The Gordon Wood Hall of Champions Class of 2025 was inducted Friday at the First Methodist Church Christian Life Center, as the late Rockne Allen, Joey Ellis, Chad Evans, Bryan Allen, and Draco Miller Jr. marked the 24th group of former players to join the Hall since its inception in 2000.
The following are a few comments, and some background information, on each inductee:
Joey Ellis
Ellis said during said his speech at Friday’s luncheon, “You young lions see this old guy up here talking about the glory days, one thing I want to impart to you is that it’s a blessing to be from Brownwood. Take advantage of it, leave all your efforts on the field. Don’t look back on your life and say you could have done more, especially on the football field on Friday nights.”
Ellis added, “Football is the ultimate meritocracy, your character is revealed on the football field. You’re either whooping the guy across the field from you or getting whooped. Just like in life, sometimes you’ll get dusted and knocked down and have to get back up. The resilience and work ethic of playing with your brothers on a Friday night, it’s pretty tough to beat. Enjoy it, relish it, make the most of your opportunities and it’ll set you up for success later in life.”
Joey Ellis, a member of Brownwood High School’s Class of 2004, was a three-year starter on the Varsity Football team. As a sophomore, he played outside linebacker alongside his older brother, John Ellis, and received 2nd Team All-District Defense honors. As a junior, he moved to left tackle and earned 2nd Team All-State Offensive Line honors. During his junior year campaign, the Lions made a deep playoff run before losing in the State Semifinals.
Ellis received an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy and played defensive end his freshmen year. In 2008, he graduated on the dean’s list and commissioned as an intelligence officer in the United States Air Force.
Ellis honorably discharged from the military in 2015 at the rank of Captain and then enrolled at Texas Tech University School of Law. In Lubbock, he met the love of his life Hailey, and they were married in 2018. After graduating law school and passing the Texas Bar, he began working as a litigator in San Antonio. He is currently a partner at a law firm and his practice focuses on serious and catastrophic personal injury cases, trucking and transportation litigation, premises liability, products liability, and first and third-party insurance cases involving bodily injury and property losses. He and his wife currently live in the Texas Hill Country with their Cane Corso, Rufus.
***
Chad Evans
Evans said during said his speech at Friday’s luncheon, “To have my name spoken along with the name of Gordon Wood, what an honor. Something I will always carry with me is pride, and it’s a word I kept thinking about over and over as I was writing this speech. To me, this is what pride means. P stands for purpose, R stands for responsibility, I stands for integrity, D stands for discipline, and E stands for excellence. That’s pride to me, Lion pride, and my coaches instilled this in me, as well as my family. I ‘ll forever to be proud to call myself a Brownwood Lion.”
Evans added, “I encourage you young guys to find your pride tonight. Dig deep within, look each other in the eyes when you’re out there on the field. Find that grit, be the true heart of a champion.”
Chad Evans, a graduate of the class of 2000, was a three-year letterman for the Brownwood Lions football team. He was a standout defensive line player and linebacker. He even played some fullback his senior year. Chad helped lead the Lions to the playoffs in each of his three seasons on varsity and earned a District Championship in 1998. He also was a member of the National Honor Society.
Chad went on to play football in college at Abilene Christian University. He then transferred to Angelo State University where he received a Bachelor in Science, and a minor in Range and Wildlife Management. He has worked for the Natural Resources Conservation Service for 20 years. He has been married to Jessie Evans for 18 years, they have two children Weston, 15, and Avery, 12. Chad loves cheering his kids on in all their sports and endeavors, even being a coach for many years. He is a deacon at First Baptist Church-Comanche. He and his family have called Comanche home for 16 years, but he will always be a Brownwood Lion at heart.
***
Bryan Allen
Allen said during said his speech at Friday’s luncheon, “”What a blessing and an honor to be inducted into this hall. What a name, Gordon Wood, to be able to associated with that is such a blessing. Coach Wood is the catalyst to all this. He’s what made Brownwood a special place to coach and a special place to play.”
Allen added, “In Genesis 12 verses 1-3, it talks about the blessing of Abraham. God blessed Abraham so you can then be a blessing to all the families of the earth. We’re not Abraham, but we’re very blessed compared to many people – financially, with relationships, with time to spend with people, and those who have chosen to follow Jesus are blessed with salvation, and there’s no greater blessing than that. I challenge you to share your blessings with others.”
Bryan Allen, a 1977 Brownwood High School graduate, was a two-year starter at defensive end for the Lions and was the place-kicker for the Lions those two years. During his senior year, Allen was a captain of the 1976 quarter-final team. He was selected All-District and All-Big Country that year at defensive end. In 1981, Allen was selected to Gordon Wood’s All-Time team as a defensive end. Besides football during his high school days, Allen also was a sprinter, jumper, and discus thrower on the track team.
Allen attended Baylor University and played baseball there, competing in the 1977 College World Series in Omaha. Allen graduated from Baylor in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in education. He later received his master’s degree in school administration from Abilene Christian University.
After graduating from Baylor, Allen began a coaching career, coaching football and track in many schools in the area. Coaching stints over the years included stops at Paris, Jacksonville, San Angelo, McMurry, Gorman, and Garland. Allen later went into school administration and spent time as a principal in Bartlett and Llano. The final 13 years of his career were back home as the principal at Brownwood Middle School. Although retired, he works part-time as an adjunct professor at Howard Payne University.
