Athletics Hall of Fame

Annually honoring KC's greatest athletes, teams, coaches and athletic contributors.

Hall of Fame Weekend postponed due to COVID-19:

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fall 2020 KC Athletics Hall of Fame Weekend has been postponed. It is tentatively set for April 29-30, 2021. Please check back for updates.

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KC athletics announces Hall of Fame inductees for 2020

Kilgore College will once again honor former standout athletes, coaches and contributors at its annual Hall of Fame Weekend Sept. 25-26. A benefit golf tournament is set for Friday, Sept. 25, and... Read Article

KC honors new inductees at Hall of Fame Weekend

Kilgore College honored former standout athletes, coaches and contributors at its annual Hall of Fame Weekend Sept. 27-28. Hall of Fame inductees were introduced during a luncheon Sept. 28 in the... Read Article

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame - 2018 Inductees

Football Teams:

Basketball Players:

Football Players:

Tennis Coach:

Richard Fothergill

Tennis Player:

Beth LaGrone Fulton

Contributor:

Spirit of Excellence Award*:

Terry George

* The Spirit of Excellence Award is for former KC athletes or coaches who have carried on the Ranger tradition of excellence to achieve an impressive level of distinction in his or her career field.

Hall of Fame - 2017 Inductees

Football:

Tony Atchley played football for KC from 1965-66 and was a part of the 1966 National Championship team under head coach Boyd Converse. Atchley was born in SEVERE Ville, Tenn., and graduated from SEVERE County High School in 1965. After high school, Athchley played football at Kilgore College for the 1965-66 season and played at the University of Alabama in 1967. While playing football at KC, he played in the 1965 Shrine Bowl. In 2005 he was inducted into the SEVERE County Tennessee Hall of Fame, followed in 2008 with an induction into the NJCAA Hall of Fame as a member of the 1966 KC National Championship Team.
Jorge Diaz played offensive tackle for the KC football team from 1992-93 under head coach Marion Turner. Born in New York, he grew up in Katy, playing football for Katy High School. At KC, he was a two-time All-American selection and named All-Conference. After KC, he played at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, where he was credited with 77 knockdown blocks and helped the A&M-Kingsville offense to averages of 286-rushing yards-per-game and 5.7 yards-per-carry. He also earned All-Lone Star Conference honors as a senior. In 1996, he was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he played until 1999. In 1999, Diaz played a key role in the most successful season in Buccaneers' history. His play on the offensive line helped the Buccaneers win the NFC Central Division and advance to the NFC Championship Game. Diaz also played one year for the Dallas Cowboys during the 2000-01 season where he helped open holes for Emmitt Smith to get closer to the all-time leading rusher record.
Jason Doyle was inducted posthumously. He played offensive/defensive tackle for the KC football team from 1979-80 under head coach Jim Miller. Doyle, from Tustin, Calif., was named an All-American football player by the NJCAA in 1980 on the Rangers team that went 10-1 and were TJCFC Champions for the seventh time in school history. Doyle, a 6-1, 250 pound graduate of Foothill High School (Tustin, Calif.), was an all-league offensive tackle at Foothill and aided in Kilgore being ranked No. 1 at one point during the 1980 season.

Men’s Basketball:

George Jackson was inducted posthumously. Jackson, a 6’7” center from Dayton Roth High School, played basketball at KC from 1967-69 and transferred to play at Dayton University where he still holds the school record for 25 rebounds in a game. As a freshman at Dayton, he averaged 12.1 points per game and 14.5 rebounds. His sophomore year, Dayton finished the season 18-9 and qualified for the National Invitational Tournament (NIT). As a sophomore, he averaged 14.5 points and 14.5 rebounds per game. He was picked ninth in the 14th round of the 1971 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks.

Women’s Basketball Player:

Jacqueline (Hodnett) Massey was born in Madison, Ga., and played basketball for the Lady Rangers from 1995-96 under head coach Evelyn Blalock. She was an All-American during the 1995-96 season and led the Lady Rangers to a 21-9 record. After KC she transferred to play at the University of Auburn at Montgomery where she averaged 24.7 points per game (second-best in school history) and scored 717 points her junior year (fourth-best in school history).

