back. “One of my favorite quotes from Coach (Darrell) Royal was when we watched the game film and watched Chris make a cut, it was like taking two or three frames out of the film and splice them together. I was a sophomore and when we watched him make his cuts, it happened so quickly that he didn’t lose a lot of speed. And he had a tremendous sense of balance.” Bill Bradley, a Longhorn great and close friend of Gilbert’s, called Gilbert “the best running back who ever played at the university.”

With Spring Branch, Gilbert and the Bears made the state playoffs three straight years from 1962-64 as he ran for 3,303 yards and scored 272 points. He carried the ball 169 times for 1,311 yards his senior year and earned all-state and Parade All-American recognition. He is survived by his wife, Pam, and sons Chris Jr. and Ty.

Edited February 9Feb 9 by satyanash

RIP ☹️

🤘🤘

My dad played against him multiple times in HS and, I think, at least once in college. He says that Gilbert was the best RB he ever played against. RIP.

https://texaslsn.org/chris-gilbert-by-larry-carlson/

Rushed for 1,132 yards and 13 TDs in 1968 alongside Ted Koy and Steve Worster. Earned Consensus All-America honours, led UT to the SWC title and a 36-13 thrashing of #7 Tennessee in the Cotton Bowl. Finished the season ranked #3 in the country, behind undefeated Ohio State (national champions) and undefeated Penn State.

Damn. I never saw him play but his legend lived on years after he stopped playing. RIP

Lost a good one. RIP.

Laugh if you must .. but, he’s my all time favorite Longhorn RB.

Struck up a conversation with him one day at Gregory not knowing who he was. I spoke with him there again a few times before being enlightened who he was by a friend. Nicest guy.

Based on his size, I’d have never guessed he was a football player and eventually would be the first 3-time 1000 yard rusher/season in NCAA history.

RIP

From right here in Spring Branch

Will never forget the 96 yard run against TCU in 1967.

Incredible player.

3 hours ago, satyanash said:

Kirk Bohls: Chris Gilbert, former Texas and Spring Branch star running back, dies at 79

As

4 hours ago, satyanash said:

Kirk Bohls: Chris Gilbert, former Texas and Spring Branch star running back, dies at 79

Did that Loyd Wainscott dude start college in mid 40's?

55 minutes ago, Ghost of NMAS said:

From right here in Spring Branch

I grew up across the street from Spring Branch HS and watched a bunch of games with my Dad at Grob Stadium, but I was just a toddler when Chris played.

Here's a pic from 1965 when he was a freshman at UT and came back to HS for the homecoming pep rally. He was a really nice, down to earth, humble guy. Everybody liked him.

Below is a pic of his home visit with DKR and a couple of assistants. Sorry for the small size.

Edited February 9Feb 9 by AP101S
spelling

Grob Stadium .. named for UT’s Reggie Grob who died from heat-related injury after a preseason practice just prior to the 1962 season. I remember it unbelievable that a young and strong football player could die in that circumstance. Sad then, sad to have that memory.

RIP

RIP and Hook Em.

I know some players from those 60s NC teams, and they're pretty tiny compared to today's players. Even accounting for age and slimming down from playing weight, their frames just aren't huge.

What a great RB in early Wishbone days... RIP 🙏

#25 Chris Gilbert 🤘

Edited February 10Feb 10 by LTtxfan

Chris Gilbert was the first Texas football player that I idolized. I was 6 or 7 at the time. Knothole seats for the kids!

RIP, buddy.

And F- Kurt Bowels. He was probably in the knothole seats with me back then - without a press pass.

Edited February 10Feb 10 by DalTxHornFan

Top 5-6 RB in program history

He sold me a ticket to the 2005 National Championship game. I sat next to him and his wife. Very nice couple.

R.I.P.

2 hours ago, BurntOrange&White said:

Top 5-6 RB in program history

I’ll stick with Bill Bradley’s ranking.

On 2/9/2026 at 6:02 PM, TwiceHorn said:

I know some players from those 60s NC teams, and they're pretty tiny compared to today's players. Even accounting for age and slimming down from playing weight, their frames just aren't huge.

On the 1963 team the heaviest player was 240. Scott Appleton was 235. Diron Talbert played offensive tackle at 205. Tommy Nobis was 200.

I just remember his humility and graciousness. He was a fine example of "act like you've been there before." And then you had Bertelsen right on his heels, such an impressive string of players, and especially humans.

10 hours ago, Horndog said:

On the 1963 team the heaviest player was 240. Scott Appleton was 235. Diron Talbert played offensive tackle at 205. Tommy Nobis was 200.

The players only attained their current massive size in the 1980s. Not sure what was going on in the 1970s to lead to this.

56 minutes ago, Valmy77 said:

The players only attained their current massive size in the 1980s. Not sure what was going on in the 1970s to lead to this.

Two-platoon system and unlimited substitution rules. Players used to have to play both ways, and if they came off the field they couldn't return until the next quarter. So stamina was much more important than size.

The new platoon/substitution roles allowed players to specialize. Wide receivers got faster, kickers got more accurate, and linemen got bigger.

One platoon (mentioned above), nutrition, weightlifting and roids.

Nebraska was the first program to emphasize weight training in the 70s and it caught on quickly for obvious reasons. They also were an early adopter of chemical enhancement.

I recall a story about Nobis lifting weights in the early 60s but he had to hide it from the Texas coaches because they believed it would hurt his stamina and flexibility.