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.
Richey, Trey
TREY RICHEY is the only person to win a six-man football state championship as both a player and a coach. He was the star running back and safety at Jayton HS where the Jaybirds went undefeated and won back-to-back state six-man football championships in 1984 and...
Todd, Trey
TREY TODD won back-to-back individual Class 3A state championships in golf at Wylie High School in 2001 and 2002. He then became a four-year letterman at Texas A&M, where he had two top-10 finishes and eight top-25 finishes. He graduated in 2008 with a master’s...
Green, Merrill
MERRILL GREEN was a star running back and punt returner at the University of Oklahoma in the early 1950's under coach Bud Wilkinson. He coached in college at Texas Tech and Arkansas before becoming the head coach at Abilene Cooper in 1965. He led the Cougars to the...
Scholarship Application Link For Graduating High School Senior Athletes from the Big Country
Every year, the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame gives away 12 $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors who were athletes and went to school in the Big Country. If you'd like to apply for one of these scholarships, please use this link to access the...
Class of 2022 Inductees Announced – Press Release
Please see the attached press release announcing our 2022 Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Class.
Scott, The Scott Family
FREDDIE L. SCOTT coached football, basketball and tennis for 25 years in Sweetwater and is credited with talking the UIL into having team tennis as a fall sport. Both father and son are in the Texas Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame. FRED (DERF) W. SCOTT won a...
Potts, Taylor
Taylor Potts is the leading passer in Abilene High history, throwing for 3,162 yards and 53 touchdowns, twice leading the Eagles to the Class 5A regional semifinals. He threw for 7,835 yards and 62 touchdowns as a two-year starter at Texas Tech. Potts...
Guy, Lari Dee
Lari Dee Guy played basketball in high school at Clyde, but it was on the Rodeo circuit (Roping) where she made her mark. She won 11 consecutive American Junior Rodeo Association world roping titles beginning at age 9. She...
Brooks, Ahmad
Ahmad Brooks won eight letters at Abilene High in football, soccer, baseball and track. He was Mack Brown’s first recruit at the University of Texas. Brooks was a three-year starter at defensive back for the Longhorns, serving as team captain as a senior,...
Logan, Jerry Don
Jerry Don Logan of Graham played football for West Texas State from 1959-62 and then played 10 years in the NFL for the Baltimore Colts. A two-way starter, he led the nation in scoring in 1962 and was the MVP of 1962 Sun Bowl. Logan was...