NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Announces 2026 Major Award Winners
Mathis, Haggard, and Dodge headline local football and community leaders to be honored during chapter’s annual Awards Banquet on March 28 in Plano
L to R: Claude Mathis (Head Football Coach of DeSoto HS), Rutledge Haggard (Lifelong resident of Plano recognized for decades of civic, educational, and community leadership), and Todd Dodge (Athletics Director and Head Football Coach of Lovejoy HS)
DALLAS, Texas (March 25, 2026) – The NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas, the north Texas chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Inc., announced today the 2026 major award winners who will be honored during the chapter's 17th Annual Awards Banquet this Saturday, March 28th, from 6:00 – 8:00pm, and hosted by Scott Murray, legendary sports broadcaster.
The 2026 major award winners include:
Distinguished Texan Award: Rutledge Haggard
Legends Award: Todd Dodge
Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football: Jerry Bishop
Steve Storie Official of the Year: Tab Slaughter
Media Person of the Year: Sean Hamilton
High School Coach of the Year (6A): Claude Mathis (DeSoto High School)
High School Coach of the Year (TAPPS DII): Aaron Beck (All Saints’ Episcopal School-Fort Worth)
Collegiate and high school nominees and award winners will be honored alongside the major award winners and will be announced on Thursday.
"All of our 2026 honorees have built tremendous careers geared toward making football in North Texas great," said NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Chapter president Gerald Brence, a member of the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor and current assistant football coach at McKinney Christian Academy. "They have all enjoyed considerable success, and it is our pleasure to recognize each of their efforts in enhancing the Future For Football."
The event will showcase the great stories in North Texas that will inspire future student-athletes to excel in the classroom and become more involved in their communities. The event also provides a key platform for recognizing the contributions of the football leaders in the region who have placed North Texas football among the best in the nation. This year's honorees have been selected for their outstanding accomplishments and lasting community impact.
2026 NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Major Award Winner Bios
Distinguished Texan Award: Rutledge Haggard
Rutledge Haggard is a lifelong Texan whose leadership, service, and work ethic have left a lasting impact on education and the development of North Texas. A 1954 graduate of Plano High School, then a small farming community, Haggard demonstrated responsibility at an early age, even driving school bus routes while still a student.
He attended Arlington State Junior College before graduating from Texas Christian University. Following college, Haggard was drafted into the United States Army and served two years in Germany. While deployed, he was assigned to teach fellow soldiers, many of whom had not completed high school, providing instruction in math, physics, typing, and preparing numerous servicemen to earn their GEDs.
After returning home, Haggard worked on his family’s farm while also serving as a substitute teacher, experiences that shaped his lifelong appreciation for education. A committed advocate for schools and community growth, he served for many years on the local school board and consistently focused on long‑term planning and civic improvement. Known for his humility, Haggard has played a crucial behind‑the‑scenes role in the development of much of North Texas. At nearly 90 years old, he remains active and devoted to hard work.
Legends Award: Todd Dodge
Todd Dodge is one of the most accomplished and influential figures in Texas football history. A graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur, Dodge was a record‑setting quarterback under legendary coach Ronnie Thompson, leading Jefferson to the 1980 Class 4A State Championship game and establishing multiple state passing records.
Dodge continued his playing career at the University of Texas, where he played quarterback for Coach Fred Akers and became a favorite among Longhorn fans. He remains ranked in the top ten all‑time at UT in both career passing yards and touchdown passes.
Following his playing career, Dodge transitioned into coaching, beginning at Rockwall High School before moving to McKinney High School, where he helped usher in the spread offense alongside legendary coach Ron Poe. After stints at the University of North Texas, Cameron Yoe, Carrollton Newman Smith, and Keller Fossil Ridge, Dodge took over at Southlake Carroll in 2000. There, the Dragons advanced to five consecutive state championship games, winning four.
Dodge later served six years as head coach at the University of North Texas before returning to high school football, leading Marble Falls, Austin Westlake, where he won three state championships, and most recently Lovejoy High School. A two‑time Texas Coach of the Year, Dodge was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame in 2025, cementing his legacy as one of the state’s all‑time greats.
Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football: Jerry Bishop
Jerry Bishop is a Texas football standout and lifelong educator whose career reflects excellence both on the field and in public service. A native of Olney, Texas, Bishop was an All-State quarterback before continuing his playing career at Austin College. There, he earned All American honors, set two national records, and served as a two-time team captain. His achievements have been recognized with induction into three separate Halls of Fame.
Following his playing career, Bishop earned a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of North Texas and dedicated 37 years to education in the Richardson ISD. He began as an assistant coach before serving five years as Head Football Coach at Pearce High School. Bishop later moved into administration, serving nine years as an assistant principal and seven years as Assistant Superintendent.
In addition to his professional career, Bishop served six years in the United States Army Reserves. His commitment to students, athletics, and leadership earned him the Outstanding Principal in Texas Lifetime PTA Award. After retiring from education in 2004, he continued his service to the game as a longtime member of the Board of Directors for the NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas.
Jerry and his wife, Marny, a retired teacher, have one daughter, Megan, and three grandchildren.
