Bobby Falgout, a Port Neches-Groves quarterback who helped the Indians win their first two state football championships in the 1950s, died last week after a long illness. He was 80.

Falgout is remembered for flipping a short pass to Nolan “Red” Adams in the final seconds of PNG’s 20-14 comeback victory over Garland for the 1955 UIL 3A state championship. It was the Indians’ second title in three years and last until 1975.

Falgout, who went on to play at Southwestern Louisiana (now Louisiana-Lafayette) and Lamar, led a backfield that included a running back tandem of Bobby LaBorde and Gordon LeBouef on both the 1953 and 1955 title teams. The 1953 team defeated Big Spring 24-13 in the state final, and the 1954 Indians lost the title game to Breckenridge 20-7.

Following college Falgout served in the military, was a member of the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers and a retired lab technician in the petrochemical industry. He was longtime resident of Nederland.

He is survived by a wife, son, two daughters, grandchildren, two sisters and two brothers.

A memorial service for Falgout will be held at 3 p.m. April 28 at the Eagles Lodge in Nederland, where he enjoyed leisure time following his retirement.

— I.C. Murrell