In 1914, upon the creation of the Texas School of Mines (later renamed the University of Texas at El Paso), Dwyer joined the faculty and became the assistant to John W. "Cap" Kidd, the head of the engineering department.[1][3] He taught calculus at the school.[2]
Dwyer was also appointed as the school's first football coach. Under his leadership, the 1914 Texas Mines Miners football team became the school's first football team. The first intercollegiate game was a 19–0 loss to New Mexico A&M. The series with New Mexico A&M evolved into a rivalry (now known as the Battle of I-10) that has been played almost 100 times. In an era when eligibility rules were laxly enforced, Dwyer also occasionally played for the Texas Mines teams that he coached.[1] Dwyer continued as Texas Mines' head football coach from 1914 through 1917 and in 1919. He also coached the Texas Mines baseball team.
During World War I, Dwyer served in the United States Army as a captain with the 116th Engineer Regiment, which was part of the 41st "Rainbow" Division in France.[4][5] Texas Mines did not field a team during Dwyer's absence in 1918.
Family and later years
Dwyer later had a career as a civil engineer, working in the oil business. He was employed for 29 years by Gulf Oil. In 1928, he was assigned Gulf's new operation center in Odessa, Texas. He was transferred in 1946 to Gulf's Fort Worth offices. He became the chief engineer at the company's Fort Worth operation until his retirement in 1954.[6][7]
Dwyer married Agnes Wood in September 1923 in a ceremony in El Paso.[4] They had two children, Agnes Barbara (born 1930) and Tom Verne (born 1933).[6] Dwyer died in 1959 at Harris Hospital in Fort Worth. The primary cause of death was hepatoma.[8][2]
^Application for Headstone or Marker, submitted for Thomas Joe Dwyer, born 9/17/89, died 7/29/59. Ancestry.com. U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963 [database on-line]. Original data: Applications for Headstones for U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1941.
^Death certificate for Tom J. Dwyer, born 9/17/89, died 7/29/59, petroleum engineer. Texas Department of State Health Services; Austin Texas, USA. Ancestry.com. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982 [database on-line].
