Texas Lottery Veteran Recognition: Mal Wiley

Army veteran and retired Austin Police Department investigator to be honored during coin toss when Texas Football hosts Louisiana Tech.

Mal Wiley grew up in a rural East Texas community where his family worked as farmers.

"When I was 10 years old I could plow with the mules just like the men could," Wiley said.

Wiley's hardworking childhood developed the character and resolve he relied upon during his more than 30 years of uniformed service, first as a defender of his nation and later as a peacekeeper in his community.

In June 1955, less than a week after his high school graduation, Wiley was on a plane to California for Army basic training. From there, he was dispatched to Maryland, one of 15…