Temple, Texas

Everything Temple is known for

7 songs mention this city 8 artists from here

Temple, Texas, located in Central Texas, has a musical identity shaped by artists who call it home and songs that mention the city. Seven artists are from Temple, including the Latin music artist Little Joe and country artist Garrett Smith. The city is also mentioned in eight songs, such as "All My Ex's Live in Texas" by George Strait and "Rockabilly Blues (Texas 1955)" by Johnny Cash.

Music in Temple

Songs About Temple

All My Ex’s Live in Texas
George Strait
50%
"And Dimples, who now lives in Temple's"
So Long Ago
Nanci Griffith
50%
all my exes live in texas
george strait
45%
All My Ex's Live in Texas
George Strait
18%
"Dimples, who now lives in Temple's"
the interstate 35 waltz
garret t. capps & justin boyd
10%
Rockabilly Blues (Texas 1955)
Johnny Cash
6%
"It's the same old tune in Temple"
All My Ex’s Live In Texas (Live 2014)
George Strait
4%
"And Dimples who now lives in Temple's"

Artists From Temple

L
Little Joe
latin Pop: 70
G
Garrett Smith
country Pop: 55
L
Little Joe & La Familia
latin Pop: 28
D
Danny Barnes
americana Pop: 27
L
Little Joe And The Latinaires
latin Pop: 24
L
Little Joe y La Familia
latin Pop: 17
C
Czech and Then Some
polka Pop: 12
S
Stephen Butler
country Pop: 1

Rivers & Roads in Song near Temple

Songs written about the waterways and highways that run near Temple.

Interstate 35 42 songs Brazos River 37 songs

History of Temple

Temple, TX RoadyGoat

Temple feels like a warm, friendly hug. You know, a lot of folks don’t realize the kind of talent that’s come out of this place. Take Sammy Baugh, for instance.

Temple, TX RoadyGoat

Temple wasn't destined to be anything special, really. It sits on gently rolling land, a bit higher than Dallas, but nothing dramatic. What made it different was the railroad. When the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway pushed through in the late 1800s, they needed a central point, a hub. They named it after a railroad official, Bernard Moore Temple. That railroad connection was the accident that shaped everything. Suddenly, it wasn’t just another small Texas town. Goods and people flowed through Temple, and businesses sprung up to serve them. That initial spark transformed into a different kind of engine over time. Healthcare became a major force. You'll find a lot of people come to Temple specifically for medical care, drawn by the major healthcare facilities that have grown up here. Manufacturing, too, took root, adding to the economic stability. But ask a local why people really stay, and they'll tell you it's more than just jobs and hospitals. There's a feeling here, a warmth. Maybe it's the football pride—Temple High has those state championships—or the legacy of folks like Sammy Baugh, a hometown hero. Whatever it is, Temple feels like a warm, friendly hug from a familiar face. It's a place that unexpectedly grows on you, a place where you might just find yourself putting down roots.

Temple, TX RoadyGoat

Temple feels like a warm, friendly hug, and much of that comes from the waves of people who built it. The town owes its existence to the railroad, and with the railroad came folks from everywhere – some from the older settlements further east in Texas, others drawn from the Midwest and beyond by the promise of work and opportunity. While English quickly became the dominant language, you can still see echoes of other cultures in the food we eat. Central Texas barbecue, of course, is king, but you’ll find subtle influences from German and Czech settlers in the kolaches and sausages that are just as beloved. Though Temple doesn't have grand cathedrals or meticulously preserved ethnic enclaves, the spirit of those early communities lives on. Take a stroll around the older neighborhoods, and you’ll notice the sturdy, practical architecture – homes built to last, reflecting a pragmatic approach to life. The city's layout itself, with its grid pattern and wide streets, speaks to the vision of those who planned it for growth and connection. Even the simple act of cheering on the Temple High School Wildcats, a football powerhouse, connects generations to a shared identity rooted in this place, a place where hard work and neighborly kindness still mean something.

