Putting an NFL franchise in Dallas, while definitely an important moment in Texas sports history, would probably not qualify to be among the Top 10 by itself. It was the awarding of this franchise to Murchison that makes it a defining moment.

Murchison, who passed away in 1987, has been the subject of much speculation. The son of legendary Texas oilman Clint Murchison, Sr., had a masters degree from MIT in theoretical mathematics. He has been accused of everything from being a part of the Kennedy assination to dabbling in organized crime. (None of which has ever come close to being substantiated with a shred of credible evidence.) He was flamboyant and was known to like his whiskey and his women.

Whatever the case may be, this much is beyond question - Murchison was a great owner. The Cowboys have been the NFL's flagship franchise for almost 40 years because of certain decisions Murchison made back in the early 1960's.

The most obvious of those decisions was hiring Head Coach Tom Landry, General Manager Tex Schramm and Personnel Director Gil Brandt.

Schramm, a graduate of the University of Texas, was working as a public relations executive with the Los Angeles Rams when Murchison hired him as the Cowboy's General Manager. He is the man who conceived the idea of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, and it was his marketing savvy that transformed Dallas into "America's Team". He was the NFL's version of P.T. Barnum.

The stoic Landry was the polar opposite of the Schramm. A humble man, he did not approve of the cheerleader's presence on his sidelines. He also didn't like the Cowboys being labeled "America's Team."  Landry said, "I think that title gave us a lot more trouble than it was worth. The other teams resented us for it."

Brandt  was working as a baby photographer in Milwaukee when Schramm approached him to help sign players for the new franchise. His hobby at the University of Wisconsin was studying college game films to see why some players were better than others. He was the first person to incorporate the use of computers into the evaluation of talent.

Once Murchison had this trio on board, he took some less obvious, but more important, action - he stayed out of their way.

Younger fans might find this strange, but there was actually a time the Cowboys had an owner who stayed off the sidelines, avoided the media spotlight and let professionals run the team.

Murchison understood the concept of delegation. He hired experts and gave them carte blanche within their area of expertise. Landry had complete authority in the locker room and on the sideline. Brandt developed and designed what was then a revolutionary method of drafting and scouting players. Schramm was the architect of what most considered the NFL's best front office.

By staying behind the scenes and giving his experts the freedom to do their jobs, Murchison created an atmosphere where everyone flourished and egos did not clash. Consider the results — when Murchison sold the team in 1984, the Cowboys had won two Super Bowl trophies, five NFC titles and enjoyed twenty straight winning seasons.

Aside from a few token gestures, Jerry Jones has turned his back on the Cowboys' storied history. This is one part of the past he needs to embrace.