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.
Jones, Ellis
Ellis Jones (deceased) played football at Abilene High from 1939-41. He then played guard and linebacker at Tulsa where he was a first-team all-American and played for the College All-Stars in their annual game against the defending NFL champion Chicago Bears in 1944....
Kitchens, Lance
Lance Kitchens, who has been in the broadcasting industry for 38 years, has been the “Voice of Buckaroo Sports” since 1984 in Breckenridge. When he was dismissed from the broadcasts by Palo Pinto Communications, the community of Breckenridge created such as uproar...
Davis, The Davis Brothers
The Davis brothers (Ernie, Charlie and Donald) from Stamford will receive the Legacy Award. All three are in the McMurry University Athletic Hall of Honor. Ernie graduated from Stamford in 1955, where he played football and ran track. He was a Little All-American at...
Greathouse, Myrle
Myrle Greathouse was a two-way all-state player at linebacker and running back at Amarillo High, helping the Sandies win a state championship in 1940. Following his service in World War II, he was a three-year letterman in football at the University of Oklahoma under...
2019 Class Annouced
Lackey, Warren, Goodenough headline 2019 Class in Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame Former Major League pitcher John Lackey, former Abilene High football coach Steve Warren and current Abilene Christian University women’s basketball coach Julie Goodenough...
Alford, Gene
Gene Alford from Rising Star was quarterback/halfback at Daniel Baker in Brownwood and then transferred to Texas Tech and later to Sul Ross State. Pete Shotwell, then at Sul Ross, called Alford the best player he ever coached. He scored the first touchdown in Texas...
Mills, Colonel Buster
Colonel Buster Mills from Ranger was a four-sport standout at Oklahoma (All-American quarterback/halfback in football, an outfielder in baseball, a guard in basketball and threw the javelin for the track team). He enjoyed a lengthy major league baseball career from...
Thomas, John
John Thomas was an all-state nose guard and offensive lineman for the 1954 state championship football team at Abilene High. He led the team in tackles. Abilene coach Chuck Moser once called him the best player he ever coached. He originally went to Allen Academy in...
Morris, Mike
Mike Morris, a graduate of Abilene Cooper, is the seventh official to be a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement for Officiating in the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame and the first baseball umpire. He has reached the pinnacle of collegiate baseball umpiring by...
Mills, Jack
A.J. (Jack) Mills Jr., was valedictorian and a co-captain quarterback on Gordon Wood’s first state championship team at Stamford in 1955. After graduating with two degrees from Oklahoma, he became an assistant athletic director at the University of Colorado in...