Sonny Detmer†
Inducted 2007
Hometown: Beaumont
College: Wharton Community College, Southwest Texas State University
Best Known for: Football Coaching
Sept. 11, 1944-Sept. 22, 2020
Besides producing two sons who played in the NFL, Sonny Detmer was an outstanding Valley football coach who is still active in the game today.
A standout wide receiver at Wharton Community College in the early 1960s, Detmer went on to play for the semi-pro San Antonio Toros before getting into coaching at Somerset, from 1971 to 1977. He led San Antonio Southwest and future Heisman winner son Ty to much success in the 1980s before coming to Mission in 1989.
There, he won 68 of 100 games with the Eagles, with second son Koy making All-State at quarterback. Mission went 12-2 in 1990, advancing to the Class 5A state semifinals, and then 11-1 the next year. In all, Detmer coached the school to five playoff trips with his complex, pass-happy attack, leaving Mission in 1997 to return to the San Antonio area. He's now back at Somerset.