Jones, Johnny “Ham”

Jones, Johnny “Ham”

Mar 18, 2013 | Athlete, Football

Johnny “Ham” Jones Jones was an all-around athlete at Hamlin, helping the Pied Pipers advance to the football playoffs and win state titles in track.  When he arrived at the University of Texas, he was one of three Joneses playing in the backfield, so he became...

Welch, James “Jim”

Mar 18, 2013 | Athlete, Football

James Welch Welch was a starting fullback and linebacker on the 1955 state championship squad at Abilene High. In his first start at fullback as a senior, he rushed for 233 yards against Odessa High, still one of the top rushing performances in Abilene High history....
Sprinkle, Ed

Sprinkle, Ed

Mar 18, 2013 | Athlete, Football

Ed Sprinkle Sprinkle played one-year of six-man football at Tuscola before going to Hardin-Simmons.  He played three seasons at HSU before the school dropped sports because of World War II.  Sprinkle joined the Navy and received an appointment to the Naval Academy,...

Snow, Justin

Mar 18, 2013 | Athlete, Football

Justin Snow Snow and Dominic Rhodes, teammates at Abilene Cooper in 1994 and ’95, helped lead the Indianapolis Colts to the Super Bowl XLI championship on February 4, 2007, in Miami.  They were the first high school teammates to also be teammates on a Super Bowl...
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...

Rhodes, Dominic

Mar 18, 2013 | Athlete, Football

Dominic Rhodes Rhodes rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown for the Indianapolis Colts in their 29-17 victory over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XVI.  He is the third leading rusher in Cooper school history, gaining 3,102 yards in his high school career.  He helped...