From 1929 until 1955, Sanger Brothers Department Store annually Awarded the “Sanger Trophy” to the Dallas Independent School District High School with the best record for athletics during the school year, on a points system. Six DISD Schools, the original schools in the District, W.H. Adamson, Crozier Tech, North Dallas,Forest Avenue, Woodrow Wilson and Sunset, were included in the Competition. Sunset won the Sanger Trophy 12 times, more than any other school, and was awarded the Trophy permanently.
During several facility reconstructions at Sunset, the Sanger Trophy was put into storage and eventually lost. In 2011, the Trophy was found and a re-construction effort was undertaken under the leadership of Sunset Alumni Don Martin.
A Steering Committee of the original six schools was established with a desire to preserve the Sanger Trophy as a part of Dallas history. On March 10, 2012, a Ceremony was held at Dallas' Old Red Courthouse Museum of History and Culture to place the restored Trophy in the Museum and also to allow each of the six schools to honor distinguished alumni of the school.
Distinguished Alumni Honored by Sunset High School were:
JOHN M. STEMMONS, ’27 – “Father” of Stemmons Corridor, donating right-of-way for Stemmons Freeway; Dallas Citiizens Council; Linz Award. BETTY JAMESON, ‘39 – Professional Golfer, - One of Founders of Ladies Professional Golf Tour (LPGA); Won 13 LPGA Titles, including three majors. LINDA DARNELL, '39 - Movie Actress; “Forever Amber”, “Unfaithfully Yours”, “Letter To Three Wives”, “The Mark of Zorro”; co- starred with Tyrone Power. LOUISE LATHAM, ’40 – Movie and Television Actress; Hitchcock’s “Marnie”, “Perry Mason”, “Bonanza”, “Designing Women”’ “Murder She Wrote”, “X-Files”. ROBERT S. FOLSOM, ’44 – Mayor of Dallas; President, Dallas School Board; Developer; President, Methodist Hospital Board; Hugh Prather Award. DAVEY WILLIAMS, ’45 – Major League Baseball; Entire career with New York Giants Baseball Club; 1953 MLB All Star Game; Winner of 1954 World Series. DON JANUARY, ’47 – Professional Golfer; Four time NCAA Champ at NTSU; 1967 Professional Golf Association Champion; 1965 and 1977 U.S.Ryder Cup Teams. CLAY ARMSTRONG, PhD, ’52 – Physiologist ; Much present knowledge on ion channel structure and function traced to him; Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize . LEE H. SMITH, PhD, ’53 – President – Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University), 1974 to 1982; Founder and Chair Emeritus, Sunset Foundation, Inc. EDDIE SOUTHERN, ’55– 1956 Olympic Silver Medal, 400 Meter Hurdles; 1959 NCAA 440 Yard Champion; Member, University of Texas World Record 440 and 880 Relays. JERRY MAYS, ’57 – Co-Captain and All Southwest Conference at SMU; 1962 American Football League Champion Dallas Texans; Captain, Kansas City Chiefs, Super Bowl I; Winner, Super Bowl IV; two time AFL All Star; AFL All Time Team; four time Pro Bowler. BILL MELTON, ’58– Dallas County Treasurer, 25 years; “Outstanding County Treasurer in the United States”; Announcer - 1996 Olympic Games, Super Bowls VI, VIII, and IX; Cotton Bowl Classic, 32 years; Texas Relays, 40 years; 2001 and 2005 U.S. Presidential Inaugural Ceremonies. JERRY RHOME, ’60 – 1964 Heisman Trophy Runner Up at Tulsa; NCAA Passing Leader; College Football Hall of Fame; played for Cowboys, Browns, Oilers; Winner, Super Bowl XXII as Quarterback Coach for Redskins; All America High School Quarterback at Sunset.