William “Rooster” Andrews, owner of the popular sporting goods chain that bore his name in Texas, has passed away at the age of 84. His last store closed last year, but the chain once boasted four locations across Austin, annual sales of $5 million, and more than 70 employees.
Andrews was best known as a long term booster of the University of Texas football team. Andrews came to UT as a student manager in 1941. At just under 5-feet tall, Andrews befriended some of the biggest names in Longhorns athletics, from Bobby Layne and Tom Landry to Darrell Royal and Mack Brown. After graduating in 1946, he worked for 23 years as a salesman for C&S Sporting Goods. In 1969, he started his own store, Rooster Andrews Sporting Goods.
Andrews is survived by his wife, B.J.; brother J.B. “Bunny” Andrews; son Ralph Griffith Andrews and wife Melissa; daughter Betsy Dabbs; daughter Lisa Ard and husband Mike; and his grandchildren, Will Dabbs, Callie Dabbs, Billy Andrews, Luke Andrews, Austin Ard and Adam Ard.
