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.
Butler, Ron
Ron Butler was the athletic director at Ranger College for 32 years. He coached men’s basketball for 16 years, started the women’s basketball program in 1968 and coached that team for 18 years. He also started the...
Cochran, Mike
Mike Cochran played golf at Stamford for Gordon Wood, but became one of the most decorated reporters in Texas during a long career with the Associated Press and Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Although best known for covering moon shots, the Kennedy...
Bourland, David
David Bourland earned eight letters at Abilene High, three in football, two in basketball and three in baseball, winning three state championships. He was a two-way player for the 1954 and 1955 state championship teams at AHS in football at quarterback and...
Martin, Milton
Milton Martin was a member of Avoca’s 1955 Class B state championship basketball team. He scored 62 points in a game vs. Jim Ned, which is a school record. He was the leading scorer in the scholarship era at Hardin-Simmons with 1,584 points in four...
Magness, Boone
Boone Magness was a standout quarterback for the Breckenridge team that tied Port Arthur 0-0 in the 1929 state championship game after upsetting defending champion Waco in the semifinals. He later played at Washington State. In 1968, he was in the first...
Underwood, C.H.
C.H. Underwood played six-man football at O’Brien and then returned to coach at O’Brien, where his team won the 1972 state championship, the first year that the UIL crowned a state champion in six-man football. He is the author of...
Leong, Jr., Lyle
Lyle Leong, Jr. was a wide receiver and high jumper at Abilene High and Texas Tech. He had 91 receptions for 1,850 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior and senior at AHS. In 2006, Leong cleared 7-feet-1-inch to win the high jump at the Class 5A state track meet....
Super Bowl Special in the Museum
With Super Bowl Week upon us, the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame Museum is taking the opportunity to honor the 6 Super Bowl winners in the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame with a brand new display! We invite you to come visit us this week with a special admission...
Abilene High, Texas Tech duo selected to Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame
Taylor Potts and Lyle Leong Jr., whose remarkable careers were intertwined at both Abilene High and Texas Tech, have been selected to the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame.The annual Big County Athletic Hall of Fame induction banquet is set for Monday, April 19, 2021...