Baugh, Samuel Adrian [Slingin’ Sammy]

1914

Samuel Adrian (Sammy) Baugh, star quarterback at Texas Christian University and record-setting passer for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League, was born on March 17, 1914, in Temple, Texas. He was the son of James Valentine Baugh and Lucy (Ray) Baugh. In 1931 the family moved to Sweetwater, where Baugh starred for Sweetwater High School before entering Texas Christian University in 1933. Baugh became the Horned Frogs’ starting tailback when Leo Robert “Dutch” Meyer took over as coach in 1934 and led TCU to a 29-7-2 record over the next three seasons. Baugh was named to All-American teams in 1935 and 1936 and led TCU to victories over Louisiana State University in the 1936 Sugar Bowl and over Marquette University in the 1937 Cotton Bowl . His college passing record included a total of 39 touchdowns and 3,384 yards. Baugh’s first love was baseball, however, and he claimed that he earned his famous nickname, “Slingin’ Sammy,” for his throwing ability as a third baseman on the TCU baseball team, not for his passing prowess. After graduating from TCU he joined the Pampa Roadrunners, a semiprofessional baseball team, and at a tournament in Denver, Colorado, Rogers Hornsby signed him to a baseball contract with the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League. After leading the College All-Stars to a 7-0 upset of the National Football League champion Green Bay Packers in the annual College All-Star football game in Chicago, Baugh spent the summer of 1937 playing shortstop for the Cardinals’ minor league affiliates in Rochester and Columbus. The Redskins, who were moving from Boston to Washington for the 1937 season, offered Baugh $4,000 to forsake baseball. Baugh later recalled that he asked for $8,000 to join the team and eventually received it. He enjoyed a sensational rookie season—throwing a record 81 passes for 1,127 yards. He led the NFL in passing and took the Redskins to the league title. Afterwards NFL president Joe F. Carr said of Baugh, “In one short season, his first as a professional, he became football’s greatest thrill.” His record of 335 yards passing by a rookie quarterback in a playoff game stood until 2012. Baugh went on to lead the NFL in passing five more times during the 1940s and at one time held literally every NFL single-game, season, and career passing record. He is credited as leading football’s offensive revolution that fundamentally changed the game. He led the Redskins to another championship in 1942 and played in a total of five championship games. He also led the league in punting from 1940 to 1943 and set the highest-ever season punting average of 51.4 in 1940. As a defensive back, he was the first player to make four interceptions in one game. In 1943 he led in passing, punting, and interceptions. His 70.3 passing completion percentage in the 1945 season topped NFL records and remained in the top five in 2014. He was named to the all-NFL team seven times. So great was his fame that in 1941 he starred in King of the Texas Rangers , a Republic Studios movie serial. Honored by the Washington Redskins on “Sammy Baugh Day” at Griffith Stadium on November 23, 1947, Baugh passed for 355 yards and 6 touchdowns. He passed for a total of 21,886 yards during his professional career, and his number, #33, was later retired by the Redskins. Before his sixteenth and final NFL season, in 1952, Baugh worked as a part-time assistant coach at Hardin-Simmons University. After he retired from the NFL he joined the Hardin-Simmons staff as a full-time assistant, then was appointed head coach in 1955. In five seasons as head coach Baugh compiled a 23-28 record at Hardin-Simmons, although the team did win the Border Conference and went to the Sun Bowl in 1958. In 1959 Baugh was the second coach hired by the fledgling American Football League (AFL), which was challenging the NFL’s monopoly on professional football. Baugh coached the New York Titans (later the New York Jets) for the first two years of their ex

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Ferguson Home

1907

Built 1907 for James E. and Miriam A. Ferguson, each later elected twice to governor's office in Texas. Mrs. Ferguson was the first woman elected Governor in any state. During their terms the Texas Highway Department and public schools achieved great importance. This was family home until Jim Ferguson became Governor in 1915, and again from 1917 to 1925, when Mrs. Ferguson was first inaugurated. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1967

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Cora Anderson Negro Hospital

1953

Officially opened on May 17, 1953, Cora Anderson Negro Hospital offered medical services to the growing African American population of Temple and Greater Bell County. The hospital featured 16 patient rooms and a surgical suite. It was located only two blocks from Scott & White Hospital and Clinic, thereby providing African American patients access to technology and specialized care that was previously denied to them. The hospital was administered by a Public Advisory Board comprised of an equal number of African American and white citizens. Final decisions were made by the Scott & White Board of Trustees. U. S. Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson served on the Scott & White Board of Trustees at this time and partook in the fundraising campaign. Cora Woods Campbell Anderson, the largest individual donor to the campaign, was known community-wide for her commitment to helping out college students and families with financial issues and generously giving to the Negro Hospital Project. The Advisory Board unanimously agreed to name the facility after her. Once the facility opened, Scott & White physicians provided care, but the nurses and support staff were overwhelmingly African American. The hospital operated until December 1963 when Scott & White moved to integrate facilities at South 31st Street. In late 1969, the Bell County Commissioners Court acquired the building. Now called the Cora Anderson Building of the Bell County Health District, the Public Health District runs the facility as an outpatient health clinic, though it preserves the building’s original mission of serving the poor and disenfranchised.

