FLOYD WAGSTAFF

Few people have had a greater impact on the lives of student-athletes than Floyd Solomon Wagstaff, who served as Tyler Junior College coach of men’s basketball and football and athletic director, 1946–1975.

Wagstaff’s career accomplishments include two national junior college championships, induction into the Texas Sportswriters, the National Junior College Athletic Association and Naismith Memorial basketball halls of fame and 743 wins. He also played a major role in the establishment of the NJCAA, the first junior college athletic association.

To his players, ‘‘Wag,’’ as he is affectionately called, was more than a coach—he was their mentor, a disciplinarian who would do anything to see to it that his players were treated fairly.

‘‘Wag wanted you to think he was tough, and he’d chew you out if you got out of line, but he had a lot of compassion and concern,’’ recalled Russell Boone, a former player and a 1997 Sports Circle of Honor inductee.

Wag joined Tyler Junior College in 1946. His teams won national junior college championships twice, in 1949 and 1951, and finished one win short in 1960 and in 1961. His teams won the conference 10 times and tied for the conference championship four more times. They played in the National Junior College Tournament in Hutchinson, KS, 11 times.

So impressive were his accomplishments at TJC that the gymnasium was named in his honor. Wagstaff was also the College’s first football coach and the school’s first athletic director. His football teams won 130 games and lost 36. Twice they played in the Little Rose Bowl.

Wagstaff remains one of the winningest coaches in the history of junior college athletics, and is the only junior college coach ever to be inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

He was named Coach of the Year by Texas sportswriters in 1949, 1953, and 1960 and shared the honor in 1971.

Wag retired from the College in 1984, but remained an asset to junior college athletics, academic excellence and Tyler Junior College until his death in February 2000.

In 1993, the Nell and Floyd Wagstaff Endowed Athletic Scholarship fund was established with the Tyler Junior College Foundation, a fund which represents potential scholarships for deserving student athletes.

Fittingly, Wag was the first inductee to the Tyler Junior College Sports Circle of Honor in 1995.

BRADY P. GENTRY

The late Brady Preston Gentry was born in Colfax, Van Zandt County on March 25, 1894. His father, Benjamin, was a farmer and good business man who planned his children’s work duties each day, making young Brady no stranger to hard work. The family was generous with what they had, since it was well known, no indigent person was ever turned away from their home hungry. These examples of hard work and generosity molded Gentry’s future.

Mr, Gentry attended the rural school at Colfax and attended Wills Point High School where he boarded with a cousin. During these years he developed his skills as a baseball player and his interest in sports continued throughout his life. His mother, Virginia, saw the potential young Brady had for learning and convinced her husband that he should attend Mayo Normal School in Commerce, now known as East Texas State University. From there, he went to Cumberland University Law School at Lebanon, Tennessee.

A fellow classmate, Galloway Calhoun and Brady, established a successful and therefore prosperous law practice in Tyler. In 1917 he entered the military and rose to the rank of Captain. It was about this time, after World War I, that Gentry entered politics, being elected County Attorney of Smith County and later County Judge. He served on the Texas State Highway Commission as Chairman for the most important years of highway development in Texas. In 1952 he was elected to Congress for the 1953–54 term, and in 1956 Brady retired from Congress and returned home to his room in the Blackstone Hotel.

During the early 1930’s, Mr. Gentry became very interested in TJC athletics, first luring Coach Bill Ward, along with most of his Whitehouse players, to the College. This recruitment launched the championship teams that were to follow. After World War II, Coach Floyd S. Wagstaff began a long and successful tenure as coach of both football and basketball at TJC. Mr. Gentry acted as Wagstaff’s most active recruiter and was the fund raiser for the teams, managing to produce—much of it from his own pocket—what was needed to create scholarships for student athletes. Gentry passed away in 1966 but his generosity lives on through the Brady P. Gentry Trust, established by his will. Mr. Jack White, executor of the trust and nephew of Mr. Gentry, has carried on his benevolence to the College through the Gentry Trust and through the Whites’ generous personal support. In private life, Congressman Gentry never married. However, the number of young men and women he helped to educate and give a start in life is untold and perhaps even unknown, except by those who were the beneficiaries of his benevolence.