Steve Storie Official of the Year: Tab Slaughter
Tab Slaughter’s football journey spans excellence as a player, official, and business leader. A native of Wynne, Arkansas, Slaughter was a two‑time All‑State lineman and team captain under legendary coach Don “The General” Campbell. He continued his career at Arkansas State University, earning a three‑year starting role and serving as a team captain.
After earning a degree in business, Slaughter relocated to Dallas, where he began officiating with the Dallas Football Officials Association. He advanced quickly through collegiate ranks, working games in the Southland, Mountain West, and Big 12 Conferences over a seven‑year college career. In 2020, Slaughter reached the highest level of the profession, joining the National Football League.
His officiating résumé includes UIL State Championship games, NCAA FCS playoff games, the Big 12 Championship, eight bowl games, and five NFL playoff games. Slaughter recently completed his sixth NFL season.
Off the field, Slaughter is Chief Operating Officer at Darr Equipment Company. He lives in McKinney with his wife, Erika, and their four children and is an active member of Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church, crediting his faith as central to his success.
Media Person of the Year: Sean Hamilton
Sean Hamilton is a North Texas native whose career reflects both athletic excellence and elite sports journalism. An All‑American gymnast at L.D. Bell High School, Hamilton grew up immersed in the culture of Texas high school football as the son of a longtime coach.
He began his broadcasting career as a weeknight sports producer at KXAS‑TV and has since covered the biggest events in sports, including Super Bowls, World Series, NBA Finals, and Stanley Cup Finals. Hamilton currently serves as Sports Director at WFAA‑TV in Dallas, overseeing daily sports coverage and major digital and television special projects.
In addition to his work at WFAA, Hamilton collaborates with TEGNA’s sports broadcast rights teams, coordinating content with professional sports partners and helping launch and produce “Ultimate Sports” shows in markets including Dallas and Cleveland.
With more than 25 years in sports production, Hamilton has earned 19 Emmy Awards, including the Lone Star Chapter’s Overall Sports Excellence Award in both 2023 and 2025.
High School Coach of the Year (6A): Claude Mathis (DeSoto High School)
Claude Mathis is one of Texas high school football’s premier coaches, with a résumé that pairs elite on‑field achievement as a player with championship‑level leadership on the sidelines.
A four‑year starting running back at Texas State University, Mathis was the Southland Conference’s all‑time leading rusher and earned All‑Conference and All‑America recognition, including 1994 Southland Conference Freshman of the Year and 1996 Southland Football League Player of the Year honors. He was Texas State’s Offensive Player of the Year in both 1996 and 1997 and still holds multiple Bobcat records, including career rushing yards (4,964), single‑season rushing yards (1,595), single‑game rushing yards (310), career rushing touchdowns (45), and single‑season rushing touchdowns (16). He played in the Hula Bowl, was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings, and graduated in 1998 with a degree in Exercise and Sports Science, earning Dean’s List recognition along the way.
Mathis began his coaching career at Anderson, Somerville, and Austin LBJ before taking the helm at DeSoto High School in 2008. After a stint as SMU’s running backs coach and a successful run at Marshall High School, he returned to DeSoto in 2019. Since his return, the Eagles have evolved into a national powerhouse—qualifying for the playoffs every season and capturing UIL Class 6A state championships in 2022, 2023, and 2025. Mathis has been named Coach of the Year multiple times, reflecting sustained excellence and program‑wide development. Widely known for his community and church service, he emphasizes character, accountability, and academic success alongside competitive greatness.
High School Coach of the Year (TAPPS DII): Aaron Beck (All Saints’ Episcopal – Fort Worth)
Aaron Beck has built one of the most successful and respected private school football programs in Texas during a coaching career spanning four decades. A graduate of L.D. Bell High School and the University of North Texas, Beck established himself early as both a head coach and Athletic Director in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, leading teams to multiple Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) championships and sustained success.
Beck joined All Saints’ Episcopal School of Fort Worth in 2007, serving as both Athletic Director and head football coach. Under his leadership, the Saints have become one of the state’s most accomplished private school programs, capturing eight state championships and reaching the state championship game on four additional occasions.
In 2025, Beck led All Saints’ to a consecutive perfect 14–0 season culminating in a TAPPS Division II state championship and capped an unprecedented run of excellence. Beck’s leadership and impact on the program were recognized with Coach of the Year honors.
Throughout his career, Beck has emphasized character, accountability, and relationships, often noting that the personal development of his players remains his greatest source of pride.
Beck lives in Hurst, Texas, with his wife, and they have three children.
About NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas
Founded in 2008, the NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas is one of 120 nationwide chapters of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF). The NFF, founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik, and journalist Grantland Rice, is a nonprofit organization that leverages the power of amateur football to build leaders. With 120 chapters in 47 states, the NFF oversees initiatives such as the NFF College Hall of Fame, the NFF William V. Campbell Trophy®, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments, Future For Football, and I Played. Learn more about the NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas at www.nffdallas.org and the NFF at www.footballfoundation.org.
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Media Contact
Gary Peek
gpeek@nffdallas.org
972.465.0173