IOWA PARK, Texas (KAUZ) - Bobby Gilbreath won eight track state gold medals at Iowa Park from 1959 to 1961. Gilbreath also set three state records in his high school career. He earned a scholarship to Texas A&M and ran the fastest time in the nation in the 400-meter low hurdles. Tragically, his life was cut short at 20 years old due to encephalitis on Nov. 1, 1962. For the last four years, family friend Jack Gilmore has been on a mission to get Bobby into the Texas Track and Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame because he feels Bobby is being forgotten. “I don’t think that’s right. It makes me sad. He’s the most decorated athlete in Iowa Park history and he’s being forgotten,” Gilmore said.David Parkey was Bobby’s best friend going all the way back to kindergarten and he says Bobby was a normal guy.“[He was] just a unique guy. [I] can tell you many stories, some good, some bad, but he was just one of the guys. He could just go from point A to point B a little faster than the rest of us,” Parkey said.Parkey went on to reflect on just how unique and special of an athlete Bobby was. “The most important thing about the hurdles is you got to get your steps correct so you can do it. He just had it there,” Parkey said, tapping his temple, “And the first time he did it he could do it. He just had that natural innate ability that he could do.”Gilmore’s mission to get Bobby into the Hall of Fame passed the finish line earlier this year. Bobby Gilbreath is set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Jan. 3, 2025, inside the Texas Sports Hall of Fame on the campus of Baylor University.Copyright 2025 KAUZ. All rights reserved.

Bobby Gilbreath to be inducted into the Texas Track and Field Hall of Fame

IOWA PARK, Texas (KAUZ) – Bobby Gilbreath won eight track state gold medals at Iowa Park from 1959 to 1961. Gilbreath also set three state records in his high school career. “[He was] just a unique guy. [I] can tell you many stories, some good, some bad, but he was just one of the guys. […]

IOWA PARK, Texas (KAUZ) – Bobby Gilbreath won eight track state gold medals at Iowa Park from 1959 to 1961. Gilbreath also set three state records in his high school career. “[He was] just a unique guy. [I] can tell you many stories, some good, some bad, but he was just one of the guys. He could just go from point A to point B a little faster than the rest of us,” Parkey said.For the last four years, family friend Jack Gilmore has been on a mission to get Bobby into the Texas Track and Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame because he feels Bobby is being forgotten. Copyright 2025 KAUZ. All rights reserved.Bobby Gilbreath is set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Jan. 3, 2025, inside the Texas Sports Hall of Fame on the campus of Baylor University.Gilmore’s mission to get Bobby into the Hall of Fame passed the finish line earlier this year. “The most important thing about the hurdles is you got to get your steps correct so you can do it. He just had it there,” Parkey said, tapping his temple, “And the first time he did it he could do it. He just had that natural innate ability that he could do.”He earned a scholarship to Texas A&M and ran the fastest time in the nation in the 400-meter low hurdles. Tragically, his life was cut short at 20 years old due to encephalitis on Nov. 1, 1962. Parkey went on to reflect on just how unique and special of an athlete Bobby was. “I don’t think that’s right. It makes me sad. He’s the most decorated athlete in Iowa Park history and he’s being forgotten,” Gilmore said.David Parkey was Bobby’s best friend going all the way back to kindergarten and he says Bobby was a normal guy.