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.
Agan, Johnny
Johnny Agan of Albany was a two-time all-state running back as he led the Lions to back-to-back Class A state football championships and a 29-1 record in 1960 and 1961. He was a three-year starter on both offense and defense at Texas Tech. Agan and all-American Donnie...
Buchanan-Gray, Bonnie
Bonnie Buchanan Gray of May became an all-American in basketball at Abilene Christian University. When she played at tiny May at the end of the six-on-six girls basketball era in Texas, she set some of amazing scoring records. In fact, she has 10 of the top individual...
Cleveland, Kenneth
Kenneth Cleveland was a standout basketball player at Coleman and the University of Texas. He compiled an 887-227 record coaching basketball, the last 32 years at Dimmitt where he won 27 district championships, 10 regional titles and three state championships. When he...
Cumbie, Sonny
Sonny Cumbie was a three-sport standout in high school at Snyder. He walked on at Texas Tech and became the Red Raiders’ starting quarterback as a senior in 2004. He led the nation in passing that year, completing 65.6 percent of his passes for 4,742 yards and 32...
Hawk, Brandon
Brandon Hawk of Clyde is one of the top tennis players to come out of the Big Country. He reached a No. 1 ranking in Texas in both singles and doubles and a No. 1 ranking in doubles and No. 5 in singles nationally as a junior tennis player. Although his national...
Bartee-Fuentes, Kim
Kim Bartee Fuentes of Albany was the Big Country Female Athlete of the Year in 1991. She won the high jump, took second as a member of the 800 and 1,600-meter relay teams and fourth on the 400 relay team to lead Albany to 1991 state track championship. She was...
Berry, The Berry Family
The late Powell Berry was an all-district quarterback at Snyder. He is a member of the Snyder Hall of Honor and was a three-year letterman for Bear Bryant at Texas A&M where he was a team co-captain as a senior. All three sons played football at Abilene Cooper....
Ellison, Margaret
Margaret Ellison, who was born in Eastland, was the founder and coach of a women’s track and field club in Abilene in the early 1960s that revolutionized the sport. Her Texas Track Club became nationally famous with members of the team appearing on the cover of...
2016 Class Annouced
Cumbie headlines the list of Class of 2016 in the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame The 15th annual Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame banquet is set for Monday, May 2 at the Abilene Civic Center, and former Snyder and Texas Tech quarterback Sonny Cumbie, who...
Payne, The Dr. Frank C. Payne, Sr. Family
The Dr. Frank C. Payne, Sr. Family of Breckenridge. The late Dr. Payne was a three-year letterman in football at SMU, winning a Southwest Conference championship in 1923. He then spent more than 30 years as the team doctor for the Breckenridge Buckaroos. His four sons...