One of Texas Most Generous Sports Figures
Born in Spur, Texas in 1927, Billy Joe "Red" McCombs has had a life-long impact on Texas and Texas sports. Originally enrolling at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, Red played football for the Pirates as a lineman and receiver. After leaving school to serve in the United States Army in 1946 and 1947, Red returned to Texas where he continued his education at the University of Texas.

Denne Freeman was the Associated Press Texas Sports Editor for 31 years. He covered the Dallas Cowboys, including all their Super Bowls; the Texas Rangers and Nolan Ryan’s heroics; and the Dallas Stars; the Dallas NBA teams; major golf events including The Masters in 1997 when Tiger won; and top college football that included the 1969 Shootout game between Texas and Arkansas. As a news reporter for UPI, Denne covered the assassination of John F Kennedy, and later, for Associated Press covered Apollo 13. During his years at the AP, he covered 1000 MLB games, 500 NBA games, and 350 NFL games. 

Cliff Gustafson returned to his alma mater, the University of Texas, in 1968 as head baseball coach. In doing so, he followed in the footsteps of legendary Hall of Famers Uncle Billy Disch and Bibb Falk. Not only that, he had taken a pay cut in leaving South San Antonio High School where in 13 years his teams had won seven state championships. The Longhorns were to be ever indebted to "Coach Gus." In 1994 he posted victory No. 1,333 to become the winningest baseball coach in NCAA history. His UT teams over won 80.5 

Kathy Whitworth was the first woman professional golfer to pass the $1 million mark in career earnings. She broke the million-dollar plateau in 1981 when, at the age of 41, she won her 81st tournament. Whitworth's dominance of the game cannot be fully measured by career earnings, however, since she began in the early days of the LPGA tour when purses were much smaller. 

One of the finest offensive tackles in NFL history, Rayfield Wright ruled the trenches for the Dallas Cowboys from 1967-1979. The 6'7, 250 pound "Big Cat" was selected to six consecutive Pro Bowls from 1972 to 1977 and was named All-Pro four times. He was also voted NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1972 and 1974. 

Robert “Jackie” Robinson. Robinson left his mark in both high school and collegiate basketball in the state of Texas. In 1945 he led Fort Worth Paschal High School to a state championship, before continuing his basketball career at Baylor University.​