Cowboys super fan shows off decades old memorabilia collection

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — For Ruben Ayala Sr., the Dallas Cowboys are like family. They’ll be there for the highest of highs and sometimes, they help create the lowest of lows.

“Whether they win or lose, I get a thrill watching the Cowboys,” Ayala said.

Ayala and the Cowboys were seemingly made for each other. He started his collection when he was just 12 years old, which happens to be the number of his favorite Cowboy, Roger Staubach. He also shares a birthday with another legend under center, Troy Aikman.

Ayala has saved anything Cowboys related he could get his hands on: gold cards, belt buckles, wheaties boxes, bbq sauces, magazines, replica Super Bowl rings and footballs and even a singing doll. Ayala says he’s never had his collection valued and doesn’t plan to.

“I’ve been collecting since ’72 and I’ve never sold anything from here.”

His six-year-old grandson, Ruben Ayala III, goes by “Little Ruben” when he’s around his grandpa. He was in awe of the bedroom dedicated solely to Cowboys merchandise made decades before he was born.

“It looks pretty cool and awesome. And there’s really a lot of stuff in here,” Little Ruben said.

Little Ruben is the latest in a long line of cowboys fans. That includes the elder Ruben’s younger brother, Fernando, who gave his big brother a board 30 years ago to protect the bed of his truck before later passing away. It’s a board that Ruben had painted in the silver and navy blue in Fernando’s memory.

“I value it so much. That’s a board I’ll never forget since it was a gift from my brother. Every time I think of the cowboys, I think of him.”

For Ayala, the Cowboys collection represents not only Dallas fans of the past, like his brother, but also fans of the future, like Little Ruben.

“It’s priceless. It really means a lot to me and it’ll be for my grandkids to enjoy.”

When Little Ruben was asked if he thinks he’ll be as big of a Cowboys fan as his grandpa is…

“Hmm… Yeah maybe someday I think I will.”