Christi Cano
Christi Cano, Class of 1999 from Edison High School, was a two-time University Interscholastic League (UIL) state champion in golf. The four-year letter recipient on the Edison golf team made all-district and all-region four times and all-state three times. At the 1998 UIL state golf tournament, Cano shot a career-best 64 score, setting a course and state record, and was named UIL’s 1999 Player of the Year.
In her collegiate career at Oklahoma State University, Cano competed in 37 tournaments and had 20 top-20 finishes, including five finishes in the top five. She went on to compete for the Ladies Professional Golf Association and qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open in 2005, 2010 and 2013.
Cano, who played since the age of 3, was best known for her consistency and accuracy on the golf course.
Wayne Dickey
This 1970 Highlands High School graduate returned to SAISD as Sam Houston's head basketball coach, where he would go on to become one of the city's most successful. During his 30-year tenure there (1976-2007), Wayne Dickey compiled a 751-249 record which included 25 playoff teams, eight regional tournaments, seven regional finals, four state tournaments and a 2005 state championship.
His teams were known as up-tempo, fast-break running teams that would press opponents continuously. Many of the thousands of students he taught and coached went on to play basketball in college and professional ranks.
Dickey was among an elite group of only three San Antonio high school basketball coaches to win more than 800 games.
Kathleen Lovejoy
Regarded as the longest-serving employee in the San Antonio ISD athletic office, Kathleen Lovejoy began her tenure as secretary to the director of athletics in 1962. She worked under seven different athletic directors and three interim athletic directors.
During her more than a half-century as part of the athletic office team, Lovejoy witnessed thousands of sporting events. Her favorite was the Chili Bowl, one of San Antonio’s best high school football rivalries of all time. This storied match-up between Fox Tech and Lanier high schools existed for 67 years, during which she worked 46 of those games.
Her love of SAISD’s athletic history also earned Lovejoy the distinction of being considered the office’s senior historian.
Warren McVea
Known as “Wondrous Warren” during his Brackenridge High School football career, the 1964 alum played running back, flanker and punt/kick return specialist, and led his Eagles team to a state championship in 1962.
According to Sports Illustrated in a Nov. 9, 1964 article, “During his career at San Antonio's Brackenridge he was the most exciting, the most talked-about and the most ardently sought-after Texas player in 20 years.”
In three years against the state's best high school competition, McVea scored just under 600 points. As a senior, he averaged better than a first down per carry and rushed for 1,332 yards.
McVea was the first African American to play football for the University of Houston, where he was named a two-time All-American.
He was drafted into the NFL and helped the Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl IV in 1970.
Gabe Rivera
Gabe Rivera, Class of 1979 from Jefferson High School, was a Parade Magazine High School Football All-American defensive linebacker and offensive tight end for the Mustangs. He led his Jefferson team to a co-district championship in 1977.
Rivera, who earned the nickname “Señor Sack,” played defensive tackle at Texas Tech University (1979-1982), amassing a record-setting 105 tackles for the Red Raiders in the 1982 season. He played in 40 straight games and earned consensus All-American his senior year.
At 6 foot, 3 inches and 300 pounds, Rivera was an NFL first-round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1983, where he played for the famed Steel Curtain Defense.
Dr. Dorothy “Dottye” Williams
Dr. Dorothy “Dottye” Williams was the first female assistant athletic director at San Antonio ISD between 1975 and 1982, and regarded as a pioneer in being a voice for girls athletic programs.
She played an instrumental role in SAISD’s implementation of Title IX, a comprehensive federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity.
She completed her career with the District as a principal, assistant principal and principal appraiser, serving SAISD for 16 years (1975-1991).
William Carson “Nemo” Herrera
William Carson “Nemo” Herrera, Class of 1918 from Brackenridge High School, was a coach of Texas high school sports for 43 years, including 18 years as the head basketball coach at Lanier High School (1928-1946).
At Lanier, Herrera won two basketball state championships in 1943 and 1945. Under Herrera, Lanier advanced to the state playoffs nine times and to the state tournament seven times.
He is credited as being the first basketball coach to use the innovative full court press.
Herrera is only one of a few coaches to win state titles in two different sports – basketball at Lanier HS and baseball at El Paso Bowie HS (1949). He won more than 1,000 games in his career coaching basketball and baseball.