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.
Heath, Nikki
Nikki Heath Heath, an all-state volleyball and basketball player in high school at Sweetwater, was a starting guard on the Texas Tech Lady Raiders national championship basketball team in 1993. She became the second player off that championship team to be selected to...
Berry, Ray
Ray Berry Berry, an outstanding linebacker at Abilene Cooper, was a four-year letterman at Baylor from 1983-86. He was twice named all-Southwest Conference and was named to Baylor’s all-Decade team of the 1980s. He ranks second only to Mike Singletary in career...
Stapler, W.T.
W.T. Stapler Stapler was a standout football player at Hamlin and McMurry, but he made his name as a successful high school football coach with more than 200 wins. He took over a struggling program at Sweetwater, but in a few years got the Mustangs to the Class 4A...
Pugh, Scotty
Scotty Pugh Pugh is the first member of Abilene Cooper’s back-to-back state championship baseball teams in 1987 and 1988 to be selected to the Hall of Fame, but he may best be remembered as a remarkable three-sport star. He was a four-year starter at first base in...
King, Rufus
Rufus King King started at offensive and defensive tackle on Abilene High’s 1955 state championship team. The next year, coach Chuck Moser moved King to tight end. He was such a good blocker on the 1956 state championship team, however, that he was named first team...
Stovall, Richard “Moose”
Richard “Moose” Stovall Stovall played football at Abilene High and Abilene Christian College and was the starting center for the Washington Redskins in 1949 when he snapped the ball to Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Sammy Baugh, who was one of the inaugural...
Atkins, Michi
Michi Atkins Atkins came out of tiny Loraine but made her presence felt immediately as a freshman at Texas Tech as a key contributor off the bench for the Lady Raiders’ national championship team in 1993. She was named all-Southwest Conference each of the next three...
Jones, Johnny “Ham”
Johnny “Ham” Jones Jones was an all-around athlete at Hamlin, helping the Pied Pipers advance to the football playoffs and win state titles in track. When he arrived at the University of Texas, he was one of three Joneses playing in the backfield, so he became...
Welch, James “Jim”
James Welch Welch was a starting fullback and linebacker on the 1955 state championship squad at Abilene High. In his first start at fullback as a senior, he rushed for 233 yards against Odessa High, still one of the top rushing performances in Abilene High history....
Gilbreth, Bill
Bill Gilbreth Gilbreth is the first graduate of Abilene Christian Schools to be selected to the Hall of Fame. He was an All-Southland Conference pitcher at Abilene Christian University, compiling a four-year record of 25-9 from 1966-69. The left-hander was the NCAA...