The Prairie View Interscholastic League was formed in 1939 as the Texas Interscholastic League of Colored Schools with 21 original members. Organized by Houston Yates coach Andrew “Pat” Patterson and administered by Prairie View A&M, the PVIL governed athletic competition between Texas’ segregated black schools, set up districts and scheduling, and established age and residency requirements, just as the UIL did for white schools. It was disbanded in 1970 when membership dwindled after the desegregation of Texas high schools, but not before producing Pro Football and College Football Hall of Famers like Dick “Night Train” Lane (Austin Anderson), Charley Taylor (Grand Prairie Dalworth), Gene Upshaw (Robstown), Ken Houston (Lufkin Dunbar), Bubba Smith (Beaumont Charlton-Pollard) and “Mean” Joe Greene (Temple Dunbar), as well as thousands of collegiate players.

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All Texas High School Football Hall of Fame inductees