ROY THOMAS, Basketball, 1968–70

Thomas, who was named to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2001, served as TJC’s head coach of men’s basketball from 1984– 1994 leading his teams to the playoff rounds many times and to the NJCAA national tournament.

A member of the Apache teams in 1968–70, Thomas joined the Baylor Bears after graduation from TJC. He served as an assistant coach at Baylor while working to earn a master’s degree which he received in 1978. He played basketball in Europe for a brief period and served as head coach at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M University– Kingsville) from 1980–83 before returning to TJC. In 1994, he accepted the head coach position with North Carolina A&T State University and advanced to the NCAA tournament his first year, narrowly being eliminated by eventual national champion Arkansas in the second round.

ROBERT PACK, Basketball, 1988–89

Pack played guard this year in the city where he was born, New Orleans, Louisiana. A 1989 TJC graduate, Pack has played in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers, the Denver Nuggets, the Washington Bullets, the New Jersey Nets, the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves since graduating from the University of Southern California in 1991. With the Trail Blazers in 1992, he appeared in the NBA finals when the Chicago Bulls won the championship. During the 1994 NBA All- Star Weekend in Minneapolis, he placed second in the slam dunk competition. He recorded his first career triple-double with 21 points, 17 assists and a career high 10 rebounds for Denver against Dallas in November 1994. He has established the Robert Pack Foundation to aid underprivileged children and devotes much of his time in the off-season to helping them.

EARL DOTSON

• A 10-year National Football League veteran, Dotson was a starting offensive lineman with the Green Bay Packers for eight years.
• Following the 1999 season, teammates honored him with the Ed Block Courage Award.
• Is tied with teammate Dorsey Levins for eighth place on the team’s all-time postseason games played list.
• Following his studies at TJC, Dotson transferred to Texas A&M University–Kingsville (then Texas A&I), where he starred for two years.
• Joined the Packers as a free agent in 1993.

KELLY CHAPMAN

• Was one of Coach Floyd Wagstaff’s “best 15” players.
• Wagstaff called Chapman “a great jumper, an outstanding basketball player.”
• Topped all 1957 scorers nationally with more than 1,000 points.
• Took home the junior college national tournament scoring honors with 112 points in only three games.
• Was among the highest three-game totals in tournament history.
• Transferred to the University of Kentucky to play for legendary coach Adolph Rupp.
• Returned to Tyler and eventually finished his college playing career at Texas A&M University.

JOHNNY JOHNSTON

• Was a starting center for the Apaches who the late Coach Floyd Wagstaff referred to as “a good jump shooter with a real good hook shot.”
• Was a member of the 1956–57 team that went to the NJCAA national tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.
• Was the leading scorer and rebounder for the 1957–58 team.
• Was a Third Team All-America selection and was a First Team All-Texas JuCo choice.
• Transferred to Lamar University, where he played two years and earned All-Conference selections both seasons.
• Was an All America Honorable Mention at Lamar.
• Was inducted into the Lamar Cardinal Hall of Honor in 1984.
• Served in education for 33 years, including work as a teacher, coach, director of special programs, high school principal and superintendent.

