WALLER, Texas — A.J. Foyt was 15 when a boat that he and two friends were riding in capsized in a storm. The young Foyt clung tightly to a buoy until a fishing vessel found him, too late for one of the other boys that had already drowned.
kAm}@E =@?8 27E6CH2C5[ u@JE 2?5 D@>6 3F55:6D H6C6 4=:>3:?8 E@H6CD 2?5 @?6 @7 E96> 8C2DA65 2 A@H6C =:?6 2?5 H2D 6=64EC@4FE65]k^Am
kAm$@ 3682? 2 =:76 DA6?E 4962E:?8 562E9[ @?6 E92E @?6 @7 E96 8C62E6DE 2FE@ C24:?8 5C:G6CD :? 9:DE@CJ 92D 366? 7@C465 E@ C67=64E FA@? :? C646?E H66<D 5FC:?8 H92E FDF2==J :D 2 E:>6 @7 ;@J] %96 >@?E9 @7 |2J >62?D E96 x?5:2?2A@=:D d__[ E96 3:886DE C246 :? E96 H@C=5[ 2?5 :EVD 2 4C@H? ;6H6= 6G6?E E92E u@JE H@? 2 C64@C5\D92C:?8 7@FC E:>6D]k^Am
kAm{F4J[ 9:D 36=@G65 H:76 7@C ?62C=J eg J62CD[ 5:65 =2DE >@?E9] u@C u@JE[ ?@H gg[ E96 AC@DA64E @7 >@CE2=:EJ 92D 7:?2==J 364@>6 :?6D42A23=6] p?5 76H 92G6 925 D@ >2?J 6D42A6D]k^Am
kAmu@JE H2D C6E:C65 H96? 96 DF776C65 EH@ ?62C\72E2= 2EE24<D 3J <:==6C 366D[ @?6 D6?5:?8 9:> :?E@ D9@4<] w6 @?46 7=:AA65 2 3F==5@K6C :?E@ 2 A@?5 @? @?6 @7 9:D %6I2D AC@A6CE:6D[ 6>6C8:?8 E@ D9@FEi “x 2:?’E ?@ w@F5:?:P x ?66565 D@>6 2:CP” w6 92D 925 D6G6C2= DE2A9 :?764E:@?D[ @?6 =625:?8 E@ 2 4@?4C6E6 DA246C :? 9:D =68 E92E 6G6?EF2==J =65 E@ 2? 2CE:7:4:2= <?66]k^Am
kAm(96? u@JE 925 EC:A=6 3JA2DD DFC86CJ 2 564256 28@[ 96 H2D =67E 4@>2E@D6j {F4J H2D E@=5 9:D @C82?D H6C6 368:??:?8 E@ 72:=] *6E 9:D 9:89 D49@@= DH66E962CE 925 D66? 9:> 567J 562E9 D@ >2?J E:>6D E92E D96 C67FD65 E@ EFC? @77 9:D C6DA:C2E@C] }2EFC2==J[ 96 C64@G6C65]k^Am
kAmp?5 E96? E96C6 2C6 E96 HC64<D[ D@ >2?J @7 E9@D6] {:<6 9:D `hed 7=:A :? 2 DE@4< 42C 2E #:G6CD:56[ H96? 5@4E@CD @? D:E6 AC@?@F?465 9:> 5625] !2C?6==: y@?6D DE6AA65 :?[ D4@@A65 5:CE 7C@> u@JE’D >@FE9 2?5 E92E H2D 2== :E E@@< E@ C6G:G6 9:>]k^Am
kAm~C E96 4C2D9 :? `hfa[ H96? u@JE 925 E@ =62A 7C@> 2 3FC?:?8 5:CE 492>A 42C] xE C2? @G6C 9:D 2?<=6 2?5 3C@<6 :E 2D u@JE[ 6?8F=765 :? 7=2>6D[ C2? E@H2C5 2 A@?5] w:D 72E96C 8C23365 2 7:C6 6IE:?8F:D96C E@ D2G6 9:D D@?]k^Am
kAm%92E 3C:?8D 9:D DE@CJ E@ |2C49 f @7 E9:D J62C[ H96? u@JE H6?E E@ 2 w@FDE@? 9@DA:E2= E@ 92G6 2 A246>2<6C :?DE2==65] w6 H2D 566A=J @AA@D65 E@ E96 AC@465FC6[ >@DE=J 3642FD6 96 36=:6G6D 2 A246>2<6C <:==65 9:D >@E96C :? `hg`] w6 2D<65 E96 5@4E@CD H92E H@F=5 92AA6? :7 96 5:5?’E 86E :E]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< E96J H6C6 D42C65 >J 962CE H2D D=@H:?8 5@H? E@@ >F49[” D2:5 u@JE[ H9@ 92D ?6G6C D=@H65 5@H? 2 52J :? 9:D =:76] “W%96 5@4E@CX D2:5 E96 325 E9:?8 H2D J@F 42? A2DD @FE @C 92G6 2 DEC@<6] (6==[ x 5:5?’E H2?E E@ 36 5C:G:?8 7C@> w@FDE@? @FE 96C6 E@ E96 D9@A 2?5 A2DD @FE 2?5 <:== D@>63@5J] $@ E92E’D E96 C62D@? x 5:5 :E[ 3642FD6 x DE:== =:<6 E@ 5C:G6 >J @H? 42C]”k^Am
