Sul Ross Hall of Honor About the Awards

The Hall of Honor awards recognize distinguished athletes, alumni, and friends of Sul Ross State University.

Individuals are awarded for distinguishing themselves through their professional and personal achievements and contributions, thereby bringing honor and distinc-tion to Sul Ross State University.

The Athletic Hall of Honor recognizes former Lobo athletic standouts, coaches, sports administrators and boosters for their outstanding contributions to athletics; their sportsmanship and character. The Slingin’ Sammy Baugh Award for Outstanding Service recognizes individu-als for exceptional service and support to the University. The award is named for legendary collegiate and professional quarterback, Sammy Baugh, a generous friend whose fundraising helped provide scholarships to many Sul Ross students.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor that the University and Alumni Association can bestow upon an alumnus, and recognizes the accomplish-ments and contributions of notable graduates and alumni.

1981 Jack Fletcher

Gene Hendryx

1982 Norma Young

Dr. Barton H. Warnock Virginia Duncan Madison

1983

Don Jobes

1987 Dan Blocker Harley May

1991

Paul Patterson James F. Wittenburg

Dr. Jack L. Ruttle

1993 John G. Prude

Daniel Bustamante

1994 E. H. “Al” Donaubauer

Rev. Monte Jones Ray McNeill

1995

Becky Terry Dr. E. Julius Dasch

1996

Dr. Franklin W. Daugherty Phil Wayne Ebensberger

Dick Ronald “Ronnie” Sizemore Dr. Raymond Van Cleef

1997

Pete P. Gallego Fred W. Davis

1998

Kenneth Batchelor Jim Cauble

Victor “Vic” Villarreal

1999 Dr. Bobby G. Wixson Dr. David L. Amsbury

2000 Dr. Russell Long

Mark Wood

2001 James O. Aplan

Lorenzo G. LaFarelle

2002 Roy T. McBride

Clete B. Buckaloo

2003 Jeff Henderson David Moore

2004

Morris Cranmer Robert and Laura Eaves

2005

Nellie Morales Bill Golden

2006

Sam Sparks Lt. Jerry Byrne, Jr. Dr. Paul Weyerts

2007

Robie Golden Gary Painter

2008

Dr. Abelardo “Abe” Baeza Dr. Roberta L. Rudnick

2009

Dr. Bryan Hobson Wildenthal Dr. Kern Wildenthal

2010

Dr. James Scudday Dr. A. Michael Powell

2011

Dr. William F. McDonough

Sul Ross State University Distinguished Alumni

Hall of Honor Program

Welcome and Introductions

Dr. Quint Thurman, Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs

Invocation Don Sugarek, President, Sul Ross Alumni Association Dinner Buffet Aramark Dining Services Award Presentations Athletic Hall of Honor Inductions

Don Bandy, accepted by Carla Bandy Presented by Dr. David Watson, School of Arts and Sciences Natalie Whitewood Johns Presented by Kay Whitley, Athletic Director Victor Villarreal, accepted by Evangelina Villarreal Presented by Steve Lang, Director of News and Information Metha and Bill Sprinkle, accepted by Metha Sprinkle Presented by Dr. Chet Sample, School of Professional Studies

Slingin’ Sammy Baugh Award for Outstanding Service

Peggy and Dan Allen Hughes, Jr.

Presented by Dr. Louis Harveson, Director of Borderlands Research Institute   Distinguished Alumni Awards

Dora Alcala Presented by President Ricardo Maestas Gary Dunshee Presented by Chance Campbell, Sul Ross Rodeo Coach & Liz Jackson, Director of the Museum of the Big Bend J.T. Rutherford, accepted by Ann Rutherford Presented by Larry Francell, Jeff Davis County Commissioner & Marilyn McGhee, Director of Sponsored Programs

Closing and Thanks Dr. Ricardo Maestas, President

Athletic H

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onor Inductees

Victor Villarreal Victor Villarreal, of Horizon City, TX, was a 1953 Sul Ross graduate and in 1998, received the Distinguished Alum-ni Award from the Sul Ross Ex-Student Association. A native of Edinburg, Victor was a U.S. Navy veteran and attended Edinburg Junior College and the University of Colorado before enrolling at Sul Ross in 1951. He was a member of the Lobo football team for two seasons and after graduation, coached football, baseball and boxing in Brownsville for seven years. His boxing teams won six con-secutive regional championships. Villarreal was an instructor for the U.S. Border Patrol, an athletic director for the Department of the Army at Fort Polk, La., and after moving to El Paso, was active in boxing circles for many years as a referee, judge, ring announc-er, promoter and tournament director. He helped promote establishment of the El Paso Boxing-Karate Hall of Fame and was later inducted as a member. Villarreal was also inducted into the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame in Edinburg in 2001. Victor died in 2008 and is survived by his wife, Evangelina, sons Victor L.and Glenn Dale, eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

