A Richard King High School state champion, Burt Hooton went from Corpus Christi standout to one of baseball’s most accomplished pitchers. After an All-American career at the University of Texas, he became the No. 2 overall pick in the 1971 MLB Draft and won 151 games across 15 seasons with the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers. An All-Star, World Series Champion, NLCS MVP, and no-hitter author, Hooton’s career is a testament to Coastal Bend excellence on baseball’s biggest stage.

Born and raised in Corpus Christi, Stu Clarkson was a two-time Little All-American at Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville) before going on to play linebacker for the Chicago Bears, helping secure the 1946 World Championship. A World War II veteran who landed at Utah Beach on D-Day, Clarkson later returned to the sidelines as a coach, leading with the same toughness that defined his playing days. His legacy reflects courage, leadership, and deep Coastal Bend roots.