Corey Fulbright is an honorary citizen of the Texas Hill Country, but he earned that distinction in a horrifying way. On December 14, 2002, Corey’s neck was broken during the State Championship football game between his hometown, Everman, and this magazine’s hometown, Burnet.

The play, in which Corey broke up a pass play to Burnet’s Patrick Miller, marked the turning point of the game, and spelled the end for Burnet’s title hopes, It also led to a tremendous outpouring of support for the injured defensive back and the establishment of a lasting bond ("Bulldogs United," as the T-shirts put it) between the two towns.

Although Burnet’s football team never recovered itsCorey Fulbright receives support from Texas Hill Country contributors after being injured in a high school football game in 2002. momentum (they led 7-0 and were threatening to score again when the tragedy occurred), Burnet’s fans channeled all their enthusiasm into a massive effort to help and support Corey Fulbright. Highlights included a prayer vigil on the Burnet square and an fund-raiser at the Galloway-Hammond Recreation Center, where eager contributors bid over $40,000 for donated items, including a football helmet autographed by famed UT coach Darrell Royal and a "Bulldogs United" T-shirt signed by both school’s head coaches.

All told, Burnet Bulldog fans from around the Hill Country raised a total of $100,000, which was delivered by a delegation of civic leaders to the Everman High School sports banquet six weeks after the accident. That banquet also marked the occasion of Corey’s first excursion from the hospital, and the jubilant welcome he received when he drove his motorized wheelchair through the swinging doors made all the donations worthwhile.

A few months later, Corey paid a visit to Burnet to thank his new friends in an informal ceremony at Galloway-Hammond, but for the last two years updates have been infrequent and sketchy. This article is intended both to highlight ...

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