1986 Frank Barton Cuthbert Carll Norman Cash

Dr. B.C. Graves Gene Hendryx

H.L. Kokernot, Jr. Ray McNeill

Mary Jo Peppler W.H. Perryman

Dr. Paul E. Pierce John G. Prude

Joe R. Sanchez, Sr. Ted Scown

Dr. Barton Warnock Drury Wood

1987

Marshall Bozarth Jake M. Harrell Bigham Luna

Otis Parks Tom Tipps

Jack Fryman Charlie Laffoon

Marilyn McReavy Kenneth Stucke Fuqua Younger

1988

Charles Brandon Herman Hudson Robert L. Mathis Homer L. Morris David Slaughter

John C. Waldrum

1989 Don Bingham

William D. Cowan Jacob Henry

Salvador Peimbert

1990 Dr. Clifford Casey Erich Hardaway

Earl Miller Luz Pedraza

1991

Alfredo Avila Robert Cross

Samuel Fowler, Jr. Dale Garner

1992

Curtis Bozarth Otto Carrick Larry Hill

Ray Morrison

1993 Charles Boyles

Becky Ramos Espino John Dow Harris Joel Rance Smith

1994

Leland Caffey Neville and

Virginia Haynes Paul Pasqua, Jr.

Dr. A. Michael Powell

1995 Freddy W. Davis

Frank Krhut Glenn Lewallen Kathryn Stucke

1996

Herb Biedermann Nora Payne Geron Dr. Jerry Hudgins

Hon. Pete P. Gallego

1997 Leticia Canales

Jerry Lynn Nixon William Dudley Rogers

Burnett Williams

1998 Dan Blocker

Ricardo “Ricky” Enriquez Vicky Vidaña Gonzalez

Bobbie McDaniel

1999 Ray Hendryx Andrew Hill

Charles E. Prescott Pete Swain

2000

Otis “Sonny” Coggins Stephanie Edgar

Al Ogletree Dee David White

2001 Tom Chandler John L. Higdon James Mancill

Nanci Ortiz Saenz

2002 Tommy Brakel

Bob O’Day Edna Ramos Parr

Dr. Wayne Sheehan

2003 Albert Garcia

Patricia Bustamante Lange Bob Richardson

Dorothy Perryman

2004 Marvin Agnew Jackie Harvey

Tami-Kajs-Haynes

2005 Becky Granado

Albert “Flop” Parsons James Miller Jerry Sotello

2006

Kim A. Hughes Leslie Martin Storer

Dr. Chet Sample

2007 Ruth Roman McWilliams

Dana Souter Pannell Joe George John Curry

2008

Isaac Beard Missy Davis Miramontes

Amie Smith Sanford and Maurine DeVoll

2009

Janna McHazlett April Ramirez

Maurice Stephens

2010 Jesse Cordero Victor Flores

Selena Moreno Vega

2011 John Fortenberry

Sam Sparks Wayne Thorp

Sul Ross State University Athle c Hall of Honor  

Sul Ross State University Slingin’ Sammy Baugh Award

for Outstanding Service

2002 “Slingin” Sammy Baugh

2003

Tom Connor Jesse Hatfield

2004

Delbert Dyke

2005 Dorothy Leavitt

2006

Mrs. Paul “Teeby” Forchheimer

2007 John Martin Davis

2008

J. Travis Roberts, Jr.

2009 R. Keith Martin

2010

Barbara Richerson

2011 Lamar Urbanovsky

Athletic Hall of H

onor Inductees Don Bandy

Don Bandy, of Buda TX, graduated from Sul Ross in 1982. Bandy attended Anderson High School in Austin and Tyler Junior College be-fore transferring to Sul Ross. He was a member of the Lobo football team from 1980-82. During Don’s years at Sul Ross, the Lobos shared the TIAA title (1981) and were the outright champions (in 1982). A defensive standout, Bandy was a three-time Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association Player of the Week, earned all-conference honors, and was an NAIA All-District 8 and All-American selection. He served as team captain his senior year. In 1981, Bandy was named TIAA De-fensive Player of the Week on Home-coming when his bride-to-be, Carla Avant, was chosen as Homecoming Queen. After graduation, he started a service equipment company in Buda and operated it until his death in May 2012. “Don was so proud to be a graduate of Sul Ross,” Carla Bandy said. “We both loved Alpine and the University. Mak-ing lifelong friends from Sul Ross has been a true blessing in our lives.” The Bandys, who married in 1983, have three sons, Kyle, R.J. and Brent, who is a Sul Ross student.

Athletic H

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onor Inductees

Natalie Whitewood Johns Natalie Whitewood Johns, a 2002 grad-uate, played basketball for three seasons and softball for two years at Sul Ross. The Harper High School graduate trans-ferred to Sul Ross from Louisiana Col-lege and played basketball during the 1997-98, 1998-99 and 2000-01 seasons, missing one year with an injury. She was an All-American Southwest Con-ference selection in 1998-99 and was named to the ASC All-West Division first and second teams. She was a two-time team Most Valuable Player and a three-time ASC Player of the Week. Johns ranks third on the Lady Lobos’ career scoring list with 1,137 points and holds five career records, including a 16.7 points per game average. Her 493 points in 1998-99 is a single-season standard. During one game in 1998, she and teammate Wendy Smith combined for 66 points and outscored the entire LeTourneau team, who were the defend-ing national champions. “My overall experience at Sul Ross is something I will cherish the rest of my life,” she said. “I came to Sul Ross and it felt like a family and I was treated like family. I always felt honored being able to play two sports and it is an experi-ence that will last a lifetime.” Following graduation, Johns has taught and coached at Comfort, McCamey, Harper, Kermit and returned to Comfort at the start of this school year. She coached the first-ever softball teams in McCamey and Harper and her Comfort team won a district title. At McCamey, she coached two state powerlifting champions. Johns has two daughters, Robin and Jordon.