kAm%96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD C646?E=J DA6?E 2 52J H:E9 u@JE 2E 9:D C246 D9@A :? (2==6C[ C6>:?:D4:?8 23@FE 2 42C66C E92E >256 9:> 72>@FD 72C 36J@?5 E96 EC24<] w6 H2D D2>6 @=’ p]y] E92E 52J[ 4C24<:?8 ;@<6D[ E2=<:?8 23@FE 9:D C2?496D 2?5 9:D 42C66C >:=6DE@?6D]k^Am
kAm%96 E@F89\2D\3@@E\=62E96C %6I2? H2D :CC6G6C6?E 23@FE 562E9 E92E 52J[ E@@] u@JE 5C@G6 5FC:?8 @?6 @7 E96 5625=:6DE 6C2D :? >@E@CDA@CED[ 2?5 72C E@@ >2?J @7 9:D C24:?8 4@?E6>A@C2C:6D AF==65 @77 A:E =2?6 ?6G6C E@ AF== 324< :?] %96 ?F>36C @7 E9@D6 H9@ DFCG:G65 :D 5H:?5=:?8 H:E9 E:>6[ @7 4@FCD6j EH@ 8@@5 7C:6?5D ?@E @?=J 5:65 @? E96 D2>6 52J 62C=:6C E9:D J62C 3FE 925 7F?6C2=D @? E96 D2>6 52J[ E@@]k^Am
kAm“(92E 5@ J@F 5@ H96? J@FC 7C:6?5D 5:6n *@F 86E ?6H 7C:6?5D[” u@JE D2:5 H:E9 2 D9CF8]k^Am
kAmxEVD ?@E D@ 62DJ E@ C6A=246 {F4J[ H9@ 5:65 F?6IA64E65=J ;FDE D6G6? 52JD 27E6C p! G:D:E65 u@JE]k^Am
kAm“$FA6C %6I” 925 ;FDE DA6?E E96 7:CDE H66<6?5 :? pAC:= 2E %6I2D |@E@C $A665H2J[ 2EE6?5:?8 9:D 7:CDE x?5Jr2C C246 @7 E96 D62D@? E@ H2E49 9:D EH@ 5C:G6CD 4@>A6E6] w6 2?5 {F4J 92G6 H92E 96 42==65 “DF82C 5:236E6D[” 2?5 H96? u@JE 42==65 96C @G6C E96 H66<6?5[ D96 >6?E:@?65 E92E D96 H2D?VE 766=:?8 H6==]k^Am
kAmqJ E96 E:>6 u@JE 2CC:G65 9@>6 $F?52J ?:89E[ D96 H2D 72C H@CD6] u@JE @? %F6D52J 8@E E@ E96 9@DA:E2=[ 3FE {F4J DF776C65 2 >2DD:G6 962CE 2EE24< 2?5 5:65 E96 7@==@H:?8 >@C?:?8]k^Am
kAmx? 2 3=:?<\@C\J@FV== >:DD :E >@>6?E[ u@JEVD 6J6D H6==65 H:E9 E62CD 2?5 9:D G@:46 49@<65 2D 96 5:D4FDD65 E96:C 7:?2= 8@@53J6]k^Am
kAm“|6 2?5 >J @=56DE D@? D2E E96C6 ?6IE E@ E96 365 H:E9 96C[” u@JE D2:5[ E2<:?8 2 =@?8 A2FD6[ “2?5 :E H2D 92C5]”k^Am
kAm%96 4@FA=6 D92C65 7@FC 49:=5C6?[ 6:89E 8C2?549:=5C6? 2?5 a` 8C62E\8C2?549:=5C6?] %96J @H?65 D6G6C2= AC@A6CE:6D 24C@DD %6I2D[ >2?J @7 E96> H@C<:?8 42EE=6 C2?496D E92E u@JE E6?5D E@ E@ E9:D 52J] w6 ?@H 92D E@ 92?5=6 96C 2772:CD[ E@@]k^Am
kAmu@JE 5:5?VE H2?E E@ 8@ E@ x?5:2?2A@=:D E9:D >@?E9[ H@CCJ:?8 23@FE H92E 4@F=5 92AA6? 2E 9@>6 H:E9@FE {F4J E@ @G6CD66 E9:?8D] qFE 96 7:8FC65 x?5:2?2A@=:D |@E@C $A665H2J[ H96C6 96 925 DA6?E >2?J @7 9:D 36DE 52JD[ H2D E96 C:89E A=246 E@ 96=A AC@46DD 9:D 8C:67]k^Am
kAmuC@> E96 82C286D @7 v2D@=:?6 p==6J E@ E96 J2C5 @7 3C:4<D @? E96 7C@?E DEC6E49[ u@JE :D DFCC@F?565 3J @=5 7C:6?5D 2?5 7@6D[ C246CD 6G6CJH96C6 — 9:D <:?5 @7 A6@A=6 — 2=@?8 H:E9 25@C:?8 72?D H9@ 36=:6G6 u@JE :D E96 36DE E@ H2=< E96 92==@H65 8C@F?5D]k^Am