Contributor:

Raymond Muchowich was inducted posthumously. He played football at KC from 1936-38 under coaches Clyde Lee and Red Jackson. He was part of the Ranger teams in 1936, 1937 and 1938 that all won state championships, with a 27-4-2 record during his three year stint at KC. In 1955, Raymond took over his father’s oil business, Muchowich Offshore Oil Services, which is run today by his granddaughter, Stacy Jo Stanley. His daughter, Marilyn Stanley, is retired from the company but serves as the company’s Chairman of the Board. Raymond Muchowich is probably best known recently in Kilgore as the major contributor in the founding of the KC Athletics Hall of Fame. Muchowich’s donations before his death in 2000 were the largest donations made to KC to help launch the first KC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002. His donations were also instrumental in beginning to fund the field house project to build the beautiful new Kilgore College Field House at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium.

Spirit of Excellence Award*:

Don “Tooter” Carroll was awarded the “Spirit of Excellence Award” which is awarded to former KC athletes or coaches who have carried on the Ranger tradition of excellence to achieve an impressive level of distinction in his or her career field. Carroll was a member of the 1978 KC football team under head coach Jim Miller that finished the season as Texas Junior College Football Conference (TJCFC) Champions and was ranked No. 1 in the nation by the J.C. Gridwire poll. Following the 1978 season, Carroll accepted a scholarship offer to play football at The University of Tennessee and enjoyed a successful playing career in Tennessee from 1979-81. He graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. Carroll is a principal/partner in Landbridge Commercial Properties and draws upon more than 28 years of commercial real estate knowledge and experience in Industrial, office, retail, land and development sales.

* The Spirit of Excellence Award is for former KC athletes or coaches who have carried on the Ranger tradition of excellence to achieve an impressive level of distinction in his or her career field.

Hall of Fame - 2016 Inductees

The newest inductees for the Hall of Fame for the 2016 season are:

Football Players:

Charles Champine (posthumously) played tackle for the KC football team from 1977-78 under head coach Jim Miller and assistant coaches Marion Turner and Jim Prewit. Champine was named an All-American in 1978. KC was 10-0-1 that season, winning the TJCFF Conference Championship and the JC Gridwire National Championship.
Rob Tobeck played football for KC from 1989-90, then played for Washington State University. After college he played 14 seasons in the NFL as a guard/center for the Seattle Seahawks, the Atlanta Falcons, played in two Super Bowls (XXXIII and XL) and was named to the NFC Pro Bowl Team in 2005. Tobeck played six seasons for the Seahawks after being acquired as a free agent from the Atlanta Falcons after signing as a rookie in 1993. He retired from the NFL in 2007.

Men’s Basketball Players:

Gerald Paddio played basketball at KC from 1984-85 under head coach Ron Mayberry. That season the Rangers were 25-5. He then played for Seminole Junior College from 1985-86 and for UNLV from 1986-88. After college, he was selected by the Boston Celtics in the third round (74th overall) of the 1988 NBA Draft. A 6'7" guard-forward, Paddio played in three NBA seasons for five teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Seattle SuperSonics, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks and Washington Bullets. In his NBA career, Paddio played in 129 games and scored a total of 715 points. His most notable year as a professional was during the 1990-91 NBA season as a member of the Cavaliers when he appeared in 70 games and averaged 7.2 points per game. During his college playing days at UNLV, he was coached by Jerry Tarkanian.
Francisco Elson played basketball at KC from 1995-97 under head coach Scott Schumacher. He then played for the University of California, Berkeley from 1997-99 and was drafted in the second round of the 1999 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets, but did not play with them until the 2003-04 season because he played four years in Spain. In 2006 Elson signed a 2-year $6 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs where he won his first NBA Championship in 2007. He also played for the Seattle SuperSonics, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers and the Utah Jazz before he retired in 2013. Elson was the seventh Dutch player to appear in the NBA. He also served as the captain of the Netherlands national basketball team in international basketball, and led the team in several Eurobasket qualifying rounds.

Basketball Team:

1990-91 Men's Basketball Team: The 1990-91 Rangers basketball team was 25-5 overall and 14-2 in conference play under head coach Shawn Scanlan. The only two losses came to Tyler Junior College, 93-92 (OT), and to Navarro College, 84-76.

