Grissom, Bill

May 24, 2025 | Athlete, Coach, Football, Inductees

BILL GRISSOM of Winters was the leading rusher at McMurry as a junior and senior in 1963 and 1964, and was among the survivors of the infamous belly-landing plane crash involving the McMurry football team. He then began a 34-year career as a high school football...

Washington, James

May 24, 2025 | Athlete, Football, Inductees

JAMES WASHINGON  was a standout receiver on Stamford’s back-to-back state championship football teams in 2012 and 2013. He also played on the Bulldogs’ state runner-up basketball team. Washington had a prolific   career as a wide receiver at Oklahoma State, where he...

Early, Mickey

May 24, 2025 | Athlete, Football, Inductees, Track & Field

MICKEY EARLY played football and ran track at Rotan. He was 9.6-second 100-yard sprinter in the late 1960’s, which was among the fastest times in the state. On the football field, Early was a three-year starter at SMU, earning all-Southwest Conference honors as a...

Harrell, Sam

May 24, 2025 | Coach, Football, Inductees

SAM HARRELL played quarterback and defensive back for Gordon Wood at Brownwood before beginning a long coaching career around the state of Texas. Harrell coached Ennis to three state championships in 2001, 2002 and 2004 before retiring in 2009 to fight MS. Harrell was...
1st Annual PE Shotwell Day set for Sat., Aug. 10

1st Annual PE Shotwell Day set for Sat., Aug. 10

Aug 5, 2024 | Football, News

Football season is just around the corner, and the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame is celebrating with PE Shotwell Day on Saturday, August 10 at the Museum located inside the Mall of Abilene. Admission will be free to the museum all day. There will be a special...

Hess, Jay

May 1, 2024 | Athlete, Football, Inductees

Jay Hess threw for a state record 3,154 yards and 37 touchdowns to lead the Eastland High School Mavericks to an unbeaten season and the Class 2A state title in 1982. He was voted the Texas High School Player of the Year for all classifications, a first-team all-state...