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.
Museum Open in New Location
Come see us in our new location!We are proud to announce that our Hall of Fame Museum is now located inside the Mall of Abilene. It opened to the public on Thursday, November 5, 2020. The hours for the museum are: Monday-Saturday: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm Sunday: 12-5 pm...
Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet Postponed
For immediate releaseTuesday, April 7, 2020For more information: Contact Al Pickett at (325) 668-3014 Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame banquet postponed until August 10The 19th annual Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame banquet, scheduled for May 4, has been postponed...
Guy, Brooks and Logan headline 10 new inductees into the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame
A world champion roper, a former Abilene High Eagle and Texas Longhorn who is now a football analyst for ESPN, and a former Super Bowl champion headline a list of 10 new inductees into the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame. The 19th annual Big County Athletic Hall of...
Lackey, John
John Lackey, a three-sport standout at Abilene High, pitched in the major leagues for the Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs from 2002-2017. He compiled a career record of 188-147 with 2,294 strikeouts and a career earned run...
Warren, Steve
Steve Warren led Abilene High to the Class 5A Division II 2009 state football championship. He compiled a record of 175-68 in 19 seasons at AHS from 1996-2014 as the school’s all-time leader in wins. His career coaching record is 190-82, which included stints at Wall...
Goodenough, Julie Roewe
Julie Roewe Goodenough, a native of Haskell, played on a Western Texas College team that went to the National Junior College Athletic Association national basketball tournament. She then played at Texas-Arlington, becoming one of the first Big Country girls to receive...
Cox, Jackie Ramsey
Jackie Ramsey-Cox, 1970 graduate of Abilene Cooper, was an All-American skeet shooter and a seven-time world champion. She was a member of the young, upstart Texas Whiz Kids who won the 5-man team 12 gauge World Championship in 1972 at Rochester, New York with a score...
Oates, Mark
Mark Oates, a 1981 graduate of Abilene High, is the most decorated gymnast in Abilene history and is the first gymnast selected to the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame. He won the Class 5A state all-around championship in 1981. He was then a three-time all-American...
Whisenhunt, Stanley
Stanley Whisenhunt was the long-time girls basketball coach at Abilene Wylie where he was known as just Stanley by his students and players in the 1960s and ‘70s. His teams won 15 consecutive district championships and two regional championships. His team captured...
Childers, Elijah
Elijah Childers (deceased) graduated from Woodson High School in Abilene before integration where he was a three-year letterman in football, basketball and track. He started at tackle on offense and defense at Prairie View A&M, where he was all-SWAC in 1954-55....