Travis Sanders
Inducted 2011
Hometown: Port Isabel
High School: Port Isabel High School
College: The University of Texas at Arlington
Best Known for: Football
In 1978, Sanders led Port Isabel to its second district championship in three years and their first ever United Press International No. 1 state ranking. That same year he also became the first running back in Valley history to reach 1,000 yards in six games and 2,000 yards in 10 games. He finished the season with 2,496 yards capturing the state rushing title and setting a single season record. He also set rushing records for a single game of 359 yards and total career yardage of 5,516.
By the end of his senior year, he had built a rushing resume that included three career 300-yard games, 6 career 200-yard games, and 27 career 100-yard games. But it is his record of 22 consecutive 100-yard plus rushing games that has remained untouched for over 33 years and is still ranked 8th best statewide among all rushers for all classes.
At 5-foot 9 and 185 pounds, this Port Isabel dynamo had moves, balance, strength, and speed. One opposing coach was quoted as saying, you can hit him real hard, but he just keeps coming. He was voted First-Team All-District, All-Valley, All-South Texas, and All-State.
He continued his football career at the University of Texas at Arlington and in 1999 was voted to the RGV All-Millennium Football Team. In 2008, he was voted one of the Top 50 All-Time Valley Athletes and is still considered today as one of the greatest running backs ever in Valley football history.