Tyler Junior College will recognize a new group of inductees into the TJC Sports Circle of Honor during an awards luncheon on Saturday, Jan. 30, on the TJC main campus.
The awards ceremony will take place at 11:30 a.m. in Gentry Gym, inside the Ornelas Health & Physical Education Center. Following the ceremony, a reception will be held for inductees, their guests and members of the TJC Alumni Association. The reception will take place in the Floyd Wagstaff Museum, located inside Wagstaff Gym.
Inductees will also be introduced to the crowd during half-time of both the men’s and women’s basketball games against rival Kilgore College that afternoon. The ladies’ game begins at 2 p.m. and the men’s teams play at 4 p.m.
Alumni members are also invited to a welcome reception for inductees and Circle members on Friday, Jan. 29, from 5:30-7 p.m., in the Floyd Wagstaff Museum. To R.S.V.P. for any events, call 903-510-2588.
This year’s inductees are:
- Jimmy Blacklock, basketball, 1968-70
- Gene Branum, football, 1979-81
- Jessica Guild Williams, basketball, 1998-2000
- Nicole Guild Kraus, basketball, 1998-2000
- Janet Kniffen Scholl, tennis, 1979-81
- George “Folly” Malone, basketball, 1959-61
- Mike Martinez, tennis, 1988-90
- Chuck Mills, football, 1966-68
- John Peterson, tennis coach, 1983-2011
"It is an honor to recognize these individuals for their performance in athletics and in life,” said TJC director of intercollegiate athletics, Dr. Tim Drain.
The Circle of Honor was established in 1995 to honor former TJC student-athletes, coaches and special contributors to the athletic program who have excelled in athletics and made an impact on the lives of others.
Previous inductees into the Circle of Honor are: Floyd Wagstaff, football and basketball coach and athletic director; Brady P. Gentry, special contributor; James "Babe" Hallmark, football and football coach; Charlie McGinty, football and football coach; Billy Jack Doggett, basketball player and athletic director; Roy Thomas, basketball player and coach; Lee Ann Riley, basketball player and coach; Fred Kniffen, tennis coach; Robert Cox, tennis player and coach; Delton Wright, football coach; Harry Bostic, Kelly Chapman, Herbert Richardson, O’Neal Weaver, James "Poo" Welch, Bonnie Buchanan Gray, Russell Boone, Janice Mulford, V.C. "Buck" Overall, Jose Palafox, Foster Bullock, Van Samford, Milton Williams, Jesse Marshall, Robert Pack, Johnny Johnston, Jana Crosby Russell, Bryan Miller, Ardie D. Dixon, C.L. Nix, Evelyn Joe Troell Newman, David Rodriguez, Jack Sweeny, Scotti Wood, Rosie Aldridge Smart, Acker Hanks, Burl Plunkett and Sommy Sawyer, Jimmy Edelen, Vern Lewis and Charlotte Reescano, basketball; Bill "Tiger" Johnson, David Lunceford, Jimmy Murphy, Mack Pogue, Jimmy Dickey, Leon Fuller, Bill Herchman, John Linney, Dan Page, Lawrence Strickland, Dwain Bean, Kenneth Bahnsen, Kenneth Coffey, Jack Murphy, Raymond McGallion, Gene Shannon, Charles Quilter, Royce Townsend, Earl Dotson, Jim Wright, Lloyd L. Pate, Robert "Bob" Price, Richard Farris, Robert Talkington, Aubrey Schulz, Bobby Page, Wayne Hill, Donnie Murphy, Gene Staples, Ivy Lee Brown and Ike Forte, football; and Dessie M. Samuels, Judy Kniffen Clardy, Randy Mattingley, Mandy Nall and Scott Stewart, tennis.
Author: Fred M. Peters