Legendary Football Coach Bevers Dies
Frank Bevers, who returned the Highland Park football program to prominence during 16 seasons on the Scots sidelines, passed away on Sunday.
Bevers is the second on the all-time wins list at HP, trailing only current head coach Randy Allen, who passed him in 2010. Bevers compiled a record of 134-43-1 with the Scots.
He originally was hired from Mineral Wells in 1974 to take over an HP program that had made the playoffs just once in the previous 16 years. Incorporating a powerful rushing attack, Bevers led the Scots to unbeaten regular-season records four times between 1976 and 1984.
He stepped aside in 1985 for medical reasons, but came back to HP in 1989, and coached four more seasons before retiring in 1992.
In all, Bevers took HP to 28 postseason games during his tenure, twice reaching the state semifinals before falling to powerhouse Odessa Permian. He also won seven district titles and coached four high school All-Americans.
As a player, Bevers was a standout in the 1950s at Mineral Wells and at Hardin-Simmons University, where he played for the legendary Sammy Baugh. He later moved into coaching with stints at Ranger, Robstown, and Corpus Christi King.
Overall, Bevers amassed 158 victories in 20 years as a head coach. He subsequently was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor, and received the Legends Award from the National Football Foundation’s Gridiron Club of Dallas in 2012. He also was given the Highland Park Distinguished Service Award.
Although he moved to Rockwall, Bevers remained connected to the Park Cities community. He was honored at a community reception in 2010 and again last year.