Contributors:

Gussie Nell Davis (posthumously) was hired in 1940 by B.E. Masters at Kilgore College to organize a group of girls to perform at the halftimes of college football games. As a result, the world famous Kilgore College Rangerettes were born. She directed the Rangerettes for 40 years. Davis was inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame in 1990 and was named posthumously to the Texas Drill Team Hall of Fame in 1996. She was also named Honorary Citizen of Fort Worth in 1965; received the International Civitan Citizenship Award in 1969, the Cotton Bowl Association 25th Anniversary Participation Award and a State of Texas House of Representatives Certificate of Citation in 1974 and was honored as a Distinguished Alumnae of Texas Woman's University in 1978.
Manny Almanza has worked at Kilgore College since 1995 and has been the play-by-play radio “voice” of KC Athletics since the fall of 1997. In his 19th year broadcasting Ranger athletic events, he is also the sponsor of the KC student club “Latinos en Accion” and is involved in numerous civic organizations and his church, Forest Home Baptist Church. Almanza has had other sports casting opportunities come his way in East Texas including high school basketball, baseball and softball playoff games for various schools. Additionally, he completed his eleventh season of broadcasting high school football in East Texas, and his fourth as the radio play-by-play announcer for John Tyler High School football. Almanza is the Coordinator of Marketing Operations and Outreach, a part of the Marketing and Enrollment Management office at KC.

Spirit of Excellence Awards:

Garry Monty played quarterback for the Rangers football team during the 1970 and 1971 seasons under head coach Charles Simmons and assistant coaches Jim Miller and Brodie Campbell. Those two seasons, KC was 15-4-2, winning the TJCFF Conference Championship in 1970. Monty played QB at Wichita State University from 1972-73. He also earned a Master of Education in 1984 from East Texas State University. Monty was a coach and teacher for more than 30 years including stops at Bishop Lynch, Lake Highlands, Samuell, Hillcrest and Creekview (Carrollton, TX) high schools. While coaching at Lake Highlands, the Wildcats won the 1981 5A Texas State Championship. As head coach at Hillcrest, Monty’s teams made the playoffs 5-of-7 seasons and he was named Coach of the Year four times. In 1995, Monty was named 4A North Texas Coach of the Year. Monty began the football program at Creekview in 1998 and was head coach there until 2005. Creekview had one of the most successful teams for any first year program in the state of Texas, going undefeated through its first six games and made the playoffs in its second season of varsity football. He now resides in Mesquite where he is a sales representative for Pro Maxima Strength and Conditioning.
John Underwood played basketball at KC from 1964-66 under head coach Joe Turner. During the 1964-65 season, the Rangers were 31-2, winning the Texas Eastern Conference Championship and advancing to the third round of the national tournament. In 1965-66, they tied for second in the TEC and were 18-9. After KC, Underwood transferred to Texas A&M University where he was a two-year basketball starter in 1967 and 1968. He was selected to the All-Southwest Conference Academic team both years and was named to the All-SWC Second Team in 1968. Underwood joined the Big 12 Conference in May of 2002 as the Assistant Commissioner and was named Associate Commissioner for Men’s Basketball and Game Management in 2006, a job he still holds today. He oversees all aspects of the men’s basketball operations in the Big 12. Underwood works directly with the coaching groups and administrators on each Big 12 campus along with handling the conference’s issues with game management. He also plays a significant role in the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship and also serves as vice chair on the Men’s College Basketball Officiating, LLC (MCBO) Board of Managers and the Competition Committee.

PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT

Hall of Fame - 2015 Inductees

2001 Football Team:

KC finished the 2001 season with a perfect 12-0 record – the most wins for a Rangers team in program history. The 2001 KC football team, under head coach Jimmy Rieves, was also named in 2014 to the NJCAA Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Football: Darin Boone

Boone was a two-year starter at KC during the 1980 and 1981 football seasons as a defensive lineman and was named All-Conference, All-American and was named the TJCFC Defensive MVP in 1981. He went on to play at Southern Methodist University during the “Pony Express” era with Craig James and Eric Dickerson.

