Bastrop Bear Football Hall of Fame
Ed Sanders
Attended Bastrop High School from 1964-1968. Received 15 Varsity "Letter B" Awards (football, basketball, baseball, and track). All-District in Football (Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years.) All-District in Basketball (Sophomore, Junior and Senior years). All-State Football Defensive End (1967). Played on the 1966 Bastrop High School Football Team that advanced to the State Semi-Finals with a 12 win, 1 loss, and 1 tie record were he played both Fullback and Defensive Back. The '66 Bastrop High School Football Team advanced farther in the State Playoffs than any team in the history of Bastrop High School. Combined football team record at Bastrop High School, in his Junior and Senior seasons was 20 wins, 3 loses, and 1 tie. College: lettered 2 years in Football at Lamar Tech (now Lamar University). Graduated in 1972 from the University of Texas at Austin "With Honors," with a B. S. Degree in Health and Physical Education and a Minor in Government. Ed received his Masters of Education Certification from Southwest Texas State University in 1981 with a degree in Educational Administration.
o5/21/09 Aldridge & Sanders Inducted into Bastrop Hall of Fame - The Bastrop Advertiser
Donnie Aldridge
Donnie Aldridge was an outstanding football player At Emile High School (segregated high school in Bastrop) before voluntarily transferring to Bastrop High School for his senior season (football season of 1966) and graduated from Bastrop High School in 1967.( Any of the students that wanted to transfer from Emile to Bastrop High School for the school years of 66-67 and 67-68 had that option as Emile High School was closing in 1968 due to total integration). Donnie Aldridge along with a handful of athletes from Emile that played on the '66 BHS team had a great influence on paving the way for the smooth transition that was to take place when the two schools came together as the totally integrated Bastrop High School in the 1968-69 school year. Donnie Aldridge was the catalyst for this transition to become so successful for Bastrop High School and Emile High School finally coming together as one school.
Donnie Aldridge had a tremendous impact on the '66 State Semifinalist team at BHS as the starting tailback and one of the true leaders of the football team. Donnie gained over 1,500 yards that season and carried the ball around 20 times per game. All of our opposing teams knew that Donnie Aldridge was the Bears' offense and they still couldn't stop him. Donnie had the size and speed but most importantly the great determination to be the best that he could be as well as a great team player for the Bears. He really cared about all of his teammates and we all looked up to Donnie Aldridge as being the team leader. The BHS State Semifinalist football team of '66 is the farthest any football team has advanced in the history of Bastrop High School.
Donnie Aldridge's football awards his senior year at BHS ('66 football season) :
Most Valuable Football Player All District All Centex All Super Centex All State All American (hon. mention)
Donnie Aldridge went on to play college football for: Arizona Western Jr. College University of Texas at El Paso