Smith, Dean

Smith, Dean

Dean Smith Smith was an all-state running back at Graham and played football and ran track at the University of Texas.  He was a halfback on the Longhorns’ team that beat Tennessee in the Cotton Bowl.  In 1952, he was a gold medalist on the United States’...
Overton, Ray

Overton, Ray

Ray Overton Overton is the longest tenured coach in Abilene Cooper history, spending 19 seasons at the school, including 11 years as head coach compiling a 69-40-2 record.  A graduate of Paint Creek High School in 1941, he went to Texas A&M for a year and then...
Malone, Andy

Malone, Andy

Andy Malone Malone compiled an 861-345 record in 41 years as a high school baseball coach, including a 220-52 mark in seven seasons at Cooper.  He led the Cougars to back-to back state titles in 1987 and 1988.  His 1987 team went 33-3 and was deemed the co-national...
Land, Bruce

Land, Bruce

Bruce Land Land of Hawley unofficially broke or tied the 100-yard dash world record seven times during his track career.  After earning all-American honors at Cisco Junior College, he ran track at McMurry and is a member of that school’s Hall of Fame.  He qualified...
Kent, Kelly

Kent, Kelly

Kelly Kent Kent was an all-state running back at Cisco in the mid-1970s and then played football at Abilene Christian University where he scored 26 touchdowns in three seasons.  He was a member of the ACU team that won the NAIA national championship in 1977 in the...