First TPS athletics hall of fame class prepares for enshrinement

BY BARRY LEWIS World Sports Writer
Thursday, January 24, 2013
1/24/13 at 8:15 AM

Four Super Bowl champion players and an Olympic gold medal winner are among those who will be honored in the Tulsa Public Schools Athletics Hall of Fame's first induction class during a banquet Thursday night at The Doubletree at Warren Place.

The Super Bowl champions are Tony Casillas, Randy Hughes, Spencer Tillman and Don Chandler. The gold medalist is Wayman Tisdale, a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic basketball team,

Thursday's induction class will include 15 members, and all the living inductees are expected to attend. Besides Casillas, Hughes and Tillman, the living inductees are Brent Blackman, Reuben Gant, Gary Howard, Luther Pegues and Rod Kilgore.

Joining Chandler and Tisdale as posthumous inductees are coaching legends Bill Allen, Ed Lacy, Grady Skillern and S.E. Williams plus longtime TPS superintendent Charles Mason. All of the posthumous inductees will be represented by family members.

"We have such a long history of talented individuals who have achieved athletically and academically," TPS athletic director Gil Cloud said.

All nine current TPS high schools will have a representative. Future induction classes likely will be limited to five per year. Mason High School, which operated during the 1970s, will likely be represented in the future.

Selections were made by a committee that included Cloud, Booker T. Washington administrator and former basketball coach Mike Mims, Olympic gold medalist Madeline Mims, former University of Tulsa football coach and Rogers standout Dave Rader, former Edison and Webster basketball coach J.V. Haney, sports writer Terrell Lester, KTUL sportscaster Chris Lincoln, Memorial athletic director Robert Sprague and TPS assistant athletic director Mick Wilson. Lincoln will be the banquet's emcee.

Inductees can be in any of the following categories - student athlete, coach, athletics administrator, school administrator or donor.

Cloud is excited about starting the hall of fame and its potential.

"To me it was a no-brainer," Cloud said. "It's a story we need to tell the public. The individual institutions have their own local hall of fames, but this is the first time as a district that we can collectively honor those outstanding athletes, coaches and administrators that we've had in Tulsa Public Schools. We need to tell the public about the quality education and athletics that we offer."

Cloud said the Hall of Fame eventually will have a physical home at the Charles C. Mason Education Service Center.

"There will be a place where people can come and learn about our athletic history," Cloud said.

Tickets remain available for the banquet and can be purchased at the door for $100 or by calling the TPS Athletics office at 918-746-6453. The reception starts at 6 p.m., and the banquet is at 7 p.m.

"It's a chance to hear and see some very talented people," Cloud said.

Tony Casillas

East Central

An All-State defensive lineman, he went on to become a two-time All-America selection at the University of Oklahoma. Won the 1985 Lombardi Award as the nation's top lineman as he helped lead OU to a national title. Was the second choice in the 1986 NFL draft. Played 12 seasons in the NFL and won two Super Bowl titles with Dallas. A member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Spencer Tillman

Edison

Rushed for more than 5,000 yards at Edison. Was a running back for the University of Oklahoma's 1985 national champions and was the 1987 Orange Bowl MVP as he rushed for two touchdowns against Arkansas. Played eight seasons in the NFL from 1987-94 with the Houston Oilers and San Francisco 49ers. Has been a CBS Sports broadcaster since 1999.

Wayman Tisdale

Booker T. Washington

(Posthumous)

Helped Booker T. Washington win the 1981 large-school state basketball title and was the World's co-state player of the year in 1982. The first college basketball player to be an AP All-America selection as a freshman, sophomore and junior while at the University of Oklahoma. A member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic team that won a gold medal. Played 12 seasons in the NBA. The Wayman Tisdale Award is given annually to the nation's top freshman basketball player.

TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Bill Allen

Webster/Central(Posthumous)

Allen's 25 seasons as Webster's boys basketball coach included 364 victories and the 1966 large-school state title. Also was Webster's athletic director for 24 years and was the first president of the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association. Played basketball for Grady Skillern at Central. A member of the National High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Brent Blackman

Hale

An All-State quarterback for Hale, which played Booker T. Washington in the 1969 large-school semifinals that drew 39,000 fans to Skelly Stadium. Passed for four touchdowns in the 1970 Oil Bowl. Was a three-year starter at Oklahoma State.

