Brooks W. Conover†

Inducted 1997
Hometown: Texas
Best Known for: Coach-Football

Conover’s brief Valley career was highly successful, and he used it as a springboard to great exploits upstate after a collegiate career at Texas A&M University.

From 1938-40, Conover led the Brownsville High School to a 21-10-7 record, including a two-deep playoff appearance in 1939, when the team went 6-1-3, defeating Robstown in bi-district before losing to Austin High, 20-6.

From the Valley, Conover eventually ended up at Cleburne in North Texas, where he led the Yellow Jackets to back-to-back state finals berths in 1957 and 1958. A fiercely competitive taskmaster, he coached future UT luminary David McWilliams in high school and was named to the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1989 for his impressive body of work.

The stadium in Cleburne was renamed in his honor after he retired. Conover's son, Brooks Jr. coached in the Valley for two years.