Sandefer III, Jakie

Sandefer III, Jakie

Mar 18, 2013 | Athlete, Football

Jakie Sandefer III Sandefer played on two state championship football teams at Breckenridge and was a member of the Buckaroos’ squad that beat Abilene High in 1954, handing the Eagles their last loss before starting a 49-game winning streak.  Sandefer then played for...
Gleaton, Jerry Don

Gleaton, Jerry Don

Mar 18, 2013 | Athlete, Baseball

Jerry Don Gleaton Gleaton of Brownwood was an all-American pitcher for the University of Texas and was a first-round pick by the Texas Rangers in 1979.  The left-handed pitcher spent 12 years in the major leagues with the Rangers, Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox,...
DeGrate, Tony

DeGrate, Tony

Mar 18, 2013 | Athlete, Baseball, Football

Tony DeGrate DeGrate not only played football at Snyder but he also pitched the Tigers to the state baseball tournament in 1981.  At the University of Texas, he was named a two-time all-Southwest Conference defensive end, helping the Longhorns win the 1983 SWC title. ...
Johnson, Jonathan

Johnson, Jonathan

Mar 18, 2013 | Athlete, Track & Field

Jonathan Johnson Johnson of Abilene High broke the state high school Class 5A record in the 800 meters when he won the event in 1:48.21 in 2001.  He then anchored the mile relay to a gold medal, leading the Eagles to the Class 5A state team championship.  At Texas...
Smith, Dean

Smith, Dean

Mar 18, 2013 | Athlete, Inductees, Track & Field

Dean Smith Smith was an all-state running back at Graham and played football and ran track at the University of Texas.  He was a halfback on the Longhorns’ team that beat Tennessee in the Cotton Bowl.  In 1952, he was a gold medalist on the United States’...
Overton, Ray

Overton, Ray

Mar 18, 2013 | Coach, Football

Ray Overton Overton is the longest tenured coach in Abilene Cooper history, spending 19 seasons at the school, including 11 years as head coach compiling a 69-40-2 record.  A graduate of Paint Creek High School in 1941, he went to Texas A&M for a year and then...