Don Chandler

Rogers

(Posthumous)

Led the nation in punting at Florida in 1955. Played 12 seasons in the NFL with the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers. Led the NFL in punting in 1957, in field goal percentage in 1962 and scoring in 1963. In the Packers' Super Bowl II victory he kicked four field goals, which is still tied for the Super Bowl record. Selected to 1960s NFL All-Decade Team. A member of halls of fame for the Packers, Giants, University of Florida and Oklahoma.

Reuben Gant

Booker T. Washington

Was a 1969 Parade All-America selection after helping the Hornets win their third straight state football title. After playing football and basketball at Oklahoma State, he spent seven seasons as a tight end with the NFL's Buffalo Bills after being their first-round draft choice in 1974. Has been the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce president since 1998.

Gary Howard

Central

Was a starter in three sports - football, basketball and baseball - at Central. Helped the Braves win a state baseball title in 1960. Was a two-year starting lineman on Arkansas teams that went to two Sugar Bowls. Has the most coaching victories in Central Oklahoma history, 162, and won a NAIA title in 1982 when he was named the NAIA coach of the year. A member of the UCO Hall of Fame.

Randy Hughes

Memorial

Was selected as the World's state football player of the year in 1970. Was an All-America safety at Oklahoma in 1973 and '74, and helped the Sooners win the '74 national title. Played in three Super Bowls during his six seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Came up with three turnovers in Dallas' Super Bowl XII victory.

Rod Kilgore

Webster

A three-sport standout for the Warriors. Was a member of Webster's 1970 baseball state champions. Was an All-State and Oil Bowl football selection. Was a high school All-America selection in wrestling with a career record of 76-2 and two state titles. Signed to play baseball at Oklahoma but eventually focused on wrestling and won two NCAA championships. Was the first OU wrestler to reach 100 wins, finishing at 120-17-2.

Ed Lacy

Booker T. Washington

(Posthumous)

Coached Booker T. Washington to five state football titles in nine seasons as head coach, with a record of 78-11-32 at his alma mater. He also started the school's wrestling program in 1962 and tennis program in 1963. Was the TPS Athletic Director from 1974-91. A member of the Tulsa Historical Society's Hall of Fame.

Charles C. Mason

(Posthumous)

Was the TPS superintendent from 1944-69, holding the position longer than anyone in the district's history. He was a strong supporters of athletics as a vital part in the total education of students. A member of the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame.

Luther Pegues

McLain/Booker T. Washington

Was a 1960 All-State basketball player at Booker T. Washington, where he also excelled in baseball and football. Coached basketball 30 years at McLain and also was its athletic director. Led the boys team to 10 state tournaments in 13 years from 1993-2005, including a runner-up finish in '93. Coached McLain's girls to six state tournament appearances prior to being named the boys' coach.

Grady Skillern

Central

(Posthumous)

Had a 410-84 record and won four state titles as Central's boys basketball coach from 1930-49. Also was the TPS athletic director and in 1943 started the football All-City Preview that was named for him in 1991. Was a football official in the Big Eight and Southwest conferences. Member of the Oklahoma Officials Association Hall of Fame.

S.E. Williams

Booker T. Washington

(Posthumous)

Coached Booker T. Washington to 19 state football titles in the Oklahoma Interscholastic Athletic Association, before desegregation enabled the Hornets to join the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association. Had a 290-23-11 record with 14 unbeaten seasons from 1920-51. Was the first president of the National Negro Coaches Association and received its Founders Award in 1955. He won 52 of 60 games on the road against out-of-state opponents, including at the Cotton Bowl. Also coached Hornets to 13 OIAA state basketball titles and won five national championships. Led Hornets to six national track titles. Hornets stadium was named for him in 1972.

TPS Athletics Hall of Fame banquet

Where: The Doubletree at Warren Place

7 p.m. Thursday Tickets: $100

Original Print Headline: Inaugural induction

Barry Lewis 918-581-8393
barry.lewis@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

Tulsa World file photo