Joe Bailey Cheaney of Santa Anna came to Howard Payne in 1921 and lettered in four sports: football, track, basketball and baseball. He later coached football and basketball at Howard Payne. The football halfback was known for his long runs, including a 75-yarder in 1922 in Howard Payne’s 13-7 upset of Texas A&M at Kyle Field. In 1923, Cheaney’s team beat TCU 20-7. In 1924, he gained 250 yards and scored four touchdowns against Southwest Teachers College in San Marcos. In his last game, Cheaney scored a 100-yard touchdown against Simmons in a Thanksgiving Day victory that clinched the Texas Conference championship. He accounted for 2,500 yards that season. He was a sprinter in track, winning Texas Conference championships for three years in the 100-yard and 200-yard dashes. In 1924 he added the broad jump championship to the 100- and 220-yard titles. He was captain of the track team his first three years and tried out for the 1924 Olympics. He played second base in baseball and center in basketball, serving as basketball captain his senior year. Cheaney began coaching after graduation in 1925 at San Marcos Baptist Academy. He was head football coach at Howard Payne from 1928-34 and 1946-47. He also was head coach Southwest Texas State from 1935-42. His overall college football coaching record was 81–62–13. At Howard Payne, he went 58–20–9 with five Texas Conference championships and one co-championship. Cheaney died in 1983 and was inducted posthumously as part of the first class of the HPU Athletics Hall of Fame.