***
Draco Miller Jr.
Miller said during said his speech at Friday’s luncheon, “Never in my life did I think that I would be inducted into the prestigious Gordon Wood Hall of Champions. Look at God, God is good. Thank you to the selection committee for believing I’m worthy enough to be in the prestigious Gordon Wood Hall of Champions. My dad, who is in Heaven, wanted this more than I did. Every year he would watch as others were inducted, and all he wanted was for his baby boy to be right along with him. I used to say ‘Pops, it’s ok, I don’t need to be inducted, it’s not about me, it was never about me, it was always about the team, being selfless and giving of myself. Pops would say ‘No, son, it’s not.’ So dad, being my rock, being my foundation, look at where I stand.”
Miller added, “I have a question for everyone in the room, including the Brownwood Lions in the back, and that’s do you believe in yourself? Do others believe in you? The answer should always be yes. You are in the best time of your lives playing for the Brownwood Lions, do not take it for granted, whether you’re a freshman or a senior. One of these days you’re going to tell the same stories you get irritated with your dad and granddad for telling, you will tell those stories as well. Understand what your coaches are trying to tell you, believe in yourself, believe in what they’re telling you, because it will all come to fruition.”
A 1999 graduate of Brownwood High School, Draco Miller was a multi-sport athlete, who was a key member of the Brownwood Lion football team as well as the Lion Powerlifting team. He was a two-year letterman in football in 1997 & 98 and a three-year letterman in Powerlifting, 1997-99. Draco Graduated from Brownwood High School in 1999.
In his junior year he was named to the All-District and All Big Country teams. His senior year, saw Draco selected to the All-District, All-State, All West Texas, All-Big Country, All Big Country Super Team, All-Region, and All-Fort Worth Star Telegram Teams. As a team in 1997 the Lions won Bi-District, Area and were quarter finalist. His senior year, the Lions won District 6-4A, Bi-District, and were Area finalist.
He played four years at Eastern New Mexico, starting his junior and senior seasons. The team won the LSC South championship in 1999 and 2000, winning all four contests against archrival West Texas A&M, never losing the Wagon Wheel traveling trophy.
Draco graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education in 2004. After conversations with his head coach and offensive coordinator, Draco would decide to get his master’s degree and become a Graduate Assistant football coach. In 2006 he graduated with his master’s degree in Sports Administration.
Draco spent 10 years coaching collegiately, coaching specialists, receivers, running backs, and the offensive line. He was named Run Game Coordinator and interim offensive coordinator. He coached 25 All-Conference athletics and one Academic All-American.
In 2012 Draco left coaching for administration leadership positions, working in several departments. He was the youngest Director of Campus life, creating LEAD You and teaching leadership and professional development skills. He was named the Assistant Athletic Director for fan engagement and facilities. And won Recruiter of the year, Staff Member of the Year from Theta Zeta Kappa Sigma Fraternity, National Advisor of the year from St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, and National Campus Activity Magazine.
After 20 years in New Mexico, Draco and his family moved back to Texas, landing in Katy in 2018. In 2019, they moved back to Brownwood to work with his father as COO of the family business, Draco’s Janitorial & Auto Detailing. Draco is owner and operator, and following in his father’s footsteps, in 2023, he was elected as Ward 4 City Council member. Draco continues public speaking, is involved in philanthropic work, is president of Revitalizing Our Community and a member of several non-profits and executive boards.
***
Rockne Allen
Allen’s brother-in-law, Stephen Moseley, said on behalf of the family during Friday’s luncheon, “If Rockne Allen could speak to the Brownwood Lions, past, present and future, here’s what he would say. The will to win is useless without the will to work, most of all. Fight like a brother during the week, and fight for your brother on Friday night. Philia, which is the Greek word for brotherly love, and that’s definitely greater than wins and losses. There’s only victory in Jesus, and last of all, all glory goes to God.”
Moseley added, “On behalf of the family, I would like to thank the members of the Gordon Wood Hall of Champions for recognizing Rockne today. Rockne Shawn Allen and family are proud to be Lions.”
Rockne Shawn Allen was a guy’s guy all the way, named after Knute Rockne (Notre Dame player and Coach) and Shawn Davis (Pro bull rider). He loved anything outdoors, fishing, hunting, and any kind of sports. To know him was to put a smile on your face. He was serious when it came to things he loved — his family, friends and passions. He came from a line of athletes, his Dad, uncles, aunts, and cousins.
He was born January 19, 1967 and was loved until he moved into Heaven June 26, 1992 at the age of 25.
He moved to Brownwood his junior year and that changed his life. Coach Wood took him in as did his teammates (adopted brothers). Football and track were his focus. Some of the accomplishments were Co-Captain and 1st Team All-District Tight end both years. In 1985 the team went to the second round in the playoffs, while he personally bought home 1st, 2nd and 3rd place medals in shot and discus.
He was named a Blue Chipper, making him a top recruit for college, and made Coach Wood’s “All Team Roster” in his autobiography, “Coach of the Century.”
After visiting several campuses, he chose The University of Texas at Austin after a weekend visit with Coach Wood. As a junior and senior, he was a Co-Captain and letterman both years as a Defensive End, playing for Fred Akers and David McWilliams. The Athletic Director named him to the Sports Honor Roll 1988.