Ed Jasper

[3][4] He attended Troup High School, where he was a three-time All-East Texas and honored as Defensive Most Valuable Player.

He was also part of the school's basketball team that won the University Interscholastic League Class 2A state championship in 1992.

[4] After graduating from Troup, Jasper studied at Texas A&M University and played four seasons of college football for the Aggies.

[5] In his first year with the team in 1993, the Aggies won the Southwest Conference (SWC) title, before losing 24–21 to Notre Dame Fighting in the 1994 Cotton Bowl Classic.

[3][5] Jasper's brother, Shane, served as president of the Troup Independent School District board.