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Jones, W. Goodrich

1888

Known as "Father of Forestry in Texas." Came to Temple, 1888, as a banker. Planted first tree (a pecan) in town; this led to establishing Arbor Day in Texas in 1889, through legislation introduced by Sen. Geo. W. Tyler. In 1914 Jones organized Texas Forestry Association, which saw creation of Texas Department of Forestry, signed into law in 1915 by Gov. James E. Ferguson. For 60 years, Jones advocated conservation. A state forest at Conroe and this park bear his name. A fellowship in Forestry Conservation and Research has been established by his family. (1970)

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Bird, John

1830

John Bird, soldier and Indian fighter, was born in what was later Perry County, Tennessee, in 1795, the son of William Bird. After service under Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812 he returned to Tennessee, where he married Sarah Denton. The couple had four children. The Bird family moved to Stephen F. Austin 's Texas colony in June 1830 and the next year received a league of land in what later became Burleson County. Bird was elected captain in the colony's militia and in 1832 led a column of volunteers up the Brazos River on an expedition against the Comanches. During the Texas Revolution he commanded a unit of Texas cavalry against the Mexicans near San Antonio in 1835, and in March 1836 he commanded sixty volunteers in defense of the western frontier on the Brazos. On April 2, 1839, Bird was elected captain of a company of rangers, which he led to Fort Milam on the Texas frontier. He and a single companion, N. Brookshire, set out on the morning of April 20, 1839, scouting for Indians. After crossing the Little River on the morning of May 25, the two encountered a party of Comanches skinning buffalo. The Indians fled but returned on the following morning, May 26, heavily reinforced, and stampeded a herd of buffalo thorough the rangers' camp. Bird and his men pursued the retreating Indians for four miles before discovering that they had ridden into a trap laid by an estimate 300 warriors. The rangers attempted to fall back to Fort Milam but were overtaken and attacked after about a quarter of a mile, at about 3:00 p.m. The rangers repulsed several mounted charges by the Comanches but were severely beset by Indians on foot, who approached Bird's position by way of a sheltered ravine. At sunset, however, the Indians withdrew, "yelling like devils," according to one survivor of the fight. Five of the rangers had been killed, including Bird, who was shot through the heart by an arrow. "He was the bravest of the brave," according to one of the rangers, "and died encouraging his men to fight like heroes." Comanche deaths were variously estimated at between thirty and seventy-five. Despite having successfully defended themselves in what is now known as the Bird's Creek Indian Fight , the rangers were too badly weakened to sustain their position any longer and immediately began their retreat toward Fort Smith, which they reached at 2:00 a.m. on May 27. Reinforced at Nashville and commanded by N. Brookshire, they returned to the field to bury their dead and found that Bird and the others had been mutilated by the Comanches. The rangers set out in pursuit of their enemies but were unable to catch them. They took revenge on the body of a Comanche chief who had been killed in the battle and buried near the Indians' abandoned camp. At the time of his death Bird owned 354 acres of land in Austin County. Blair Alexander was named administrator of his estate. A marker commemorating the Bird's Creek Fight was erected near Temple by the Texas Historical Commission .

