Tommy Samuels of Eastland earned the nickname “Tossin’ Tommy” at Howard Payne for his passing abilities. He lettered all four years on the football team, including his first when he was the only freshman to make the varsity squad. The Yellow Jackets won conference championships with Samuels in 1940, 1941 and 1942. As a sophomore, he led the team to the Texas Conference co-championship. As a junior, his team again won the Texas Conference Championship and he was All-Texas Conference. As a senior, he was co-captain, All-Texas Conference and Honorable Mention Little All-American on the championship team. He was also president of the H Club and voted campus favorite. Samuels served in the U.S. Navy from 1942-46 at the rank of lieutenant junior grade and was awarded several combat medals for his service during World War II. He worked for the Texas Highway Department in Eastland and in Brownwood until his retirement. Samuels died in 2011.