THE HOOD FAMILY from Abilene is this year’s Pat Gerald Memorial Legacy Award recipient. The late
DON HOOD won nine NAIA and NCAA Division II national championships in 11 years at Abilene Christian University. He was considered the nation’s premier pole vault coach, having trained Billy Olson and Brad Pursley, who are both members of the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame. Don had three sons: Joel, Don D., and Derek. Derek was an Abilene High graduate, and Don D. and Joel graduated from Abilene Christian High School. DON D. was the head coach at Brownwood, ACU, LeTourneau and now Harding University in Arkansas. He won four outdoor national track and field championships as the head coach at ACU. DEREK won two national titles as the cross country coach at ACU. JOEL is currently the track coach at Jacksboro and has coached multiple track and field state champions across the Big Country.