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Jones, William Goodrich

1873

William Goodrich Jones, acclaimed as the "father of Texas forestry," was born in New York on November 11, 1860, the son of John Maxwell and Henrietta (Offenbach) Jones. His father was a merchant, watchmaker, and jeweler of Galveston, Texas, with interests both in the East and abroad, and his mother was the sister of French composer Jacques Offenbach. Because of the looming Civil War , John Jones left his family with friends and hastened back to Texas. His wife and three small children joined him later, completing the trip from New Orleans by ship despite the Union blockade. The family soon moved to Houston to escape the naval warfare and soon after the war returned to New York. In 1873 they went to Europe for two years, and young Goodrich studied in a German grammar school. In the summer his father took him on a walking tour of the Black Forest, where they talked with rangers and forestry workers. There the younger Jones gained a deep appreciation of the beauty and commercial advantages of a well-managed forest. The continuous planting, cultivating, and cutting rotation enabled the villagers to make their livings from the forest, generation after generation. The maxim that when one cuts a tree from the forest he must plant another in its place became one of the abiding principles of Jones's life. Upon return to the United States, he entered Princeton, where he graduated in 1883 with a degree in business. After serving an apprenticeship in banks in Galveston and South Texas, he became president of a new bank in Temple. There he soon established himself as a civic and business leader. Wherever he went he urged the townspeople to plant trees, and soon Temple looked like "a green oasis in a sea of black plowed land." To promote tree planting statewide, Jones advocated the adoption of an official Arbor Day. The state legislature so designated February 22, but later changed the day to the third Friday in January. During his early years Jones made repeated trips through East Texas, observing the developing lumber industry , which followed the penetration of the piney woods by the railroads. In 1898 B. E. Fernow, chief of the United States Bureau of Forestry, made a trip to Texas and asked Jones to make a survey of the region and write a report on the condition and future of forestry in Texas. The resulting document became a blueprint for conservationists in Texas. Jones denounced the haste and waste of the large logging operators and predicted that under current methods the great forest would disappear within twenty-five years. He recommended that the state and federal governments cooperate to regulate a planned-cutting, sustained-yield, systematic reforestation program that would prolong the life of the Texas forest indefinitely. When President Theodore Roosevelt and chief forester Gifford Pinchot called a White House Conference on Conservation, Jones attended as one of the Texas delegates. After this meeting Jones led in organizing a conservation agency for Texas. In 1914 he gathered key lumbermen, conservationists, and public officials together for a meeting in Temple to found the Texas Forestry Association ; Jones served as its president until 1921. With assistance from the United States Forest Service, this group drafted legislation to establish a state department of forestry and lobbied for its enactment. Jones proved to be a very able lobbyist, and, after some compromises, the bill passed and the Texas Department of Forestry became a reality. Jones and the TFA participated in choosing the chief forester and in expanding the department, which, in 1926, became the Texas Forest Service . During the 1920s Jones led a drive to enact a severance tax on timber cut in Texas. Though this effort failed, the legislature provided more funds for the TFS, which developed a pine-seedling nursery and expanded fire-protection services. Later the state authorized a system of Texas state forests, one of which has been named the W. Goodrich Jones

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Things to Do in Temple

quirky 21.9 mi away
Texas Chain Saw Massacre Gas Station

The original 1974 filming location is now a BBQ restaurant. Life imitates art.
food 21.4 mi away
Hwy 77 Cafe

A small-town local favorite on US Highway 77 in Rosebud, about 36 miles south of Waco. Texas country cooking — chicken fried steak, pork chops, liver and…
day trip
Day Trip to Temple 🚂 (FULL EPISODE) S14 E13

Featured on The Daytripper — a full-episode local travel guide.

Sports in Temple

⭐ HOMETOWN LEGENDS Class 6A · Football

Temple Wildcats — Temple — a college & pro athletic pipeline

6 alumni who reached major-college or pro sports

Temple High School has a proud tradition of athletes who have gone on to compete at the highest levels of college and professional sports. The Wildcats have seen several of their own make their mark, including Ki Aldrich, an NFL center for the Chicago Cardinals and Washington Redskins, and Brad Dusek, an NFL linebacker also for the Washington Redskins. Rufus Granderson played as an AFL defensive tackle for the Dallas Texans, showcasing the depth of talent from Temple.

More recently, Tre Hawkins III has made his way to the NFL as a cornerback for the New York Giants. Dan Remsberg also played as an NFL tackle. The current generation continues this legacy, with Taurean York playing college football as a linebacker for the Texas A&M Aggies, demonstrating the ongoing success of Temple High School's athletic program.

Pro/D1 alumni
6
Class
6A
Founded
1883
Key Players
  • Ki Aldrich — , first pick of the 1939 NFL draft, NFL center for the Chicago Cardinals and Washington Re
  • Brad Dusek — , NFL linebacker for the Washington Redskins
  • Rufus Granderson — , AFL defensive tackle for the Dallas Texans
  • Tre Hawkins III — , NFL cornerback for the New York Giants
  • Dan Remsberg — , former NFL tackle
  • Taurean York — , college football linebacker for the Texas A&M Aggies
The moment

Tre Hawkins III played as an NFL cornerback for the New York Giants.

Sources: Wikipedia · UIL State Championship Archives · SI High School (ScoreBook Live)

Everything Near Temple

412 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.

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