JESSE MARSHALL

• Was the first African-American athlete recruited to TJC by coaching legend Floyd Wagstaff.
• Wagstaff described him as a “big, strong youngster who could dominate the boards.”
• Half of TJC’s “Dynamic Duo”—the other half being center Jim Brooks—Marshall averaged 16.7 points a game his freshman season and 16.2 his sophomore year, while providing significant rebounding muscle.
• At 6–6 and 245 pounds, he was one of Coach Wag’s biggest and most dominating recruits, hailing from Princeton, Louisiana.
• Was selected as the North Zone Region 14 Most Valuable Player of the regional tournament in 1968 and was a Second Team All Texas Eastern Conference choice that year.
• Transferred to Centenary University, where he started his junior and senior seasons.
• Though he didn’t play football in college, he was drafted by the Detroit Lions of the National Football League in 1972.
• Has operated Jesse Marshall Tractor Works of Dallas for the past 27 years.

FRED KNIFFEN

• During his tenure at TJC, Kniffen coached 31 NJCAA All- Americans.
• His men’s teams captured national championships in 1980 and 1984 and his ladies’ teams won national championships in 1983 and 1984.
• Is also credited with taking the nation’s first college program offering a degree in tennis teaching to national prominence.
• Led the College’s recreation leadership-tennis teaching program from 1975–84.
• Served as vice-president of the Texas Professional Tennis Association and as president of the NAIA Tennis Coaches Association.
• After his tenure at TJC, Kniffen went on to coach tennis at The University of Texas at Tyler, from 1985 until his retirement in 1997.
• Was selected Outstanding Tennis Professional of the Year by the Texas Professional Tennis Association in 1971.
• Was twice named Coach of the Year for men’s junior college tennis and ladies’ junior college tennis.
• Was named both Penn and Wilson NAIA Coach of the Year in 1994.
• Member of the NAIA Hall of Fame and the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame.

CHARLES QUILTER

• One of the anchors of the Apaches’ offensive line, 1947–48.
• Was offered the opportunity to play professionally with the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League.
• Was a 49er in 1949 and 1950 and then began a long tenure in the Canadian Football League, where he starred from 1951 through 1963.
• Played for the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos (1951–55), Vancouver Lions (1956–62) and Calgary Stampeders (1963).
• Served as head football coach at St. Thomas High School in Vancouver, B.C.
• Is now president of marketing and sales for Confederated Mortgage Co. in Vancouver.
• Co-owner of Quilter Realty in the city of West, Texas

ROYCE TOWNSEND

• Played offensive lineman at TJC and with the U.S. Air Force after graduating from TJC in 1950.
• Played at Trinity University in San Antonio, where he was named All-Conference two years and received a bachelor’s degree.
• At TJC, Royce was All- Conference and Honorable Mention All-American.
• Was named Outstanding Lineman at the Texas Rose Bowl in 1948.
• Upon completion of college, was employed for 35 years with General Motors Acceptance Corporation in Tyler, serving in finance, sales and public relations.
• Coached Little League, Pony League and American Legion baseball in Tyler for 20 years.
• Was instrumental in crucial fundraising for the development of Wagstaff Gymnasium

MILTON WILLIAMS

• Was a top guard for Wagstaff’s Apaches basketball teams, 1955–56.
• Possessed outstanding shooting range and great passing skills.
• Starred at Centenary University following his days at TJC.
• Has been a participant in the Senior Olympics basketball competition since 1996.
• His 1996 team received gold medals in the Houston, San Antonio and Kerrville regionals and won the Texas State Championship for the 60–64 age bracket with an undefeated record.
• An evangelist, Williams lives in Livingston.

KEN COFFEY

RAYMOND MCGALLION

• Came to TJC from Silsbee and played on the team that went to the Junior Rose Bowl in 1949, his sophomore season.
• Running back on offense and a defensive back on defense.
• 19-yard TD run against Schreiner Institute on November 10, 1949 culminated an early first-half drive in a key game played before packed Rose Stadium.
• Was credited with some important runs and key defensive plays against Compton in a 28–14 victory played before 12,284 fans in Compton, CA, on December 10, 1949.
• Transferred to North Texas State University, to complete his bachelor and master’s degrees of science there in 1953.
• Was assistant football coach for Greenville High School.
• Entered coaching and returned to his hometown, where he coached football for 21 years with a record of 131–42–5 before retiring.
• Selected into the Golden Triangle Coaches Clinic Hall of Honor.
• Member of the Methodist Church and has four children and seven grandchildren.

