The man in the fedora who stayed with his plan, Dallas coach Thomas Wade Landry (1924-2000) was born on this day in born in Mission, Texas, deep in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley.

"My family, my church, and the small-town environment of Mission served as filters for the basic values I learned as a boy," Landry explained in his autobiography.

No stranger to challenges, he flew 30 missions over Europe in World War II as a B-17 bomber pilot. "I knew what it meant to look my own fear in the face and go on to do my duty because the lives of my crew and the destiny of my country depended on it," he said.

Landry took this dedication to the football field, first as a college and professional player. He was hired to coach the new NFL franchise in Dallas in 1960. "When you want to win a game, you have to teach. When you lose a game, you have to learn," said Landry, considered a true gentleman by many.

Known for his stoic sideline visage, he was a brilliant coaching pioneer who designed the innovative multiple offense sets. From 1960 to 1988, the Cowboys dominated the sport of football. With consistent big plays and come-from-behind finishes, the team earned the name "America's Team." Landry had 20 consecutive winning seasons. His team won 13 division titles and two of their five Super Bowl games.

"If you are prepared, you will be confident, and will do the job." he said and was inducted into the 1990 Football Hall of Fame.

"Even the opposition believed in Dallas' winning tradition," Landry explained. "That's what made us America's Team, a title the Cowboys eventually wore with pride."

MORE Tom LANDRY Quotations

Stay with the plan and SHINE.