Wilburn C. Underwood played football at Ballinger High School under former Howard Payne Coach Felton “Pooch” Wright and became a four-year letterman for the Yellow Jackets in football and track and field. In football, he was Howard Payne’s leading scorer and rusher, an outstanding punter and a member of the 1932 Texas Conference Co-Championship team. In track, he ran in hurdles and dash events. At the 1932 Texas Conference Championship meet, his 12 points scored by winning both hurdle events and a third place in the 220-yard dash helped the Yellow Jackets win the conference championship. In the 1933 Texas Conference meet, he was the high point scorer with 11 ¾ points. Underwood was president of the Howard Payne student body in 1934. After graduation, he was football coach and teacher at Rochelle before moving to Paint Rock. After serving in World War II, he coached at Mont Belvieu and moved to Barbers Hill High School as principal in 1952. He finished his career as an administrator in Rockport. He died in 1987.