JACK MURPHY

• Four sport letterman at Chapel Hill High School.
• Achieved All-American honors in football at TJC in 1959.
• Selected to the All-Missouri Valley Conference team as a member of the Golden Hurricane of Tulsa University.
• Came to Gladewater High School as an assistant coach in 1965 and was promoted to head coach in 1969.
• Led the Bears to state quarterfinals on five occasions and to the semifinals once.
• His teams won or shared nine district titles and he has the Class 3A record of taking a team to the playoffs for 11 consecutive years.
• His teams compiled a combined record of 211–113–7.
• Named recipient of the Tom Landry Award and was also named Gladewater's Citizen of the Year.
• Bears Stadium at Gladewater High School was renamed Jack V. Murphy Bear Stadium, in honor of his 29 years of coaching.
• Has three children and one grandchild.

GENE SHANNON

• Was a running back on the Apaches’ 1947 and ’48 teams.
• All-conference in 1947.
• Transferred to the University of Houston, where he played football for three years and ran track for three years.
• Was Player of the Game in the Cougars’ first-ever bowl game appearance, the Salad Bowl, played in Phoenix, AZ, on January 1, 1952, a game in which the Cougars defeated Dayton College, 26–21, beating a team captained by future NFL coaching legend Chuck Knoll.
• Served in the military for two years before entering public education.
• Coached football for New London High School for 10 years.
• Served as high school principal for 11 years.
• Served as superintendent of New London Independent School District for eight years before retiring in 1984.
• Was the first athlete ever inducted into the University of Houston Athletic Hall of Honor.

KENNETH BAHNSEN

• Played football for Coach Wagstaff in 1947 and 1948 and is considered one of the best Apache running backs ever.
• Was all-conference selection for three consecutive seasons at North Texas, 1950–52.
• Held the UNT school rushing record for 25 years.
• Played profesionally for the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers in 1953 and served on the coaching staff of McNeese State in 1954.
• From 1955 until 1975, served as football and tennis coach at the University of North Texas.
• Is a member of the North Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

DWAIN BEAN

• Played fullback for the Apache football teams of 1960 and 1961 and was a part of the 1960 team which was undefeated in regular season play.
• Was presented the Woody Tunnel MVP Award following the 1961 season.
• Was drafted by the NFL’s Green Bay Packers in 1964 and played one season of professional football for the Hamilton Tigercats of the Canadian Football League that year.
• Served as football coach for the Denton Independent School District from 1970–78 and has coached golf for DISD since 1972.
• Is a member of the University of North Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

FOSTER BULLOCK

• During his play with the Apaches, TJC teams lost only three games, 1940–42.
• Spent five years in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II before transferring to Stephen F. Austin, where he played basketball until an ankle injury ended his playing days.
• Worked for nearly 35 years as a heavy equipment operator in Livingston.
• Was active on the Big Thicket reservation, assisting and planning recreational and sports activities.
• Was honored for his athletic and community accomplishments as the first inductee into the Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Hall of Fame in 1990.

JAMES L. “BABE” HALLMARK

• Was TJC assistant football coach, 1950 to 1963.
• Served as head coach from 1963 until 1969.
• Had an overall coaching record of 148 wins and 60 loses with eight teams in bowl games.
• Was an outstanding player at Texas A&M, where he was an All- Southwest Conference selection as a halfback in 1943 and led the conference in total passing yards and total offense yards.
• Was third in the nation in passing in 1993 and fifth in total offense.
• Was named to the All-American Third Team and played in the 1944 Orange Bowl.

