Lee Roy Jordan and Michele Liscio Patterson
Legendary Dallas Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan, best known as a founding member of Dallas’ Doomsday Defense, died Saturday of kidney failure. He was 84.
Like many former Cowboys players and coaches, Jordan and wife Biddie raised their family in Lake Highlands back when the team practiced at Forest and Abrams. Although the squad’s practice facility was downright primitive by today’s standards, Jordan helped lead the team to ten rounds of playoffs, two NFL championship games and three Super Bowls, including one Super Bowl win. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and NFC Defensive Player of the Year, and he was inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor in 1989.
Jordan was raised on a farm in tiny Excel, Alabama Âwith no electricity and six siblings. Landing a spot on the roster at the University of Alabama was all luck. Keeping it was all grit and determination. He was a pivotal part of the Crimson Tide’s national championship in 1961 and a unanimous All-American in 1962.
Jordan retired from pro football in 1976, and he opened Lee Roy Jordan Lumber shortly thereafter. He’d been in good health until recently, his son David told the Dallas Morning News, when he began to experience dementia, likely tied to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.
Former neighbors have been recalling their days in Lake Highlands with Jordan and his family. Michele Liscio Patterson, daughter of the late Tony Liscio, another legendary player for the Cowboys, was preschool and kindergarten classmates at Highlander School with David Jordan. She says Lee Roy had a heart of gold.
“Lee Roy and Biddie Jordan have been close friends of our family for 62 years,” Patterson said. “Lee Roy and my father started playing for the Dallas Cowboys in 1963. The Jordans lived on Tanglevine and we lived on Trailcliff. I have many fond memories with the family. My last time with Lee Roy is when I drove my mom, Biddie and Lee Roy to see the documentary film about Gene Stallings (and his late son with special needs) called “Do Right: The Stallings Standard” in January of 2025.
“I’ll never forget the time, right after I was engaged to my husband, Scott, he told him he better take good care of me. Scott said, yes sir! Lol. Every time I saw Lee Roy, I was greeted with a big hug and warm smile. He was the kindest, sweetest, most thoughtful person — such a southern gentleman. He will be missed greatly.”
Jordan was at the home of Chuck Howley with former teammates Roger Staubauch, Cliff Harris, Charlie Waters, Bob Lilly and Mel Renfro in 2023 when Howley learned he’d be induced into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. At that time, Howley was exhibiting signs of dementia and was unable to attend. The occasion caused Linda Sutton Thrasher to recall babysitting for the children of Howley, Jordan, Dan Reeves and other Cowboys players and coaches living in Lake Highlands at the time, who would often bring their kids to one house while they all went out together.
“They came back and all the kids were having a great night running around playing and laughing,” she said. “We were all neighbors. Chuck Howley was on the corner at the end of Tanglevine. I loved all the babysitting money…75 cents an hour. Dad said I should charge them double, but I thought that was outrageous.”
Waters, another Super Bowl champ and All-Pro for the Cowboys still living in Lake Highlands, has often shared his admiration of Jordan.
“He was an excellent athlete and tough. I mean tough as the day is long,” he said.
The Dallas Cowboys posted a tribute to Jordan on their team’s website.
“An inspirational leader of the Cowboys first championship teams, Jordan was at the core of the Dallas Cowboys ‘Doomsday Defense,’ anchoring the middle linebacker spot for 14 years…His legacy lives on as a model of dedication, integrity and toughness. Lee Roy Jordan’s impact on the game, and on those who knew him, will live on forever. Our hearts go out to Lee Roy’s family, friends and loved ones.”
A memorial service will be held Sept. 19 at 11 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church in Dallas.
Cowboys legend Lee Roy Jordan. Courtesy of Dallas Cowboys.
The Dallas Cowboys training facility on Forest Lane opened near Abrams Road in 1967. Photo by Dan Hamilton.
