Royse City ISD -

Charvia Bell was the quintessential athlete and academic award winner while at Royse City High School. While winning numerous academic awards at Royse City, Chavia was also a quad sport letterman in track, basketball, cheer, and volleyball.  Track and volleyball were obviously her strongest of the multitalented athlete’s endeavors.  An All-State volleyball player, her team was also the undefeated District Champions her junior year.  Charvia still holds the pole vault record for the Lady Bulldogs. A four-year District Champion in track and field, Charvia also was a District and Regional Champion in pole vault, and placed second in the pole vault at the State Track Meet in Austin. She was also named to the Texas Coaches Track All Star Team her senior year. Charvia went on to be a cheerleader and track star at the University of North Texas.

Gene Burks was born and raised in Royse City and played on the 1957 Champion Bulldogs team who won four Regional Championships. His team also enjoyed three consecutive undefeated seasons. Burks was a 195 lb. fighting machine with dogged determination and the will to win. Early on, he played many positions including running back, tackle, left guard, halfback and lineman. He lettered four seasons. Former Coach Johnny Henderson once said, “Burks was the finest football player he had ever coached.” Burks was regularly recurited by many ive league colleges before selecting Oklahoma University on a full scholarship. After breaking his left ankely in an all-star scrimmage, he went on to play for Arlington State College. Burks leaves a legacy as a Royse City Bulldog and All State Football and Track athlete. He passed in November of 2010 and was laid to rest in Royse City along side his late wife Betsy (Lyon) Burks. 

Skyler Strahm may be known for Lady Bulldog Volleyball, but she also excelled in track and field as well. In Volleyball she was also Academic All State. She earned first team All District for three consecutive seasons. Also she was named the District MVP in 2008 and made the Regional Finals team that same season. In track and field she was a three time District Champion in the 100m and 300m hurdles. District High Jump Champion for three years and Regional Champion in the High Jump in 2007. Camacho was a three time State Qualifier in the High Jump and she still holds the Girls High Jump record at RCHS. Skyler attended Oklahoma Baptist University.  In 2009 she was named to the second team All Conference Volleyball team. She was first team All Conference Volleyball for the next three seasons. She was named as the Outstanding Middle of the Southland Athletic Conference in 2012.  Her team placed fifth in the NAIA Nationals in 2012 as well. Skyler was the NAIA National Champion of Track and Field in 2010.  She won the SAC Conference Championship in the 100 meter hurdles in 2013 as well as the Conference Championship in the High Jump that same season.

A 1932 Graduate of Royse City, Bob Crowell is presently a member of the Royse City community.  At 104 years old, Bob tossed the coin in pre-game on his 100th birthday in 2013.  Bob was an All-District lineman for the Bulldogs football team that won the first District Championship for Royse City in 1930.  An all around athlete, he received a scholarship to play football with the Texas Tech Red Raiders, but decided instead to stay and raise his family in Royse City. The community would eventually see five generations of Crowell football players.  His son Bobby, was a member of the Bulldog football team that held a 39 game winning streak. 

A 1959 Graduate of Royse City, Danny “Dart” Davison may have been one of Royse City ISD’s most prolific athletes.  Danny received his nickname from a Dallas newspaper sportswriter.  Dart was known for his incredible balance and ability to shift his moves at full speed. While a Bulldog, his team never lost a game from his freshman year until the very last game of his senior season in 1958. He led the state in career scoring while at RCHS.  With nearly 500 points scored, Dart was selected as a Parade Magazine High School All-American.  He received All-State honors and was selected to play in the annual Texas High School All-Star Football game. He received scholarship offers all over the state.  He eventually selected East Texas State University where he set numerous records. The NFL drafted him, however, he chose a career in ranching where he remains in the heart of South Central Texas.

Mule Dowell was born in Ben Franklin, TX on June 27, 1913.  He helped guide the Royse City Bulldogs to their first District Championship in 1930.  Mule received a scholarship to play football for Texas Tech University. His play there led the Red Raiders to the first Border Championships.  He would later be named to the Texas Tech Hall of Fame and Hall of Honor for his contributions to that athletic program.  After graduation, Mule joined professional football with the Chicago Cardinals as a running back, linebacker and defensive back.  In 1935, he played against such great teams as the Green Bay Packers coached by Curly Lambeau for which the present Packer football team’s famous stadium is now named.  Mule would return to Texas Tech to work in their administrative department.

A 1962 Royse City High School Graduate, Jimmy Don Edwards played for the Royse City Bulldogs in the late 50’s and early 60’s.  While at Royse City, Jim was a four year starter for the Bulldogs.  An all around athlete, he played football for Coach Morris Magee and also enjoyed basketball, football and track for Royse City.  He was a multi-positional player on the football team.  Quarterback, running back, defensive back and linebacker were common positions every Friday night.  Speed and strength were Jim’s attributes to the game. A multiple All-District and All-Regional player in every sport, he would receive a scholarship to Texas Tech University in 1962 where he would again be a four year starter for Coach J.T. King who labeled Jim as one of the six best football players he had ever coached.  He played in both the Sun Bowl and the Liberty Bowl games during his days with the Red Raiders.

