William H. "Billy" Bancroft was born August 25, 1904, in Livingston, Alabama. He was an athlete and a leader at Woodlawn High School before going to a successful football career at Howard College 1924-28. Bancroft remained at Howard after graduating as an assistant coach and became the head coach in 1934. In 1935 Howard tied Alabama 7-7. He remained at Howard through the 1939 seasons. In the off-season he played baseball for two Dixie Series winners, Birmingham in 1931 and Oklahoma City in 1935. He managed baseball teams for Selma in 1940 and Gadsden in 1941. During World War II, Bancroft served his country in a time of need. After his war duty, he coached at Anniston High School from 1946-57. His teams finished a combine 77-30-7 during his tenure as the head football coach. All twelve of his squads finished with a winning record and three only lost a single game during the season. From 1958-70 Bancroft served as the boys adviser at Woodlawn High School before retiring. Bancroft was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1974 as a baseball player. He passed away in 1993. | 
