The Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame hosted its 2nd annual Champions Celebration to commemorate the two Big Country high schools, Benjamin and Westbrook, that won football state championships during the 2022-23 season on Sunday, January 21. The reception, sponsored by BML Crude Oil Marketing, featured rousing games between the teams, a free museum tour, an awards presentation, limited edition back-to-back state championship shirts for sale and hall of fame coach CH Underwood speaking.
Players, coaches, school administration and staff, families and fans from both schools were present to celebrate both schools’ back-to-back state championships. Including the 2021 and 2022 Benjamin and Albany teams, there have only been 11 Big Country football teams win back-to-back state championships in the history of the UIL.
The Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame has produced limited edition shirts to mark this historic occasion. Long sleeve shirts are available to purchase at the Museum, or you can call us at 325-704-1759 to place an order. We are able to ship shirts for an additional fee.
Class of 2025 Announced
The nation’s top wide receiver, the first volleyball inductee, a world champion barrel racer, an Olympian and several successful coaches in football, track and tennis are among the inductees in the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame’s 2025 Induction Class. ...
Family, The West
This year’s Pat Gerald Memorial Legacy Award recipient is the West family, whose impact can be felt in Stamford, Brownwood and around the state of Texas. The three West brothers – Kenneth, Donald and Royce, who are deceased – all played for Coach Gordon Wood at...
Larned, Jerry
Jerry Larned, who passed away in 2023, is a 2026 recipient of the Bill Hart Memorial Legends Award. Larned grew up playing sports in Haskell and played basketball at North Texas State. He then spent his remarkable career as a teacher, principal, coach and...
Park, Ernie
Ernie Park, Abilene Wylie, is a 2026 recipient of the Bill Hart Memorial Legends Award. He played high school football at Abilene Wylie and was named an Associated Press Little All-American offensive lineman at McMurry University. Park earned all-district accolades...
Gilbreth McMinn, Andrea
Andrea Gilbreth McMinn, Abilene High, was a four-year letterman in cross country, track and soccer for the Eagles, earning 12 letters. Gilbreth McMinn was a two-time district champion in the 800-meter and was a three time regional qualifier in cross country. Also, she...
Norton Richey, Kami
Kami Norton Richey, Albany, won nine track and field state championships with the Lady Lions, including four gold medals and a Class 1A state record in the 300-meter hurdles. She also earned three gold medals at the state meet in the 100-meter hurdles and tied the...
Marshall, Jason
Jason Marshall, Abilene, was a four-year starting shortstop at Cooper and a key member of the 1987 and 1988 Class 5A state championship teams. The 1987 team was ranked by USA Today as the No. 1 high school baseball team in the nation. He then went to Texas A&M,...
Bowden, Murry
Murry Bowden, Snyder, was a first team all-district football player for the Tigers in 1966 and then went on to an outstanding career at Dartmouth College. Bowden led Dartmouth to two consecutive Ivy League championships in 1969 and 1970. He was co-captain of the...
Reese, Jim
Jim Reese was Abilene High’s quarterback in 1970 and 1971 and led the district in passing and total offense. In baseball, he was an all-district second baseman at Abilene High and led the Eagles to three consecutive district championships. Reese then went to ACU,...
Collier, LJ
L.J. Collier, Munday, has enjoyed a remarkable career that has culminated into a productive NFL career. As a junior at Munday, he was named the Defensive MVP of the state championship football. In that game, he recorded six tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and...
Class of 2026 Announced
A former all-American who is in the College Football Hall of Fame, a first round NFL Draft pick, a record-setting quarterback and long-time coach at Abilene High and Abilene Christian University, a multi-sport state champion from Albany, a two-time baseball state...