LAWRENCE STRICKLAND

• Played center for Coach Wagstaff’s football teams of 1950 and 1951 and was the 1951 team captain.
• Was All Big Six Conference Team member and Dallas News’ All- Texas Junior College Offensive Team selection in 1951.
• Was All-Texas in 1952 and 1953 at University of North Texas.
• Played professional football from 1954 to 1959 for the Chicago Bears and started in the 1956 championship game against the New York Giants.
• Was NFL All-Pro Offensive Center in 1956 and 1957.

RUSSELL BOONE

• Set a state high school scoring record of 52 points in a game.
• First Team All-American both seasons with the Apaches, 1955 and 1956.
• Played for the University of Houston Cougars, 1956–58.
• Named to the All-Missouri Valley team.
• Coached for 20 years at Anahuac, Texas.
• Member of the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame.

ROBERT LEON FULLER

• Played halfback for the Apaches, 1956–58, and served as captain of the team.
• All-Texas Junior College and NJCAA All-American.
• Played for legendary coaches “Bum” Phillips in high school; Floyd Wagstaff at TJC; and “Bear” Bryant at Alabama.
• Played in major bowl games with Alabama both seasons and was selected as team captain and Most Valuable Player.
• Played in the North/South All-Star Game and the Senior Bowl All-Star at Alabama.
• Was head coach at Colorado State University.
• Served as defensive coordinator at The University of Texas and assistant coach at Oklahoma State University, University of Kentucky, West Texas State, University of New Mexico and University of Wyoming.
• Assistant coach with the Denver Broncos.
• Currently athletic director for Austin Independent School District.

BILL HERCHMAN

• Considered one of the best linemen to ever play for TJC.
• Played at Texas Tech University.
• Third round selection by the San Francisco 49ers.
• Played seven years in the NFL.
• Participated in the college allstars game against the NFL champion Cleveland Browns while at Texas Tech.
• Currently resides in Duncanville.
• Served on the School Board of the Duncanville ISD.
• Active with the City of Duncanville and Oak Cliff YMCA.

JOHN LINNEY

• All-Conference in high school and at TJC.
• Most Valuable Player at Stephen F. Austin State University.
• Helped TJC advance to the Little Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
• Paul B. Williamson All-American.
• All Big Six Conference team.
• Dallas News All-Texas Junior College Offensive Team.
• Most Conscientious Player Award.
• All Texas College Offense selection at SFASU.
• Honorable Mention All American.
• SFASU Hall of Fame.
• Coached baseball and football in Bryan, Beaumont and Lockhart and South Dakota.

RAYMOND CHARLES MCGINTY

• Paul B. Williamson Honorable Mention All-American Team.
• All Big Six Conference team.
• Dallas News’ All-Texas Junior College Defensive Team.
• Apaches’ Most Valuable Player.
• Leading pass receiver, leading scorer, team captain and an NAIA All-American at North Texas State University.
• Brief stint with the NFL’s Chicago Cardinals.
• Coached at Winnsboro, Texarkana, Silsbee and Woodville, Texas.
• Head coach of the Apaches and guided his teams to five conference titles.
• Coach of the Year five times.
• Retired after 12 seasons as TJC’s head coach in 1991.

JANICE MULFORD

• Led Apache Ladies team to the NJCAA national championship game.
• Averaged 20 points per game her sophomore season.
• Played for Louisiana Tech University and led team to a 40–5 record and an AIAW Division 1. Final Four appearance.
• Transferred to Abilene Christian University for her senior year and helped her team to a 31–7 record .
• All-Conference, TAIAW.
• All-State, Honorable Mention All-American.
• Set records for most points in a game at ACU (48) and most rebounds in a season (455).
• Currently coaches volleyball at Van High School.
• Active with the youth in her community.
• Advanced teams to the state tournament in volleyball twice.
• Named conference Coach of the Year 10 times.
• East Texas Coach of the Year in 1995.

