B.L. “Blackie” Blackburn
Blackburn became the head baseball coach at Abilene High in 1947. During the next 24 years, he assembled one of the most prolific high school baseball programs in Texas sports history. He won 14 district championships. His teams were state finalists five times and won back-to-back state championships in 19567 and 1957. Blackburn’s record was 409-205, a .666 winning percentage. He twice won Texas Coach of the Year honors. In 1971, the Abilene High School baseball field was named in his honor. Deceased