Coach Beverly Rockhold

GCCISD to dedicate Lee track in honor of legendary coach

The public is invited to ceremony on Friday, March 30 before the finals of the annual Rockhold Relays that will rename the track at Robert E. Lee High School’s Pete Sultis Stadium the “Beverly Rockhold Track” after the school legendary track coach. Afterward, a monument to the coach will be unveiled.
The 30-minute ceremony is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 30.
The move to name the track after Coach Rockhold was a request from The Rockhold Memorial Group, a group of more than 100 former track athletes of Coach Rockhold. They aim to further preserve the legacy of “a great coach and role model whose character and example has enriched us over the years.”
In 1936, Coach Rockhold came to Robert E. Lee High School. At that time there was no track at the high school.
Coach Rockhold along with some of his athletes helped to build a cinder track at the school. While at Baytown Lee, he coached several state and national relay record teams. He was the first coach to have a high school mile relay break 3:20. Rockhold coached at Baytown Lee from 1936 to 1973. In that time he lead Lee to three state championships in Track and Field.
Rockhold was twice named Texas Track Coach of the Year (1955, 1962) and was the first track coach named to Texas High School Hall of Honor (1969).
Forty-five “Rock boys” were selected for the All-American Athletic Honor Roll, and he counted three state championships in 1955, 1956 and 1962 plus numerous state runners-up, district and regional titles.
National records in mile relay were set in 1954-55 and in sprint medley in 1957-58.
After his retirement, the Lee Relays was changed to the Rockhold Relays in honor of his dedication to Track and Field. Coach Rockhold was elected to the Texas High School Hall of Fame in 1976.
Coach Rock died two years after retiring in 1979 at 67 years of age.