• Twelve Mighty Orphans

  • The Inspiring True Story of the Mighty Mites Who Ruled Texas Football
  • By: Jim Dent
  • Narrated by: Barry Abrams
  • Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (250 ratings)

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Twelve Mighty Orphans  By  cover art

Twelve Mighty Orphans

By: Jim Dent
Narrated by: Barry Abrams
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Publisher's summary

More than a century ago, a school was constructed in Fort Worth, Texas, for the purpose of housing and educating the orphans of Texas Freemasons. It was a humble project that for years existed quietly on a hillside east of town. Life at the Masonic Home was about to change, though, with the arrival of a lean, bespectacled coach by the name of Rusty Russell. Here was a man who could bring rain in the midst of a drought. Here was a man who, in virtually no time at all, brought the orphans' story into the homes of millions of Americans.  

In the 1930s and 1940s, there was nothing bigger in Texas high school football than the Masonic Home Mighty Mites - a group of orphans bound together by hardship and death. These youngsters, in spite of being outweighed by at least 30 pounds per man, were the toughest football team around. They began with nothing - not even a football - yet in a few years were playing for the state championship on the highest level of Texas football. This is a winning tribute to a courageous band of underdogs from a time when America desperately needed fresh hope and big dreams.  

The Mighty Mites remain a notable moment in the long history of American sports. Just as significant is the depth of the inspirational message. This is a profound lesson in fighting back and clinging to faith.

©2007 Jim Dent (P)2019 Tantor

What listeners say about Twelve Mighty Orphans

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Great story!!

What a great story! I highly recommend to anyone who is interested in football history!! Great narrator too!

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2 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Hoped for more

I really wanted to be interested in this story, I ended up not finishing it. Although it is a good base line story, the narrative and the "simple sounding" voices made it hard to listen to and even harder to stay interested. I hope the movie is better.

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Verne was right

I saw Uncle Verne was quoted on the cover as saying this may be the best sports book ever written, and he may be right. Phenomenal story-telling.

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Enjoyed Listening

This was my first audio book so dont have anything to compare it to. I did throughly enjoyed listening. I thought it was well done.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

Will definitely listen to again. The story is compelling at every chapter knowing that it is true makes it even more compelling. I will study this more in hopefully it is a movie someday . A great story told greatly.

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HomeBoys

Rings true to me, as I was a HomeBoy in the 60’s and heard all of the stories of the 1930s Mighty Mites.
Was a tough school when I was there, though we never fielded a team that came close to matching the caliber of “The 12 Mighty Orphans”.

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Great story with some mixed endings

Having been raised in Fort Worth, I found this story fascinating! Robotic narration at points.

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Great Book

One of the most FUN books I’ve ever read. These scrappy, tough little cusses will have you laughing and crying.

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savior of souls - the masonic home

very enjoyable and inspiring story of devotion and caring given to the orphans. who rose up to give their all in team spirit.

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awesome true story

I loved this true story. a great read! definitely worth your time. awesome true story.

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