The honorees included:
Norman Abshire, also known as Coach Ab
Graduated from Angelo State - 1976
Began coaching career at South Park High School
1986 - continued career at West Brook with the football program
Created Girls Powerlifting Program at WB, winning 3 State Championships and 4 National Championships
WB Art Teacher
Retired in 2017
Marcus Blankenship
Hebert High School 1974-1977
3A State Champs Football 1976
South Park High School 1977-1986
West Brook High School 1986-2012
State Playoffs - Football, 10 seasons; Baseball, 3 seasons; Powerlifting - 3 time State Champs, 1 National Championship
Regina Myers
Hebert High School - 1974-1978
Track & Field, Asst. Volleyball Coach
South Park High School - 1978-1986
ONLY FEMALE HEAD BASKETBALL COACH at the time
Asst. Volleyball Coach
Central High School - 1986-2003
Volleyball - 1986-2003
Golf - 1989-2003
Coached Beaumont’s first Black female mayor, Robin Donetta Mouton and Texas’ first Black female sheriff, Zena Collins Stephens
Leo Nolan
39 years as a teacher/coach at Odom, McArthur, Hebert, West Brook, and Marshall
Taught math and physical education
Coached basketball, baseball, track, and football
2 State Championships in football
Hebert - 1976
West Brook - 1982
Coach of the League honors in 1980 at Hebert for baseball
Inducted into SETX Coaches Association Hall of Honor - 2006
Sam Simon
Taught/coached at South Park Middle School and West Brook High School for 35 years
Coached football, basketball, and track
Longest serving coach at West Brook - 18 years
Coach of the Year - 2001-2002 basketball season
Made the playoffs 14 of his 18 years as West Brook Head Boys Basketball Coach
Retired 2016
Ruth Vannoord
Coached/taught 33 years
At West Brook - Asst. Volleyball, Softball, and Varsity Boys Cross Country Coach. Cross Country Team went to Regionals 3 years in a row.
Retired 2010
Dawn Wilkin
Began teaching/coaching career in 1977
Retired May 2022 - 45 years of service
Coached Boys & Girls Cross Country, Boys & Girls Track and Field, Girls Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, and Boys Tennis
Coaches many athletes who competed at the college and military level
Achieved many district titles, regional qualifiers, and state championships
Dr. Calvin Cooper Jr.
Began coaching career in 1983 at French High School
Cross Country Track and Field
Central High School - 1985-2006
added volleyball and basketball to his resume
Ended coaching career in 2014 at Baytown Sterling High School
Glodean Cooper
Began career in 1958
She and several other physical education teachers organized the area’s first junior high school girls athletics program
Coached volleyball and track at Dunbar, Crockett, and King Middle Schools
Achievements include 6 consecutive district volleyball championships
Coached for 38 years
Sharon Mansfield
Started career as teacher/coach in 1977 at French High School
Coached 9th grade volleyball and basketball for 9 years
Coached girls basketball, volleyball, boys golf, and girls cross country at Central High School
Retired 2015
Phillip Sweat
50 years with BISD
Started at Bethune Elementary
Taught/coached at Dunbar Elementary and coached at Crockett Middle School
For years, Coach Sweat was known as the most impressive and impactful health and physical education teacher in BISD
