The Dee Henry Memorial Award goes to an athlete who overcomes adversity with class, heart, and determination during the year.
Dee Henry was an Amarillo native and graduate of West Texas State University. He is known for his career as a coach and teacher. At one time he was the head coach of Canadian High School. Additionally, he taught for 6 years in Amarillo at Stephen F. Austin Jr. High. He was a very popular summer baseball coach.
He was stricken by cancer which caused one of his legs to be amputated. At the end of his life, he was the YMCA baseball coach. Despite his battle with cancer, he continued to coach the team from his bed even though he was too ill to make it to the field. His parents and students presented him with a 14 inch television for entertainment and $348 in cash during his bed ridden days. He died in 1960 at age 39.
1961
Dwayne Tidwell
Amarillo High Football
1962
Dale Sexton
Clarendon
1963
Jerry McCuistion
Miami
1964
David Cook
Canadian
1965
Phil Weatherbee
Amarillo
1966
Sammy Gast
Amarillo
1967
George Surles
Phillips
1968
Dee Griffin Jr.
Tascosa Wrestling
1969
Edith Green
Amarillo Bowler
1970
Brian Hall
Dalhart Football
1971
Mike Mady
Amarillo Bowler
1972
Mark Love
Tascosa Baseball
1973
Larry Wright
Wellington Football
1974
Donald Burgin
Groom Football
1975
Mark Mendenhall
Guymon Football
1976
Tam McGee
Darrouzett
1977
James Thomas
Wellington
1978
David Trotter
Hale Center
1979
Leonard Duncan
Stratford and Texas Tech
1980
Clay Douglass
Pampa Swimmer
1981
Scott Tankersley
Caprock
1982
Craig Cartrite
Sunray
1983
Terri Henry Kaiser
Wayland Baptist
1984
Brent Hallmark
Lockney
1985
Donnie Gatlin
Amarillo High Wrestling
1986
Jennifer Bowman
Amarillo Softball
1987
Charlie Tiggs
Dalhart Track
1988
Patty Durkin
Amarillo Track
1989
Deanna Shelton
Sanford-Fritch and Wayland Baptist Basketball
1990
Blue Field
Friona Football
1991
Shelly Redelsperger
Perryton Track
1992
Ross Davis
Amarillo
1993
Kristen Paris
Amarillo High Basketball
1994
Larry Dippel
Amarillo High Football Coach
1995
Scott Williams
Perryton and Southwestern Oklahoma State
1996
Kayla Garrison
San Jacinto Christian Academy Basketball
1997
Marissa Steinhilper
Alamo Catholic Volleyball, Basketball, and Cheerleading
1998
Tandi Morton
Pampa Volleyball, Track and Field, and Cheerleading
1999
Kara Townsen
Bentley, Spearman, and West Texas A&M Basketball
2000
Grant Henly
Dalhart Pole Vault
2001
Shane Feagan
Amarillo High
2002
Ashley Ellis
Caprock Tennis
2003
Leslie Weston
Canyon Softball
2004
Tanner Scott
Kress
2005
Erin Charest
Hereford
2006
Charly Martin
West Texas A&M Football
2007
Robert Lyons
Palo Duro
2008
Melissa Harper
West Texas A&M Volleyball
2009
Sage Black
Nazareth
2010
Hayden Morris
Wellington
2011
Karlie Scott
Amarillo High Volleyball
2012
Jeremy Campbell
Perryton
2013
Kenbriel Hearn
Memphis Football
2014
Jason Conway
Tascosa Baseball
2015
Cameron Wolf
Spearman Track and Field
2016
Bret Barnard
Stratford High
2017
Canyon High and Canyon Community
2018
Chism Henderson
McLean High
2019
Ryan Quaid
West Texas A&M University
2021
Norma Solomon
Bushland High
2022
Camryn Armes
Gruver High
2023
Kendra Murray
Tascosa High
2024
Tahlie Brandt
Randall High