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.
Gidley, Kim
KIM GIDLEY played tennis at Abilene High and Abilene Christian University, earning all-American honors at ACU while leading the Wildcats to a NCAA Division II national runner-up finish. She was ranked No. 5 nationally in singles and No. 6 in doubles and was invited to...
Standly, Mike
MIKE STANDLY played on a state championship golf team at Abilene Cooper and a national championship team at the University of Houston. During his senior year at the University of Houston, Standly was named an all-American. He played on the PGA Tour from 1986-2010,...
Badon, Jerale
JERALE BADON was an all-state wide receiver and a three-sport letterman during his career at Abilene High. He finished his high school career with 116 receptions for 1,853 yards and 17 touchdowns, ranking him in the top five in all three categories in the Eagles’...
Kinsey, Mike
MIKE KINSEY was an all-state defensive lineman at Brownwood High School in 1981, where he led the Lions to a 13-1 record and a 14-9 victory over Sugar Land Willowridge in the 1981 Class 4A state championship game. That win gave Brownwood its seventh state championship...
Sandifer, Hugh
HUGH SANDIFER spent 41 years at Abilene Wylie High School as a football coach, basketball coach and athletic director. His career coaching record in football was 282 wins, 109 losses and four ties. Sandifer led the Bulldogs to the state championship game four times in...
Max Williams Book Signing Event – Nov. 18, 2023
The Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame hosted a book signing event promoting Hall of Fame inductee Max Williams' new book, The Last Shot, on November 18, 2023. Williams, an Avoca native, now lives in the Dallas area and this recently published book chronicles Williams...
Class of 2024 Announced
Athletes and coaches who led their teams to 12 state championships in football, basketball, baseball, golf and gymnastics headline the 2024 list of inductees into the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame. The 23rd annual Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame induction...
Lakey-Whitefield, Adree
ADREE LAKEY-WHITEFIELD, a track and field standout from Roby, accomplished an incredible feat by winning a national championship in three different events during her collegiate career at Angelo State. A track and field star for the Rams, she won the NCAA Division II...
Salas, David
DAVID SALAS was an all-district cornerback in football and ran track at Abilene High, but he is considered the top soccer player to come out of Abilene. In fact, Salas is the first soccer player to be named to the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame. After playing...
New Display in the Museum – O’Brien Trophy Case
The Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame is excited to house a new piece of history inside our Museum. In 1972, the UIL held its first Six-Man football state championship game, which was won by O’Brien. 47 years ago, the O’Brien School District consolidated with Knox...