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.
Crousen, Barbara
Barbara Crousen Crousen spent 32 years coaching high school track, including a stint at Abilene Cooper, before joining McMurry University in 1998. She still serves as the men’s and women’s track coach at McMurry. During her time at Cooper, she served as president of...
Sandefer III, Jakie
Jakie Sandefer III Sandefer played on two state championship football teams at Breckenridge and was a member of the Buckaroos’ squad that beat Abilene High in 1954, handing the Eagles their last loss before starting a 49-game winning streak. Sandefer then played for...
Gleaton, Jerry Don
Jerry Don Gleaton Gleaton of Brownwood was an all-American pitcher for the University of Texas and was a first-round pick by the Texas Rangers in 1979. The left-handed pitcher spent 12 years in the major leagues with the Rangers, Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox,...
DeGrate, Tony
Tony DeGrate DeGrate not only played football at Snyder but he also pitched the Tigers to the state baseball tournament in 1981. At the University of Texas, he was named a two-time all-Southwest Conference defensive end, helping the Longhorns win the 1983 SWC title. ...
Johnson, Jonathan
Jonathan Johnson Johnson of Abilene High broke the state high school Class 5A record in the 800 meters when he won the event in 1:48.21 in 2001. He then anchored the mile relay to a gold medal, leading the Eagles to the Class 5A state team championship. At Texas...
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' 4x100 relay...
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
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
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
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...