“We wanted to do the parade right here in ‘The Cliff,’ says Principal Willie Johnson. “There have been talks of it being downtown, but we wanted it to be right here in the community that has supported us.”
On the streets that raised them, the South Oak Cliff High School Golden Bears celebrated another historic milestone Saturday, as students, alumni, families, and longtime supporters lined the neighborhood for a championship parade honoring the 2025 UIL Class 5A Division II state champions.
The Golden Bears once again stood at the center of attention, but this time surrounded by the community that has powered one of the most dominant runs in Texas high school football history.
For head coach Jason Todd, the celebration extended far beyond football.
“It means a lot seeing the entire city support and embrace the student athletes on this journey we have been on. And it lays a blueprint on how success in sports impacts many things off the field. The overall school has improved academically, and it has instilled some pride in the community, not only in Oak Cliff, but Dallas as a whole,” Todd said.
Todd’s latest title also etched his name into the history books, as he became the first Black head coach to win three Texas high school football UIL state championships. But as floats rolled past cheering crowds and players waved to the crowds, the focus remained on collective achievement.
“What we have been able to accomplish at South Oak Cliff is the greatest story in Texas high school history. We have built SOC into a dynasty built off administration support, coaches that have a purpose bigger than the game, student athletes buying into the culture of what it means to be a part of a team, parental buy-in, andcommunity support,” Todd continues. “Our legacy will stand the test of time. Not just for the last 5 years but for those that came before the good times that laid the foundation that we are standing on to get to this point, and this is not the end, it’s only the beginning,” Todd said.
The parade served as both a celebration and a statement of how deeply the program is woven into the fabric of South Oak Cliff.
At the conclusion of the parade at the football field, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins officially proclaimed
As the Golden Bears closed out the parade route, applause echoed through The Cliff, not just for another championship trophy, but for a legacy built on belief, unity, and pride—one that continues to grow, right where it all began.
Check out more parade photos here.