Megan Frausto's interest in track and field began while at Royse City Middle School and it became a passion for at least the next 12 years.  Megan was a high level athlete in several track and field events and later competed as a Heptathalete at the University of Houston where she was a collegiate athlete for four years.  In RCISD, she was a multiple record holder at both the middle school and high school lelves. In 2007 she captured the school’s only Women’s State Championship in the 400 Meter Dash. That year at state, she also won the bronze medal in the long jump and the 800 meter run. In college, Megan was a Universtiy of Houston Academic MVP. Most recently, she has coached the Heptatheletes at Northern Kentucky University.

Velma is a 1971 graduate of Royse City High School. If ever there were a Lady Bulldog basketball player that could do it all, it would be Velma.  She was an All-State selection by the Texas High School Girls Basketball Association. A forward with a knack for the mid range shot, Velma averaged 34 points and 9 rebounds per game her senior season. Along with teammate Vickie Houser Payne, they were known as the one-two punch of the district.  Velma helped lead the Lady Bulldogs to the District 13-1A Championship.  On July 17, 1971 she played on the North-South All Star Team at Brownwood Coliseum in Brownwood, Texas.  Velma scored 55 points against Farmersville as the Lady Bulldogs defeated the Lady Farmers 66-56.  Velma also received the Texas State Teachers Award in Academics.

Jennifer Goodwin was one of the first State Champions in Royse City history.  As a tennis star, Jennifer appeared in consecutive matches for the State Title.  Her senior year, coached by RCISD retired coach Terry Young, she would be crowned the 1995 State Champion. Jennifer received a tennis scholarship to The University of Texas at Arlington. Her collegiate superlatives were many and often. While  at UTA, she won the 1999 Southland Conference Tournament Championship and was also named the Southland Conference Champion.

A 1957 graduate of RCHS, Jerry “Choo-Choo” Hollon is a member of the celebrated and successful football team of the 1950’s. His nickname of “Choo-Choo” is indicative of the type of play that Jerry was known for.  A powerful running back, he was an All-Regional selection and would also be recruited by several Southwest Conference schools.  He chose The University of Texas Austin and became their starting fullback. A persistent neck injury eventually ended is college career. Mr. Hollon continued his education and worked in the Public Schools of Texas as a Principal and Superintendent of Schools at Caddo Mills ISD. A highly respected leader in education, he retired from that field and has always been regarded as one of  Royse City’s Favorite Sons.

Richard Morrison moved to Royse City his sophomore season and made an immediate impact in multiple sports while at RCHS.  He started as quarterback for the Bulldogs his sophomore year and led the Bulldogs to the state playoffs three consecutive seasons.  Morrison was a two-time All-State quarterback and passed for nearly 7,000 yards at Royse City.  He set the school passing record for the game between Royse City and Canton his senior season.  Morrison passed for 484 yards and six touchdowns that night.  Morrison under the coaching of Rodney Webb would lead the Bulldogs to their first appearance of the State Quarterfinals since 1998.  He was named the “Built Ford Strong Player of the Week” in Texas that week.  Morrison received a full scholarship to play for the University of Arizona and started all four years at wide receiver for the Wildcats. 

As a Bulldog Softball Pitcher, Alicia was named the District 13-4A MVP after throwing 16 shutouts, nine no-hitters, three perfect games, striking out 431 batters and posting a 0.32 ERA during her senior season. She helped the Bulldogs to a bi-district championship in 2010 and threw two perfect games and nine shutouts while averaging just over 16 strikeouts per game. Alicia was named University Interscholastic League  Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2009 and 2010. Royse City made a regional quarter final appearance her freshman season. Alicia also lettered in cross country and was involved in National Honor Society, Student Council and FCA. 

Art Pollard was a multi award winning football player on the second District Championship Royse City Bulldog team of 1938.  His team set a playoff scoring record when they defeated Leonard 92-0 in the Bi-District Championship game of 1938.  He was also a member of the team that played in the “Onion Bowl” in that same year on New Year’s Day of 1939. Royse City played Plano in that high school bowl game in Garland. Art received a scholarship to play for Texas A&M University in 1940.  However his play was interrupted with the beginning of World War II when he joined the Navy to fight for his country.  After the war, he transferred to the University of Arizona where he was named as an All American in 1946.  After a brief stint in the NFL, Mr. Pollard returned to Arizona and raised thoroughbred racehorses and became known as a very respected owner and trainer of many prolific champions.

A RCHS 1990 graduate, Stick was an outstanding tailback for the Royse City Bulldog Football Program.  He also excelled in basketball and track.  Stick’s prominence in football would lead him to a scholarship at Ottawa University in Kansas.  Stick’s high school playing days led the Bulldogs to consecutive District Championships in the late 1980’s.  He was a member of the “Bo and Stick” show as he and teammate Bo Smith, combined to rush for more than 9,000 yards during high school.  An All-American at Ottawa University, he was one of the more courageous tailbacks in that school’s history.  He is also a “Favorite Son” of the community and during his record setting collegiate days, the National Football League Washington Redskins drafted him. Unfortunately Robinson passed away at the age of 26 years from complications of Leukemia.  Stick will also soon be inducted into the Ottawa University Hall of Fame.