Mary Frances Watkins†
Inducted: 1990
Hometown: Singleton, Texas
High School: Aldine High School
College: The University of Texas at Austin
Best Known for: Coach-Basketball
(1932-2011)
Watkins coached Lyford High school girls’ basketball teams to a much success over a 30-year period.
Watkins graduated from Aldine High School in Houston in 1950. She received both a Bachelor of Science (1954) and a Master of Education (1956) from The University of Texas, Austin.
She began her coaching career in Three Rivers, (1956-1958) and took her track team to three state championships. She then moved to Lyford (1958-1989), and the rest is history.
Watkins posted a 481-127 won-loss record spanning 20 years. Never once in 20 seasons did her teams win fewer than 19 games and her teams won 17 district championships. Her 1973-74 Lyford team advanced to the state tournament in a 28-3 campaign. Her overall record in district competition was 229-11 in 20 years, a reflection of Lyford's dominance under her guidance.
She also coached softball teams to four district titles, volleyball to two district titles, track to three district titles, and cross-country teams to the state meet three times.