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.
2015 Banquet Tickets Now on Sale
Click here to order your tickets.
Wolcott, Fred
Fred Wolcott from Snyder was one of the greatest collegiate hurdlers in history at Rice. He won an NCAA title and broke Jesse Owens’ world record in the 220-yard low hurdles. Due to the cancellation of the Olympics during World War II, however, he was denied...
Curtis, Eck
Eck Curtis, who played quarterback at Abilene Christian, was an outstanding coach at Anson, Ranger and Breckenridge before winning a state football championship at Highland Park in 1945. He later became the backfield coach at the University of Texas where he...
Young Brothers
Legacy Award winners Bob, Doug and Perry Young made their marks in three different sports, although all three were all-state football players at Brownwood. Bob played 16 seasons in the NFL, mostly with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1978 and...
Anderson, Bill
Bill Anderson, who was born in Erath County, had a coaching career that spanned more than 50 years, including stops at Stamford, Rising Star, South Taylor, Graham, Palestine, Riviera, Hereford, Abilene Christian, West Texas State, Cisco Junior College, Howard Payne...
Schroeder, Ann
Ann Schroeder is perhaps the most honored tennis player in Abilene history. As a junior player she was ranked No. 2 in singles in Texas and No.1 in doubles. At Cooper, she won district and regional championships in doubles and was runner-up in the state tournament in...
Pursley, Brad
Brad Pursley of Merkel and Abilene Christian University was a state champion and NAIA and NCAA national champion in the pole vault. He competed internationally and qualified for the U.S. Olympic trials three times. Pursley was ranked as high as No. 3 in the world and...
Orr, Terry
Terry Orr was a star running back on a district championship team at Cooper and then played for the Texas Longhorns, where he rushed for 1,279 yards and 11 touchdowns during his career. He was fourth in the Southwest Conference in rushing touchdowns in 1984. Orr was...
Millerman, Jim
Jim Millerman was a member of Abilene High teams that won two state championships in the same calendar year. In the spring of 1954, he ran on the Eagles’ sprint relay team that won a gold medal at the state track meet and recorded the fastest time in the nation....
Baker-Hejny, JimAnne
JimAnne Baker Hejny of Cisco won 13 individual gold medals and 2 gold team medals at the State Track Meet in her career in the 100, 200, 400, Long and Triple Jump and relay teams. The Lady Loboes, led by Baker, won the Class 2A state track team championship in 2001...