kAm“x DE:== 4@?D:56C 9:> E96 8C62E6DE 5C:G6C E@ 6G6C AF== @? 2 96=>6E[” E9C66\E:>6 x?5J d__ H:??6C y@9??J #FE96C7@C5 D2:5]k^Am
kAmu@JE H@? 9:D 7:CDE x?5J d__ :? `he`[ E96? 282:? :? `hec 2?5 `hef[ H9:=6 9:D `hff G:4E@CJ >256 9:> E96 7:CDE 7@FC\E:>6 H:??6C[ 2 4=F3 E92E 92D 8C@H? E@ :?4=F56 p= &?D6C $C][ #:4< |62CD 2?5 w6=:@ r2DEC@?6G6D] u@JE BF2=:7:65 7@C “%96 vC62E6DE $A64E24=6 :? #24:?8” 7@C bd 4@?D64FE:G6 J62CD[ 2?5 96 :D E96 @?=J 5C:G6C E@ H:? :? 3@E9 7C@?E\ 2?5 C62C\6?8:?65 42CD]k^Am
kAmw:D =6824J 6IE6?5D H6== 36J@?5 E96 x?5J d__] x? `hef[ u@JE 3642>6 E96 @?=J 5C:G6C E@ H:? E96 ac w@FCD @7 {6 |2?D 2?5 x?5J d__ :? E96 D2>6 J62C[ 2?5 96VD E96 @?=J 5C:G6C E@ 92G6 H@? x?5J[ E96 s2JE@?2 d__[ {6 |2?D 2?5 E96 `a w@FCD @7 $63C:?8] w6 92D `a >2;@C C24:?8 492>A:@?D9:AD — 9:D D6G6? x?5Jr2C E:E=6D 2C6 2 C64@C5 — 2?5 9:D ef x?5Jr2C G:4E@C:6D 2C6 >@DE :? D6C:6D 9:DE@CJ]k^Am
kAmw:D 6A@?J>@FD C246 E62> 92D 8@?6 E9C@F89 D@>6 =62? J62CD[ DA=:E 36EH66? (2==6C 2?5 x?5:2?2A@=:D] %96 (2==6C 724:=:EJ 92D @?=J 6:89E 7F==\E:>6 6>A=@J66D[ 3FE :E :D H96C6 u@JE D2:5 9:D 7=28D9:A }@] `c H:== C6>2:? “F?E:= E96 52J x 5:6]”k^Am
kAm$2?E:?@ u6CCF44: :D 5C:G:?8 :E E9:D J62C 2?5 96 H:== DE2CE $F?52JVD C246 7@FCE9 — E96 D2>6 A@D:E:@? u@JE DE2CE65 H96? 96 H@? 9:D 7:?2= EH@ x?5J d__D — H9:=6 C@@<:6 E62>>2E6 q6?;2>:? !656CD6? H:== C@== @77 ``E9]k^Am
kAm%62> >@C2=6 :D D@2C:?8 2?5 72?D 6249 52J 92G6 D9@H? E96:C 25@C2E:@? 7@C u@JE 2?5 9:D 5C:G6CD] %96 BF2=:7J:?8 4C@H5 =2DE $F?52J C@2C65 7@C u6CCF44: 6249 E:>6 96 E@@< E@ E96 EC24<[ :?4=F5:?8 9:D CF? 7@C E96 A@=6] qJ E92E A@:?E[ 2 DFA6CDE:E:@FD u@JE H2D H2E49:?8 7C@> @?6 @7 E96 82C286D[ E96 5@@C AF==65 D9FE]k^Am
kAmx? E96 27E6C?@@? DF?[ 2 4C@H5 H2D 3F:=5:?8 @FED:56 9:D 82C286[ H2:E:?8 7@C $FA6C %6I E@ 6>6C86 D@ E96J 4@F=5 4966C 9:D E62>VD 6?4@FC28:?8 DE2CE E@ E96 x?5J d__] %96 =@H6DE\C2?<65[ 7F==\E:>6 E62> :? x?5Jr2C 925 @FE\BF2=:7:65 >:89EJ %62> !6?D<6[ 2?5 >@DE @7 E96 42CD 7C@> 962GJH6:89ED r9:A v2?2DD: #24:?8 2?5 pCC@H |4{2C6? #24:?8]k^Am
kAm%96 72?D H6C6 3FCDE:?8 H:E9 AC:56 7@C u@JE[ H9@ D:>A=J H2?E65 E@ >@G6 @? H:E9 9:D 52J]k^Am
kAm“x 5@?VE 42C6 9@H 2?J@?6 6=D6 766=D[” 96 D2:5] “x @?=J 8:G6 2 W6IA=6E:G6X 9@H p]y] u@JE 766=D]”k^Am
Get Unlimited Access
$3 for 3 Months
Subscribe Now
Support local journalism reporting on your community
* New Subscribers Only
* Digital Subscription Only
After the initial selected subscription period your subscription rate will auto renew at $12.00 per month.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.