Ernest F. Craigo enjoyed one of the most versatile athletic careers in Wayland Baptist University’s history, serving as a football player, basketball player, player/coach, faculty member, and dean of men.
                Originally from nearby Springlake-Earth, Craigo enrolled in Wayland College in September 1934. Craigo played quarterback on the 1934 and 1935 Wayland football teams. When Wayland dropped football for the 1936 and 1937 seasons, Craigo, also a basketball player, was asked to serve as a player/coach after the team’s coach resigned late in the 1936 season. He responded by leading the team to second place in the state junior college tournament.
                After graduating from Wayland (then a junior college) in 1936, Craigo enrolled at Sul Ross State in Alpine, completing his bachelor’s degree in 1938. He then returned to Wayland, coaching football and men’s and women’s basketball for three years before being inducted into the United States Air Force on Friday, March 13, 1942. Craigo served in the European theatre during World War II and later in Korea, achieving the rank of Lieutenant colonel and being awarded the presidential citation with cluster and six campaign stars for meritorious service.
                Craigo returned from the service to El Paso, where he was city recreation director, an insurance salesman, and later a member of the El Paso City Council. He also served as chairman of the El Paso Parks Recreation and Health Department prior to returning to the classroom in 1962 as teacher of history and government, then as student activities director and assistant principal before his retirement in 1977.
                Throughout his career, Craigo has been formally recognized for his professional accomplishments. He was presented the Distinguished Leadership alumni Award by Wayland’s Association of Former Students in 1986. Informally, Craigo is heralded by his former students for the profound impact he had upon their lives.
                The marriage of Craigo and the former Kathleen Piester produced one son, William Howard, and one daughter, Candace Faye.