V.C. “BUCK” OVERALL

• Star of the 1940–42 basketball teams.
• Co-captain and the club’s high scorer.
• Played on state championship teams in 1941 and 1942.
• In 1941, set a state record by scoring 563 points in 29 games, averaging 19 points a game in an era when 60 points for a team was considered highscoring. During this year, TJC set a state junior college record by averaging 59 points per contest.
• Averaged 21 points a game in the state playoffs and was a unanimous All Northern Zone choice.
• Starting guard at The University of Texas and was one of the team’s leading scorers.
• United Press All Conference selection at UT.
• Served as assistant coach at UT.
• Served as coach for several high school teams in East Texas.
• Inducted into the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame.
• Owns his own company and lives in San Marcos, Texas.
• Active in Little League baseball, the Lion’s Club and First Christian Church.

DAN PAGE

• All-American quarterback at TJC.
• Voted Most Valuable Player in U.S. junior college football.
• Starting QB at The University of Texas.
• All-Army selection with the Ft. Sill Army team.
• Formed his own telephone directory publishing company in Fort Worth, Texas.
• Active with his church, University Christian, Fort Worth, Shriners, Lions Club, area chambers of commerce and local Masonic Lodge.

JOSE PALAFOX

• All-State in high school for state champion El Paso team.
• All-Conference and All- American at TJC.
• Played on TJC’s first national championship team.
• All-4th Army Team at Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
• All-Southwest Conference honors at the University of Houston.
• All-Mexican Team in Mexico City.
• Selected for the Olympic Team.
• Currently is a physician residing in El Paso, Texas.

VAN SAMFORD

• Played center for the TJC teams of 1937–38 and 1938–39.
• Earned All-State honors at Paxton High School.
• All-State recognition at TJC.
• Outstanding Men’s Basketball Player at Stephen F. Austin State University.
• All-Conference team of the Lone Star Conference, ’40–’41.
• Broke conference scoring record and member of the first SFASU team to play in the national tournament in Kansas City, where he tied the tournament record for most points scored by a center (32) in one game.
• Played AAU basketball from 1941–44 in Illinois and Texas.
• Inducted into the SFASU Athletic Hall of Fame.
• 15 years at junior high and high school levels as a teacher, coach and principal.
• Currently retired and lives in Nacogdoches.

HARRY BOSTIC

• Outstanding scorer and playmaker for the Apache basketball teams of 1966 and 1967.
• NJCAA All Tournament Team his freshman season.
• Capped off South Zone Regional Tournament in Kilgore with a 20- foot jump shot with two seconds remaining to defeat Kilgore College.
• Led the 1967 team in total points scored, playing all 36 games during a season in which the Apaches lost to only two teams.
• Played basketball for Texas A&M University and advancement to the national NCAA tournament in 1969.
• Officiates basketball in his home town of Bryan.

JIMMY DICKEY

• All-American quarterback for the Apaches in 1953.
• Coached at University of Houston, Oklahoma State University, University of Oklahoma, Kansas University and the University of North Carolina before being named head football coach at Kansas State University.
• Served as a head coach in the annual Blue-Gray All-Star football game of Division I NCAA schools two years.
• Coaches high school football at Galena Park High School. HARRY BOSTIC
• Outstanding scorer and playmaker for the Apache basketball teams of 1966 and 1967.
• NJCAA All Tournament Team his freshman season.
• Capped off South Zone Regional Tournament in Kilgore with a 20- foot jump shot with two seconds remaining to defeat Kilgore College.
• Led the 1967 team in total points scored, playing all 36 games during a season in which the Apaches lost to only two teams.
• Played basketball for Texas A&M University and advancement to the national NCAA tournament in 1969.
• Officiates basketball in his home town of Bryan.

BONNIE BUCHANAN GRAY

• All-American in ladies’ junior college basketball in 1979 leading team to second-place finish in NJCAA national tournament.
• NAIA All-American team, 1981.
• First female athlete to be inducted into the Abilene Christian University Sports Hall of Fame.
• Member, Texas High School Sports Hall of Fame
• Administrative assistant for Sohio Petroleum of Houston.

