Darryl Keith “Skeeter” Derrick graduated from Terrell High school in 1980. Derrick was a three-sport athlete and competed in football, baseball, and basketball. He was a three-year letterman for the Terrell Tiger football team as a wide receiver. He was named Second Team All-District as a senior and First Team All-Area his junior and senior year. On the baseball team, Derrick started as the varsity team’s shortstop beginning his sophomore year. He was named Second Team All-District his junior year and First Team All-District his senior year. On the basketball court, Derrick was known for his defensive skills and shooting ability. He competed on the varsity level his junior and senior year. Following high school graduation, Derrick attended Paul Quinn College on a baseball scholarship. After his senior season at Paul Quinn, Derrick was invited to try-out for several Major League Baseball teams including the St. Louis Cardinals, Montreal Expos, and the Texas Rangers. Derrick returned home after college with his Bachelor of Science in Accounting and began his professional career while working as an Upward Bound counselor for Kaufman County. Derrick went on to proudly serve his country by enlisting in the United States Army. After nearly 29 years in the service, Derrick retired. He is currently enjoying his retirement in Lawton, Oklahoma. He is grateful for his family, including his two sisters, children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.
Dwight Gentry II graduated from Terrell High School in 2005 and was a member of the basketball and track teams. On the varsity basketball team, Gentry helped lead the Tigers to a District Championship as the team’s Most Valuable Player. He averaged 16 points per-game his senior year and was named First Team All-District and First Team All-Region. Gentry’s career high came against Mt. Pleasant where he scored 41 points. His playoff career high came against the sixth ranked team in the state, Dallas Hillcrest. In this game, Gentry scored 30 points, sending the Tigers to the next round of the playoffs, and earning himself an invitation to the High School Global Games. On the track team, Gentry wont first place in the 1600-meter race and second place in the 800-meter race for District 16-4A. Following graduation, Gentry joined the University of Texas at Arlington basketball team as a walk-on and worked to earn the starting spot as the team’s point guard. He went on to play professional basketball oversees in countries that include Ecuador, Spain, Mexico, and Brazil. Gentry blended his passion for athletics and his hometown community by starting “Work Like a Walk-On,” a nonprofit organization that scholarships high school student athletes. Gentry is heavily involved in the community of Terrell, mentoring youth athletes, organization alumni games, and spearheading youth camps and school supply drives.
Clayton Hass graduated from Terrell High School in 2002 and competed on the football and baseball teams. On the football team he was named Second Team All-District during his sophomore year. As a Junior, Hass was named team captain, Most Valuable Player, and First Team All-District. Hass also competed for four years on the Tigers baseball team where he was named First Team All-District and team captain his senior year. While he enjoyed and excelled on the football and baseball field, Hass’ true passion was in the rodeo arena. Hass competed in Texas High School Rodeo Association (THSRA) all four years and advanced to the finals every year. He was a two-time THSRA Reserve All Around Cowboy, Reserve Champion Team Roping Heeler, Finals Reserve Champion Steer Wrestler, a two-time qualifier for the National High School Rodeo finals, a two-time Lone Star High School Rodeo Association (LSHSRA) Reserve All Around Cowboy, LSHSRA Champion Team Roping Heeler, two-time LSHSRA All Around Cowboy, and the LSHSRA Champion Calf Roper. Following high school, Hass began his career in the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association where he has finished in the Top 50 in World Standings 13 times over his 16-year career. He is a decorated competitor and has garnered multiple accolades including but not limited to being a four-time Wrangler Nationals Finals Rodeo Qualifier, finishing 11th in Steer Wrestling World Standings in 2020, finishing 12th in All-Around World Standings in 2019, finishing 3rd in Steer Wrestling World Standings in 2016, and finishing 8th in Steer Wrestling World Standings in 2014. One of his career highlights include winning The American, the richest rodeo in the world, and winning the All-Around title at the Pendleton RoundUp. Hass currently resides in Weatherford, Texas with his wife, Alex, and three kids, Addie, Mac, and Izzy.
