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, Joe
Joe Crousen Crousen was a linebacker on Breckenridge's state championship team in 1958. He played football at Sul Ross State before starting a long coaching career that included an assistant coaching job at Mississippi State under his high school coach and fellow...
Casey, Judy
Judy Casey Casey, a graduate of Abilene High, is one of the best female golfers to come out of the Big Country. She was a three-time Texas Publinx champion and also won the Women's West Texas Golf Championship three times. She won the Louisiana State Amateur in New...
Cain, John Paul
John Paul Cain Cain, a four-year letterman in golf at Texas Tech, was the 1959 Texas Amateur champion and played Ben Crenshaw in the finals of the 1973 Trans-Mississippi Mid-Amateur. After a lengthy career as a stockbroker and amateur golfer, Cain from Sweetwater...
Young, John Paul
John Paul Young Young was a starting offensive lineman at Abilene High in 1957 and then played collegiate football at Texas Western. He made his mark as a long-time assistant coach, first at SMU and Texas A&M and then in the NFL with the Houston Oilers, New...
Welch, Mike
Mike Welch Welch was a two-time All-Stater at Sweetwater, starting at running back and defensive back and helping lead the Mustangs to a state championship in 1985. He then became a four-year starter at defensive back at Baylor. In 2010, Welch was named a...
Stowers, Carlton
Carlton Stowers Stowers is the fifth recipient of the Lifetime Achievement for Media. Stowers, who was co-captain of the Abilene High track team that won a state championship in 1960, also ran track at the University of Texas. But he made his mark as a sports writer...
Southall, The Morris Southall Family
Morris Southall Family The winner of the second annual Legacy Award is the Morris Southall family of Brownwood. Southall was Hall of Fame coach Gordon Wood’s top assistant for 26 years at Brownwood, where the Lions won seven state championships. Two of Brownwood’s...
Raughton, Cindy Shelton
Cindy Shelton (Raughton) Shelton was a terrific basketball player at tiny Avoca, which also produced Hall of Famer Max Williams. She played three years for the Wayland Baptist College Hutcherson Flying Queens that won an AAU national championship in 1960. She was...
McClellen, Mike
Mike McClellan McClellan played on Stamford’s state championship football teams of 1955 and 1956 and was a member of the Bulldogs’ state championship track team in 1957. He was a two-time all-state halfback and a state champion in the 100, 220 and long jump. He was...
Lilly, Bob
Bob Lilly Lilly who grew up in Throckmorton, is known as “Mr. Cowboy.” Considered the greatest defensive lineman of his era, Lilly was the Dallas Cowboys’ first-ever draft pick out of TCU in 1960, the franchise’s first selection to the Ring of Honor and the Cowboys’...