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Under bright lights and a packed Elgin gymnasium, an emotional tribute unfolded before the varsity boys basketball game against Belton last week.
The Wildcats presented a signed ball Dec. 17 to the family of former Elgin Independent School District Coach T. Berry, who died just three months prior.
“We love you, we miss you and we will always remember you, always,” the PA announcer read aloud, as the young athletes honored the district legend.
The ceremony, held just before tipoff, brought the team, Head Coach Dave Wilson and Berry’s family center court.
Wilson took the powerful moment to reflect on its significance for both the team and the program.
“I think it’s really important,” he said. “That’s how you build on tradition — by getting your community to buy into your team and your team to buy into the community.”
Coach and historian, Berry was a 1966 graduate of Elgin’s Washington High School and a leader both on and off the field, friends and family said.
As a student-athlete, he captained his football and basketball teams before graduating from the University of Texas.
His tenure as an educator and coach reached its pinnacle at Galveston Ball High School, where he led the basketball roster to the state championship game in 1982. The team’s 34-6 record that season cemented its place among the top Texas high school basketball teams of the 1980s, according to the district.
Later returning to Elgin, Berry’s career spanned several decades, during which he amassed a remarkable overall coaching record of 431-158. The late coach earned 11 district championships, seeing many of his athletes on to play at the collegiate level.
In addition to his success on the court, Berry served as Elgin ISD’s DAEP administrator and Human Resources director. He was also a published author and nominated for an NAACP Image Award in children’s literature.
Berry’s legacy in Elgin extended far beyond athletics. He earned multiple Teacher of the Year honors and was known for his impact in the community, speakers added.
After retiring in 2015, Berry would once more be recognized by the district. He was inducted into the Elgin ISD Athletic Hall of Honor in August 2024, one month before his passing, Sept. 14.
