2005

Athletic Hall of Honor Inductees 2005

Sandra Meadows

Sandra Meadows is legendary not only in Duncanville, Texas but throughout the great State of Texas because of her influence on girls basketball. Throughout twenty-six years of dedicated service to the Duncanville ISD and Duncanville High School, Coach Meadows led the Pantherettes to a level of outstanding athletic achievement to which fans have become accustomed. She served as the DHS girls head basketball coach from 1968 to 1993.

During her tenure with Duncanville, Coach Meadows’ record was 743-120 and included four state basketball titles. A remarkable 134-game winning streak between December 30, 1987 and March 1, 1991 set a new state record and tied for a second-best national high school record. Her record speaks to a tradition of excellence without rival that Coach Meadows established for the Duncanville Pantherettes. Her greatest influence was not in basketball, however - it was in the lives of the many young ladies she coached.

Coach Meadows received a number of honors and recognitions for her numerous contributions to girl’s athletics. She is a 2002 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, a 2000 National High School Sports Hall of Fame inductee, a 1999 Texas Sports Hall of Fame inductee, a 1991 Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame inductee, the 1976 National Association of High School Athletic Coaches – District Coach of the Year, the 1985 National Federation of Interscholastic Coaches Distinguished Service Award recipient, the 1989 & 1990 Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Coach of the Year, the 1990 Texas Girls Coaches Association Coach of the Year, the 1991 Converse National High School Coach of the Year, the 1989 Duncanville Woman of the Year, and a recipient of several district and area Coach of the Year awards. Coach Meadows’ record includes 25 District championships, seven Regional semi-finalists, four State semi-finalists, two State finalists, and four State championships. Her career totals were 906-207.

In 1994 Coach Meadows lost her battle with cancer at the age of 59. Today Duncanville honors the memory of this inspirational woman, teacher, and coach with this complex, the Sandra Meadows Memorial Arena. Other actions serving as tributes to Coach Meadows include the 1994 renaming of the Duncanville High School west gymnasium, where Coach Meadows led the Pantherettes to so many victories, to the Sandra Meadows Gym; the annual Sandra Meadows Tournament; and the ESA 5K Walk/Run.

Bob Rombach

Bob Rombach had over 800 career wins and 500 Panther wins as the head baseball coach at DHS. Coach Rombach had 38 years in teaching and coaching. He served at the helm of the Duncanville high school baseball program and developed it into one of the most highly recognized baseball programs in the state of Texas, sending dozens of baseball players to college teams all over the United States and many to professional baseball. Under his leadership, Panther teams appeared in the UIL playoffs for 19 consecutive years, the state tournament six times, and won the title in 1990. From 1998 to 2002, the Panther baseball team appeared in the state tournament four times.

Over the last 30 years the team has averaged over 26 victories a year. Rombach’s success earned him honors as Texas Coach of the Year twice. He received numerous district honors and  coached the North-South All-Star game. But perhaps his highest honor came in November 1990 when he was elected to the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame after guiding the Panthers to the Class 5A State Championship. In 2000, he was selected by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association as an inductee to the Hall of Fame.

Bill Savage

Bill Savage served as the first Duncanville ISD athletic director, a position he held for 30 years. He joined Duncanville ISD in 1964 as a football coach and served as the DHS head football coach for seven years.

Bill is described as an individual who dedicated three decades to showing young people that if they would think and live like champions, they would be rewarded. Coach Savage passed away in 1994, but his legacy remains within the great traditions established in our community so many years under his leadership.

Those traditions continue today. The state of the art DHS football stadium and natatorium were built during his term as athletic director. The Bill Savage Athletic Complex honors the memory of a legendary man, teacher, and coach who influenced the lives of so many. The complex is located on the high school campus and includes a 10,000-seat artificial turf football stadium and adjoining grass practice fields, a natatorium, baseball and softball fields, and a twelve-court tennis facility.

Bob Alpert

Known for his leadership and motivation, Athletic Director and head football coach Bob Alpert led Duncanville’s athletic program to elite status among Texas high schools. In his six years with Duncanville, Coach Alpert held one of the best 5A football records in the metroplex, with an impressive 59 wins and 15 losses.

In his first year as head football coach, Bob led the team to its first undefeated regular season in school history. In 1997, his team advanced to the state semifinals after winning back-to-back district titles. In his third season with Duncanville, his team won it all by capturing the 5A Division I State Football Championship. Bob led his 2000 team to the state quarterfinals, and his 2001 team to the state playoffs.

With the belief that athletics teaches valuable lessons about life, Coach Alpert always expected his student athletes to set high goals, be good citizens, and make positive contributions to society. During his tenure at Duncanville, 63 players continued to the next level to excel in college football. His 21-year combined record as head coach at various districts is 184 wins, 57 losses, and four ties.

Coach Alpert passed away in January 2004 after a 34-year coaching career. He was the Texas High School Association’s winning North All-Star Football Coach in 2000. He served as Football Chairman for the Texas High School Coaches’ Association as well as Chairman and 5A representative for the Texas High School Coaches Association South All-Star Team Selection Committee. Bob was also President and Director of the Greater Houston Football Coaches Association and served on the Houston Touchdown Club Selection Committee for Outstanding Football Players. He was chosen by the National Football League to travel to Germany to coach as part of their NFL Partnership Program and he was named 1998 Coach of the Year by the Dallas Cowboys and the NFL. Bob was also named 1998 Coach of the Year by the Dallas Morning News and the Texas Sports Writers Association. He was selected by the Houston Chronicle and the Houston Post as the Greater Houston Coach of the Year in 1993, and received numerous other district Coach of the Year honors.

Keith Creel

Keith Creel played baseball at DHS from 1974 to 1977, and holds a number of school records including the school career wins record of 55-6, season wins of 17, games pitched 24, innings played 138, and an ERA of 0.51. Keith led his team to two straight State Championships in 1975 and 1976. The high school baseball program retired his jersey, #9, in honor of his leadership and outstanding accomplishments while at DHS.

He was selected by the Oakland Athletics. Creel was 23 years old when he broke into the big leagues on May 25, 1982, with the Kansas City Royals, in the 1st round (4th overall) of the 1980 amateur entry draft (June-Sec phase). He was then selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1st round (6th overall) of the 1980 amateur entry draft. (Jan-Sec phase). In 1987 he was picked up by the Texas Rangers. in the second round (43rd overall) of the 1977 amateur entry.