Football: Mark Crites

Crites was a two-year starter for KC during the 1980 and 1981 football seasons as a fullback and was named All-Conference, All-American and TJCFC Offensive MVP in 1981. He went on to play in the backfield at Southern Methodist University during the “Pony Express” era with Craig James and Eric Dickerson.

Men’s Basketball: Benny Johnson

Johnson played basketball for KC from 1959-61 and was named as an All-American both seasons.

Men’s Basketball: Marcus Thornton

Thornton played at KC from 2006-07 under head coach Scott Schumacher and has played in the NBA since 2009. He was named All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2006 at KC and was named First Team All-American, First Team All-Conference and Conference MVP his sophomore season. Thornton played for Louisiana State University from 2007-09 where he was named SEC Player of the Year and First Team All-SEC in 2009. He was signed in the second round of the NBA draft in 2009 and currently plays for the Houston Rockets.

Women’s Basketball: Aja Anderson

Aja Anderson played basketball for the Lady Rangers from 1996-98 under head coach Evelyn Blalock. Her freshman season, the Lady Rangers were Co-Champions with Trinity Valley with a 13-1 conference record. She was named All-Conference and Freshman of the Year. Her sophomore season, Aja led the Lady Rangers to the playoffs and was once again named to the All-Conference team.

Contributors: Mike and Amy Clements

The Clements are owners of Energy Weldfab, Inc. in White Oak, alumni of KC and longtime supporters of the college and its athletic programs.

MORE INFO

Hall of Fame - 2014 Inductees

Football:

Mike Sargent (player from 1965-66) more info
Steve Sakis (player from 1969-70) more info

Men's Basketball:

Ed Erickson (player from 1955-57) more info

Women’s Basketball:

Lisa Payne (player from 1988-90) more info

Team:

1986 Women’s Basketball Team (First women’s conference championship in school history, finished seventh nationally with 28-9 record, head coach Evelyn Blalock) more info

Contributors:

Terry Stembridge, Sr. (longtime radio announcer for KC Athletics) more info
Marion Turner (played football from 1959-60, assistant coach from 1975-91, head coach from 1992-96, former KC Board member and KC instructor) more info

Hall of Fame - 2013 Inductees

Football player: Kyle Cunningham (1978-79)
Football player: C.G. Mata (1961-62)
Football player: Leonard Carey (1969)
Men's Basketball player: Tom Farrell (1966)
Women’s Basketball player: Cheron Wells (1989)
Team: 1993-94 Men’s Basketball Team
Contributor: David Castles: longtime KC teacher, coach and athletic director

Hall of Fame - 2012 Inductees

Football player: Michael Wright (1977-78)
Football player: Darnell Losak (1965-66)
Football player: Wayne Barginear (1961-62)
Men's Basketball player: Ronnie Monks (1961-63)
Women’s Basketball player and coach: Shanna Clayton Johnson (player from 1984-86, assistant coach from 1988-97)
Teams: 1961-62 and 1962-63 basketball teams
Contributor: Archie Whitfield (longtime employee at KC)

Hall of Fame - 2011 Inductees

Football player: Bob Laird (1977-78)
Football player: Randy Lemons (1965-66)
Football player: Glenn Ingram (1964-65)
Football coach: Jimmy Parks (1942 and 1946)
Athletic Trainer: Red McKeller (1966-67)
Men's Basketball player: Clifton Harris (1970-71)
Women’s Basketball player: Linda Watson (1992-93)
Teams: 1977 and 1978 football teams
Contributors: Cecelia Sanders (secretary to the director of athletics and student activities for more than 20 years)

Hall of Fame - 2010 Inductees

Contributors: Jerry and Shalia Pybas
Women's Basketball player: Rosalind Hodge (1988)
Football player: Ricky Hardin (1978)
Basketball player: Ted Whillock (1956)
Football player: Sid Bailey (1966)

Hall of Fame - 2009 Inductees

Men's Football: Steve Atchley (1966-67), Pat Murphy (1967-68), George Riley (1950-51) and Ray Woodard (1980-81)
Men's Basketball: Wilmer Cox (1956-58)
Women’s Basketball: Tina Malone (1991-92)
Team: 1975 KC Football Team
Contributor: Wayne Fortson (team doctor for several years at KC)

Hall of Fame - 2008 Inductees

Men's Football: Glenn Tucker (1967), Charles Jungmichel (1937-39), Gary Reeves (1959-60), Boyd Converse (coach, 1964-66)
Men's Basketball: Gerald Woodard (1960-62)
Women's Basketball: Marsha Morneau-Phillips (1984-86)
Basketball Team: 1992-93 women's team
Contributor: Calvin Fortson
Also Honoring: 1966 Men's National Championship football team and Ned Duncan for making the NJCAA Hall of Fame.

