Kyle Rote had a spectacular prep career at Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio where he earned All-State honors in basketball and football. At Southern Methodist University he was twice named All-SWC (1949 & 1950) and was a consensus All-America in 1950. Rote's talent was best illustrated his junior year during a game against Notre Dame, the undefeated national champions. He rushed for 115 yards, scored three touchdowns, and completed 10 passes but SMU came up short against the Irish by a score of 27-20. The Texas Sportswriters Association voted Rote's play "the outstanding individual performance by a Texan in the first half century". Rote was the first pick in the 1951 NFL Draft. He played 11 seasons with the New York Giants from 1951-1961. Although a knee injury hampered his career, he was still selected to three Pro Bowls and holds the Giants' record with 48 touchdown catches. Rote was so respected by his teammates that 14 named sons after him. He was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1962.