Stapler, W.T.

Stapler, W.T.

Mar 18, 2013 | Coach, Football

W.T. Stapler Stapler was a standout football player at Hamlin and McMurry, but he made his name as a successful high school football coach with more than 200 wins.  He took over a struggling program at Sweetwater, but in a few years got the Mustangs to the Class 4A...
Ritchey, Tom

Ritchey, Tom

Mar 18, 2013 | Coach, Football

Tom Ritchey Ritchey is the winningest coach in the Sweetwater High School football history.  He coached at Sweetwater for 12 years, leading the Mustangs to 11 playoff appearances, and a 120-24-2 record.  His teams twice reached the state semifinals.  In his final...
Groseclose, Bob

Groseclose, Bob

Mar 18, 2013 | Coach, Track & Field

Bob Groseclose Groseclose, who grew up in Breckenridge, was the fourth coach from the glory years of the 1950s at Abilene High to join the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame.  Groseclose, who died in 2005 at age 82, won three state championships as track coach at...

Bellard, Emory

Mar 18, 2013 | Coach, Football

Emory Bellard Bellard won three state football championships as a coach at Breckenridge and San Angelo before going into college coaching.  He was an assistant to Darrell Royal at Texas when he was credited with inventing the wishbone offense.  The Longhorns won two...

Womack, Charles “Nig”

Mar 18, 2013 | Basketball, Coach

Charles “Nig” Womack Womack, who was inducted into the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005, coached both boys and girls basketball and served as superintendent at Hawley High School from 1947 to 1979.  His boys’ teams had a record of 896-127 and his...
Kittley, Wes

Kittley, Wes

Mar 18, 2013 | Coach, Track & Field

Wes Kittley Kittley, a state champion in the 880-yard run as a senior in high school at Rule, was an all-American at ACU.  He took over as the women’s track coach at ACU in 1985 and then became the men’s coach, too.  He won a record 29 NCAA Division II track...