BILL ‘‘TIGER’’ JOHNSON

• All-American center for the first TJC football team in 1947, which completed the season undefeated at 10–0.
• After completing his studies at TJC, went directly into professional football.
• Played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1948 to 1956, being named to the NFC Pro Bowl squad twice.
• Voted onto the Helms Foundation All-Time Pro- Bowl Team.
• Served as assistant coach for the 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Detroit Lions.
• Was head coach for Cincinnati Bengals, 1976–78.
• Currently serves as a consultant for Cincinnati Bengals.

DAVID G. LUNCEFORD

• All-American lineman at TJC in 1953.
• All-American at Baylor University, 1955.
• Drafted by the Chicago Cardinals of the National Football League, played two season, 1957 and 1958, before suffering an injury which forced retirement from the sport.
• Marketing Executive with Exxon Company, USA for 17 years.
• General Manager of Exxon Marine Operations at the time of his retirement in August 1992.
• Now serves as a management consultant specializing in management systems and organization.
• Currently serves on the TJC. District Board of Trustees.
• Outstanding Alumnus Award from TJC in 1985.

JIMMY W. MURPHY

• Played lineman on the 10–1 1953 Apache football team.
• All-Lone Star Conference selection at Stephen F. Austin State University; was co-captain of the Lumberjacks.
• Was drafted for professional football by the Chicago Cardinals.
• Named 35 consecutive years to the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table, the Texas Leaders’ Round Table, the Top of the Table, and the Twenty-Five Million Dollar Forum, whose membership includes less than three-tenths of one percent of the life insurance industry worldwide.

MACK POGUE

• A powerful running back for the outstanding TJC football teams of 1952 and 1953.
• Outstanding performances of 1952 include a game against favored Cameron, Oklahoma, in which he had a 65-yard TD scamper as the Apaches won, 69–0.
• Amassed 121 yards and 3 TD’s as the Apaches beat rival Kilgore College to claim the Big Six Conference Championship.
• Played running back and served as co-captain of the Texas Tech University Red Raider football team.
• In 1965, founded Lincoln Property Company, now one of the country’s largest commercial and residential real estate corporations.

HERBERT L. RICHARDSON

• Played on TJC’s first national championship basketball team in 1949 and was All-American that year.
• Played basketball at and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston.
• Served two years as head basketball coach and teacher at Mount Pleasant High School.
• Spent four years as head coach and teacher at Van High School.
• Assistant coach to TJC’s Floyd Wagstaff and later coach of the TJC women’s basketball team.
• Retired from TJC in 1985 after 27 years as TJC coach.

O’NEAL WEAVER

• Was All-American basketball player for TJC in 1951, playing on the national championship basketball team that year.
• Played 21 seasons and coached several sports for 26 years.
• Was the US Army All- Star team’s Most Valuable Player in 1954.
• Selected Midwestern State University’s MVP in 1956.
• Named to the NAIA All- American team.
• Drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers after junior year of college and by the Boston Celtics after his senior year.
• Inducted into the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 1974.
• Was awarded the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches’ Milestone Award for over 500 wins in boys and girls basketball.
• Took girls track teams to the state championship meet seven times and boys golf teams to the state championship meet five times.
• Served as coach at Martin’s Mill High School at the time of his death, in 1990.

JAMES ‘‘POO’’ WELCH

• All-American basketball player for TJC in 1969 and an All-American at University of Houston in 1971.
• Scored 130 points in three games during the Region XIV North Zone playoff, 1969.
• Graduated from the University of Houston and played professionally with the Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association.
• High school basketball coach the past 22 years.
• Coached girls teams to state championships at Waco Richfield High School (AAAA) in 1984 and 1985 and has guided teams (boys and girls) to district championships nine times.
• Currently serves as boys’ basketball coach at Canton High School.