Dianne Hooker graduated from high school in 1970 and made a name for herself on the track and field team. Hooker was a four-time state qualifier and was included in the Outstanding High School Athletes of America and received the Senior Athletic Award in 1970. Following high school graduation, Hooker attended Texas Woman’s University where she continued competing in track. At the collegiate level, Hooker was a 3-year national qualifier, 2-time National Team Champion, was named an Outstanding College Athlete of America in 1973. It was after high school and college that Hooker joined the Terrell Tiger family. Hooker continued her passion for competition by becoming a teacher and coach. Out of her 32-year career in education, she spent 22 years coaching the Terrell Tigers. Her coaching career highlights include a Bi-District Championship, 16 state qualifiers in track and field, 4 individual State Champions, 5 District Team Championships, and 1 Regional Team Championship. Hooker was also recognized by the Texas Girl’s Coaches Association for earning 500 plus wins in a team sport for track and field. Hooker is especially grateful for her entire family for their support and love as well as the women she has had the honor of coaching over the years.
Burnest Rhodes graduated from Terrell High School in 1997. He was a standout star on the Terrell Tiger football team and filled the role of the team’s starting running back for three consecutive years. During his senior year, Rhodes rushed for over 4,000 yards and was named All-State. He earned the honor of All-District for all three of his varsity years and was named District Offensive Player of the Year twice. During his junior year, Rhodes set a school record for most rushing yards in a season with 1,883 yards. To-date only one Terrell athlete has rushed for as many yards. Rhodes received a full athletic scholarship to Texas A&M University, where he competed for two seasons. Rhodes currently resides in Terrell, Texas and is the proud husband to LaZendra Rhodes and father to Anaya and Ahmad Rhodes.
Jherrod Stiggers graduated from Terrell High School in 2011. Stiggers was a member of the Tigers basketball team and football team. Stiggers excelled in basketball, lettering all four years. As a freshman, he was selected as Newcomer of the Year and was named District 15-4A First-Team Honors as a junior and Offensive Most Valuable Player as a senior. Stiggers averaged more than 18 points per-game during his junior and senior years and was ranked number 29 in the state of Texas on rivals.com. During his only year of competing in football, he was selected as First Team All-District Wide Receiver and the team’s Offensive Player of the Year. Stiggers received Division 1 offers for both football and basketball. He ultimately chose to continue his basketball career at the University of Houston where he set a single-season record with 67 3-point shots, was one of four student-athletes to be named to the Conference USA Commissions’ Honor Roll and became the 45th player in school history to surpass 1,000 scoring points. Stiggers led the team in scoring and racked up an impressive 239 career 3-point shots before signing with an agent to pursue a professional career in basketball. After playing abroad, Stiggers returned to the United States to complete his degree and begin his career as a middle school coach and teacher. He currently resides in Humble, Texas with his wife, Shardanna, and two daughters, Jhenesis and Jhune.
Derrick, Gentry, Hass, Hooker, Rhodes, and Stiggers will be inducted into the Terrell Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame during an on-field pre-game ceremony on October 15, 2021 at Terrell Memorial Stadium. Accompanying them at the induction are last year’s inductees, Carl Holland, Johnny Lawson, Jammal McCullar, and Chante Threets Carter. Due to COVID-19, last year’s ceremonies were postponed to this year. Additionally, Terrell ISD will be honoring Leon Vineyard, the head coach of Terrell High School’s two-time state championship football team, with a field-naming ceremony following the Hall of Fame Induction. Bernard Derrick, the brother of Darryl Keith “Skeeter” Derrick, will also be honored on October 15 with the inaugural induction into the Terrell ISD Hall of Honor and renaming of the current Multipurpose Activity Center to the Bernard Derrick Multipurpose Center.
Congratulations to this year’s honored inductees.