McMurry University Athletics

Most people probably know Bob Estes for his long year career as a professional golfer on the PGA Tour. However, those in the Abilene area have been privileged to watch one of our “favorite sons” hone his skills at Cooper High School, before going on to an All-American collegiate career at the University of Texas. As a senior at Texas, he was named “Player of the Year” by both Florida Golfweek and Golf magazines, as well as taking home the Fred Haskins Award and Nicklaus Trophy as the nation’s top golfer. He has gone on to win four PGA tournaments and was the 1989 PGA “Rookie of the Year”. But McMurry has an even deeper and longer relationship with Bob Estes…you might even say he was born to be a part its athletics program. His father, Tom, was not only a longtime coach at McMurry, but lived on campus with his wife Bobbi and were “Dorm Parents”…making the McM campus Bob’s playground as a youngster. Over the years, Bob’s generous financial support has benefitted not only McMurry’s golf teams, but every one of the University’s intercollegiate programs…and he has done so in a quiet and unassuming manner. Some of his other charitable work includes sponsoring the Tom Landry FCA Golf Tournament in Austin and the Aaron’s/Bob Estes Golf Tournament in Abilene each year. He has previously enjoyed induction into the University of Texas Athletics Hall of Fame, the Cooper High School Hall of Fame and the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame.