By Don J. Brewington 

He was one of best football players Oklahoma has ever produced.  His name is Gary Leon Cutsinger.  At 6’ 4” and 230 lbs., Cutsinger played tackle in high school.  He was amazingly agile, strong and possessed great quickness.  Various honors were sure to follow and they did.  The all-state team member, Cutsinger hurt his knee half way thru his senior year in high school and still received a full scholarship to Oklahoma State.

Former OSU teammate Rick Buck said, “Gary has been good friend all my life. It was not a surprise to me he made it in pro football.  With a mountain of determination and smarts usually gets you there, I would think.”

After college, Cutsinger was selected to play in All-American Bowl and Senior Bowl and the Houston Oilers were watching and liked what they saw.  In 1962, Cutsinger was drafted in fifth round by the Houston Oilers of the AFL.  He had now grown to 6’4” and 250 lbs. and lightning fast for his size. Cutsinger played defensive end for six years for Oilers as starter from 1962-1967.

Cutsinger says, “My biggest game, I suppose was intercepting a pass against the Buffalo Bills. I took it back 72 yards. No TD though, I ran out of gas.  Another was sacking Joe Namath of the NY Jets.  That was fun.”

After six seasons with the Oilers, Cutsinger left football.  He remained in Texas and enjoyed married life with his wife Pam.  Together, they raised two kids, daughter Kenndra and son, Kendrick.  He also started a successful home building business, Cutsinger Home, Inc. in central Texas.

Tragedy would strike the Cutsinger family in 2010.

It is every parents’ nightmare, the loss of a child and fame does not immune people from that jolt of reality.  On September 3, 2010, Gary and Pam Cutsinger realized their worst nightmare.  Their son, Kendrick, was killed in an auto accident.  He was 20 years old.

“There is nothing that can prepare you for the loss of a child.  For Pam and myself, our only comfort was our faith.  And, it is stronger than ever.  It is what sustains us day by day.  Kendrick was a wonderful son and was on scholarship at West Texas University.  He was the tight end on team,” said Cutsinger.

“It is tough for sure, but we will endure, we have to for our family.  Kenndra will be starting to college in Colorado this fall, we have to be there for her,” continued Cutsinger.

The Cutsingers are hoping their tragedy can help others.  Recently, Pam and Gary were approached by ALIVE at 25 and the Texas Alive Team, a non-profit made up of law enforcement personnel from state and local agencies.  The organizations teach safe driving habits to teens.  The program is offered in high schools across Texas.  The Cutsingers have agreed to participate with Austin Westlake High School to make a video about Kendrick Cutsinger in hopes of sparing other families the pain they have endured.

“Although it has been painful to work on this project, it is important to get the message out to young people about safe driving,” said Cutsinger.

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