Hall of Fame - 2007 Inductees

Basketball Team: 1964-65 Men’s Basketball Team
Men's Basketball player: Sammy Hervey (1970-72)
Women's Basketball player: ShaRhonda Reynolds (1991-93)
Football player: Victor Jordan (1940-41)
Football Coach: Charlie Simmons (1967-75)
Contributors: Clyde Lee Players Association and Latane Speer, KC government instructor since 1971

Hall of Fame - 2006 Inductees

Team: 1939 Football Team; 1971 Football Team

Women's Basketball Player: Kim Hill (1989-1991)

Men's Basketball Player: Freddy Steele (1961-1965)

Football Players: John Gregory (1965-1966) and Lester Belrose (1974-1975)

Contributor: Jim Campbell

Hall of Fame - 2005 Inductees

Team: 1990 Women's Basketball Team

Women's Basketball Player: Kim Spencer (1989 - 1990)

Men's Basketball Players: Don Stanley (1958 - 1959); Pat Stanley (1958 - 1959)

Football Players: Roger Ellis (1961 - 1962); Bobby Dill (1946 - 1947); Roger Adams (1977 - 1978)

Contributor: Hershell Curtis (1940 - 1941)

Hall of Fame - 2004 Inductees

Team: 1958 Men's basketball National Championship Team

Football Players: Gilly Davis (1935-1937); Alan Neveux (1946-1947); Dickey McGaughey (1961-1962); and Andy Durret (1966-1967)

Men's Basketball Player: Sid Cohen 1956-1958

Women's Basketball Player: Regina Wright 1989-1991

Contributor: Mr. & Mrs. Billy Bob Terrell

Hall of Fame - 2003 Inductees

Football Players: Gean B. Hale (1938-39-40); Raymond Stone (1946); Harold Mayo 1959; and Eddie Rogers (1964-65)
Men's Basketball Player: Steve Bracey 1968-69 1969-70
Women's Basketball Player: Pam Hudson
Contributor: Rudy Thrower
Football Team: 1966 National Championship Football Team:
Steve Atchley
Tony Atchley
Sid Bailey
Jim (Stoney) Bannister
Andy Boland
Roger Braker
Dwayne Brewer
Bill Brousseau
Fred Carrington
Mike Coleman
Boyd Converse
Steve Copeland
Bill Dietz
Andy Durrett
Ronnie Freestone
John Gregory
Jerry Gulledge
Bobby Hawthorne
Robbie Huckaby
Johnny Johnson
Randy Lemons
Darnell Losak
Red McKeller
Orie McKenzie
Tommy Merritt
Bob Peterson
Danny Pidcock
Ron Regan
Clyde Reid
Terry Reisig
Rudy Sabatinelli
Sandy Sands
Mike Sargent
Joe Silker
Terry Stembridge
Ronny Tuttle
Jeff Walker
James Waltmon
Terry Warren
Harry Watson

Hall of Fame - 2002 Inductees

Football Team: The 1946 "Little Rose Bowl Team"
Basketball Teams: Men's 1956 National Championship team; Women's 1988 National Championship team
Football Players: Darrell Shaver (1946 - 1947); Bobby Cross (1948 - 1949); Donnie Caraway (1953 - 1954); Billy Burt (1961 - 1962); Leonard Dunlop (1967 - 1968); and Gary Blair (1974 - 1975)
Football Coaches: Coach Clyde Lee (1935 - 1941) and Coach Jim Miller (Assistant 1967 - 1975 & Head Coach 1976 - 1991)
Basketball Coaches: Evelyn Blalock (Women's Coach) and Joe Turner (Men's Coach)
Men’s Basketball Players: Ned Duncan (1954-1956) and Donald Kruse (1963-1965)
Women's Basketball Player: Saudia Roundtree (1992-1994)