Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame

08/26/2026

Our condolences to the family of 2026 inductee Ernie Park. Park passed away on Sunday, Aug. 23 in Clyde. You can find his obituary and service information here:

View Ernest Carol Park's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/24/2026

On this week's Hall of Fame Facts, Al shares abut the dynamic duo that is Joe and Barbara Crousen. Barbara Crousen was the men's and women's head track and field coach at McMurry, and she is only female head coach to win a national championship coaching a men's team (and she did it twice!).
Her husband Joe was a legendary as well. He was the defensive coordinator on the 1996 Cooper football team mentioned in last week's video and left a positive impact at other coaching stops that included Mississippi State, Ranger College and McMurry.

We'd love for you to visit the museum in the Mall of Abilene to learn more about this dynamic duo. Have a great week!

08/17/2026

On this week's Hall of Fame Facts, Al shares about the connection between one of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's newest inductees, Drew Brees, and the Big Country.
Brees and Austin Westlake faced off against Abilene Cooper in the 1996 Class 5A state championship game, and there were four future Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame inductees who were part of that game.
We'd love to see you this week at the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame Museum, where admission is always free and the memories are priceless.

08/10/2026

Did you know 10 different Big Country Athletic Hall of Famers have been named the Most Valuable Player of a college football bowl game? On this week's Hall of Fame Facts, Al shares about each of those athletes. We are so proud of each of them and love that we are able to spotlight them here and on a daily basis at the museum.

Hope you have a great week! We'd love to see you if you stop in while you're out and about.

08/07/2026

It is tax free weekend in Texas, but it is always tax free at the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame museum because admission is always free. Come visit the museum when you are out shopping this weekend in the Mall of Abilene

08/03/2026

Happy Monday! In this week's episode of Highlights from the Hall of Fame, Chairman Al Pickett showcases two of the three Big Country athletes who have made the cover of Sports Illustrated.

C**t McCoy, the former Jim Ned and Texas quarterback who was featured in last week’s video, was on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2008 when he led the Longhorns to a 45-35 win over Oklahoma and a No. 1 national ranking.

Margaret Ellison and the Bouffant Belles made the cover in 1964, and Abilene High's John Lackey adorned the SI cover in 2002 after winning the World Series with the Angels.

We'd love to see you this week at the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame Museum. We're located in the Mall of Abilene next to JC Penney.

07/27/2026

Happy Monday! In this week's episode of Highlights from the Hall of Fame, Chairman Al Pickett showcases Jim Ned's own C**t McCoy. Museum guests are always shocked when they learn McCoy grew up and went to school just a few miles from the museum! McCoy led the Indians to the state final in football and basketball, and was a 4-year starter for the Texas Longhorns. At Texas, McCoy was a 2-time Heisman finalist and played in the NFL for 13 seasons.
We'd love to see you this week at the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame Museum. We're located in the Mall of Abilene next to JC Penney.

07/25/2026

Happy 86th birthday to Dallas Cowboys legend Bob Lilly, who is also a member of the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame.

🏈🎂Happy 86th Birthday to “Mr. Cowboy” Bob Lilly!🎂🏈

Unanimous All-American (1960)
2× First-team All-SWC (1959, 1960)
Super Bowl champion (VI)
7× First-team All-Pro (1964–1969, 1971)
2× Second-team All-Pro (1970, 1972)
11× Pro Bowl (1962, 1964–1973)
NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor (1975)
College Football Hall of Fame (1981)
Pro Football Hall of Fame (1980)