Ovie Everett Dotson – Known as a high-flying basketball dunking master, the 1975 Sam Houston High School alum soared to incredible heights in high school, collegiate and professional ranks. Dotson was a two-time All-District and All-City basketball player for Sam Houston. He was a three-year letterman that paced the team averaging 18 points, seven assists and eight rebounds a game. At 6-feet, 5-inches tall, he dominated the court. He was recruited by the University of Texas where he starred for the Longhorns all four years. He was a pioneer in UT basketball, being one of the first black players in the mid 1970s. He was a fan favorite in Austin, known for his leaping ability and super-human “dunks.” Dotson helped UT win two Southwest Conference titles and the 1978 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championship. He played under the tutelage of flamboyant UT coach Abe Lemon. And he played with Johnny Moore, who later played for the San Antonio Spurs. From 1979-1988, Dotson played for the world-acclaimed Harlem Globetrotters. He starred for the famed traveling Ambassadors of Goodwill on the court for eight seasons.
Jaime R. Garza, M.D. – A record-setting receiver who broke multiple school records on the football field, Garza was a proud 1972 graduate of Jefferson High School. In his senior season, he caught a then school-record 15 touchdown passes, and had nearly 60 pass receptions in 10 games played. He was named an All-City football player by the San Antonio Express-News. Garza’s athletic efforts resulted in a full scholarship to play college football at Tulane University in Louisiana. He broke nearly all of Tulane University’s receiving records, served as a team captain, and was the school’s first ever four-year varsity letterman. In 1976, he was named one of the “Best College Football Players in America.” From 1976-1979, he attended NFL training camps with the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints and the Cleveland Browns. After his football career, Garza became a renowned plastic surgeon and an accomplished clinical researcher for nearly 50 years.
Bohn Hilliard Jr. – Known as the “voice” of the historic Alamo Stadium, Bohn Hilliard Jr. served as the public address announcer for four decades covering thousands of athletes. In 1979, Hilliard Jr. began his illustrious career as the announcer at the “Rock Pile.” He was the “voice” behind the microphone. He retired as the public address announcer in 2018. He covered countless football games and track meets. He called play-by-play for some of the biggest games in SAISD history. The proud 1950 graduate of Brackenridge High School played football, basketball, softball, swimming and track. His big moment came in his senior year where he claimed the silver medal at the state track and field meet in the shot put event (48-feet, 1 inch throw). He played college football at Abilene Christian College, where as a two-way starter (fullback and linebacker), he helped the team win the Texas Conference crown. He served in the United States Marine Corps and earned two distinguished Purple Hearts for his service in the Korean War.
Adrian Montoya - Regarded as perhaps the greatest swimmer that San Antonio ISD has ever produced, the 1995 Highlands High School alum was a two-time UIL state champion qualifier. Montoya advanced to the state swim meets in his junior and senior seasons. At 6-feet, 2-inches tall, he was a two-time district and region champion swimmer in high school. He was named to the All-American National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association in 1995. His top event was the 100-meter backstroke. His career-best time in the 100-meter backstroke was a blazing 50.5 seconds. His swim coach in high school and club was Don Walker, an icon in swimming who coached in San Antonio for nearly 50 years. Montoya’s athletic heroics earned him a full college scholarship to the University of Louisiana Monroe. In college, he set three school records and was an all-conference swimmer. The pinnacle of his career came in 2000 in Indianapolis when he defied the odds and became one of the fastest swimmers in the 100-meter backstroke in the nation by qualifying for the US Olympic Trials.
De Celle Thomas – Considered one of the fastest and most explosive female basketball players in San Antonio ISD history, Thomas was a scoring machine at Brackenridge High School. The 1992 graduate was a four-year All District selection for the Lady Eagles. She led the team in scoring with 26 points a game. She averaged 12 rebounds and six steals per game on the hardwood court. Her efforts resulted in the team making the state playoffs three times and winning two bi-district championships. In her senior year, she was tapped as a pre-season All American and named to the first team All-State girls basketball team. She also earned Female Athlete of the Year in 1991 by the San Antonio Express-News. Thomas was highly recruited and signed a Division I basketball scholarship to play at the University of Colorado. She helped lead the Lady Buffaloes to the NCCA Elite 8 tournament twice and to the Sweet 16 all four years in college.
1968 Highlands High School Baseball Team - In San Antonio ISD’s glorious rich history, the 1968 Highlands High School baseball team stands as one of the greatest sports teams ever. In only its third year of existence, the 1968 Owls baseball team pulled off the impossible – winning game after game en route to claiming the Class 4A state championship. The team won state and made history in that memorable season. At the time of the team’s induction into the SAISD Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023, some 55 years later after that amazing Cinderella season, Highlands remained as the only San Antonio team to win a baseball state championship in the largest classification of the University Interscholastic League. Senior left-hander Glenn Harris pitched a one-hitter to beat Pasadena 3-1 for the state title in Austin on June 7, 1968, capping a 24-3 season. The night before, sophomore right-hander Richard Guerra had 16 strikeouts and pitched a no-hitter in a 3-0 victory over Arlington in the state semifinals. Top players for the team included Jesse Causey (third base and the team’s leading hitter with a .329 batting average), Bubba Hermes (catcher and signal caller) and Andy Dominguez (shortstop with a .323 batting average). The 21-member team won state and made history under coach Tom Henslee and assistant coach Virgil Peterson.