Third-Generation Freshman Footballer Drives ‘51 Hot Rod

By Camala Beek

Eastern New Mexico University was buzzing with many new faces this year, including 18-year-old Rhett Sain, a freshman from Sudan, Texas, the third generation in his family to attend ENMU. He is also a member of the Greyhound football team and owns a yellow 1951 hot rod truck that he fully restored himself.

Before ENMU, Rhett was involved in many high school activities. Athletically, he played football, basketball, track, tennis and golf. Academically, he participated in Informal Speaking, Future Community Leaders of America (FCLA), and One-Act Play, a club that performs single act plays at competition. His favorite class was Cross Examination Debate, which he says may be the reason he would like to pursue a major in either political science or public relations.

The first to attend ENMU in Rhett’s family was his grandfather, Jimmy Ford, in 1974. Then, both his parents, John and Chari Sain, came in the late 1980s. Interestingly, both his grandfather and his father played football for the green and silver. Even more unique is that all three played offensive line.

Outside of football, Rhett has another hobby–restoring his 1951 hot rod truck. “I got it as a freshman in high school and have been continuously working on it since,” he says. Originally, the truck was a shade of maroon, but he painted it yellow with black detailing because his high school colors for the Sudan Hornets were gold and black. Rhett has taken his hot rod to several car shows where he recently won “Best in Show” in Portales and the “Teenage Truck Award” in Levelland, Texas. He admitted, “My favorite thing about it is the shaved door handles; they pop open when I push a button on my keys.” Though he’s already put a lot of time and money into it, he says there’s still a lot of work to be done. “I’d like to really clean it and put in a brand new engine.” The only complaint he has about the hot rod is that “there is always something going wrong and it’s tedious work.” When asked how he liked Eastern thus far, he said, “I love it here. It’s relaxing, but I still can do what needs to be done. It has a good education program and is close to home.” For anyone interested in looking at the 1951 restored truck, he says casually, “Just ask. I’m always willing to let people look at it.”