Inductees | Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame

Alford, Gene

Jun 13, 2018 | Athlete, Football, Legends

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

Jun 13, 2018 | Athlete, Baseball, Legends

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

Jun 13, 2018 | Athlete, Football

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

Jun 13, 2018 | Lifetime Achievement for Officiating, Official

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

Jun 13, 2018 | Athlete, Football

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...

Green, Fred

Jun 13, 2018 | Athlete, Baseball, Football

Fred Green was an all-state punter and all-state end in 1955 at Abilene High and an all-state baseball player as well. He still holds the record for most doubles and the most RBIs in the state baseball tournament. He played on state championship football teams in 1954...