Hall of Fame
Gil Steinke coached 23 years at Texas A&I, beginning in 1954
and won six national championships in NAIA Division I. The
title years were 1959, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1975, and 1976.
When he retired after the 1976 season his team had won 39
consecutive games. He took that team on tour. In the summer
Texas A&I played exhibition games, in France, Austria, and
West Germany. Besides his six NAIA championships, Texas A&I
was runnerup in 1968. His overall record in postseason games
was 14-1. His record for 23 seasons was 182-61-4, a winning
percentage of .745. The 1976 Javelinas averaged 569.9 yards
a game on offense, an all-time high. Steinke was a pioneer
in integrating football in his area. In 1960 he recruited
Sid Blanks, who was the first black to play for an integrated
Texas school. In his senior year, 1963, Blanks was captain
of the team. Steinke's teams won 10 championships in the
Lone Star Conference. In his time the school was called
Texas A&I and was in the NAIA. In 1993 the school was
renamed Texas A&M-Kingsville. Later the school moved to
NCAA Division II. Steinke was named to the NAIA Hall of
Fame in 1971, the Texas Hall of Fame in 1977. As a player,
Steinke performed for Texas A&I 1938-41. He had a pro career
with the Philadelphia Eagles 1945-48 and in 1947 led the
pro league in punt returns. He served as Texas A&I director
of athletics 1954-82. At his retirement ceremony, the
president of the school called him "an institution within an
institution." A building was named for him. Gil Steinke
died May 10, 1995, at age 76.