Slingin' Sammy Baugh O

utstanding Service Award

Peggy and Dan Allen Hughes, Jr. Peggy and Dan Allen Hughes, Jr., of Beeville, established Sul Ross’ first endowed position with a $1 million gift earlier this year. Their gift established the Dan Allen Hughes, Jr., En-dowed Director for Borderlands Research Institute (BRI). The couple has a deep commit-ment to wildlife and land con-servation, and Dan Allen serves on the BRI advisory board. In 2009, Dan Allen was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to a

six-year term on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. Dan Allen is president of Dan A. Hughes Company, LP; president of Hu-pecol Operating Company, LLC; and CEO of Maverick American Natural Gas. He is a member of the Texas A&M University College of Geoscienc-es 2 Advisory Council and is a member of the All American Wildcatters. He is a 1980 Texas A&M graduate. Peggy Gorden Hughes is a 1982 Texas A&M graduate, a member of the Council of Athletic Ambassadors and the San Antonio Champions Coun-cil. She is a trustee of the 12th Man Foundation and a member of the San Antonio Charity Ball Association, San Antonio Symphony, Zeta Tau Al-pha Sorority and the Alamo Heights Methodist Church. Borderlands Research Institute presently manages about 30 student re-search projects, totaling more than $2 million in grants. BRI seeks to pro-vide land managers with the most current scientific information on the management of the natural resources of the area through their research. “Peggy and I are very pleased we are able to make this gift,” said Dan Al-len. “BRI, with the assets of Sul Ross State University, is currently con-ducting and will continue to conduct much-needed research on the wildlife of the Trans-Pecos Region. By endowing the director’s position, that per-son will be able to spend most of his or her time overseeing and growing the institute.” Both Dan Allen and Peggy enjoy hunting, fishing, diving and photography. They are the parents of three children

Hughes Family: D.A., Peggy, Dan Allen,  Elizabeth and Will

Distinguished Alum

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James T. (J.T.) Rutherford

Student, 1947-1948 James T. (J.T) Rutherford attended Sul Ross from 1947-48, before go-ing on to Baylor Law School and a long career in public service. Rutherford was elected to the Texas House of Representatives from 1948-52; was a member of the Tex-as State Senate from 1953 to 1954, and then served as a U.S. Congress-man from 1955-1963. Rutherford was the first chairman of the House Subcommittee on Na-tional Parks and was instrumental in

the creation of the Fort Davis National Historic Site. In 1962, he was award-ed the U.S. Department of Interior’s Conservation Service Award. He repre-sented the old 16th District, which extended from Midland to El Paso and for hundreds of miles along the U.S.-Mexico border. From 1942-46, Rutherford served in the U.S. Marine Corps and spent 28 months in the Pacific Theatre (Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian) during World War II. He was wounded in action and awarded the Purple Heart. During his years of active and reserve service, he rose in rank from private to major. His be-lief in providing good care for military veterans led him to be active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars and he served a two-year term as Texas state com-mander in the 1950s. Even as a Congressman, Rutherford remained a prominent Sul Ross ex-student, twice serving as keynote speaker during Homecoming . Among the friendships he made at Sul Ross were Dan Blocker, who starred as Hoss Cartwright in the TV series “Bonanza,” and Gene Hendryx, Alpine broad-casting pioneer, and former state representative. While at Sul Ross, Ruther-ford also met his future wife, Sara Jane Armstrong. Rutherford was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas in 1921. He moved with his family to Odessa in 1934. “He loved that part of the country and was very proud of his efforts in establishing the Fort Davis National Historic Site and Guadalupe National Park,” said daughter, Ann Rutherford. Rutherford, who passed away in 2006, was preceded in death by his wife, Sara, in 2004. They are buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The couple had three children, Ann, Charles and Jane. “Daddy, a man of integrity and thoughtfulness, showed his love of God, family and country in both word and deed,” said daughter Ann.

Athletic Hall of H

onor Boosters

Athletic Hall of Honor Boosters Bill and Metha Sprinkle Bill Sprinkle served as director of the University Print Shop from 1969 until his retirement in 1983. He also taught graphic arts. Metha Sprinkle taught history, English and education courses at Sul Ross from 1970 until her retirement in 1984. In 1983, she was honored with the first Sul Ross Outstanding Teaching Award. Bill Sprinkle, a native of Paris, Arkansas., worked in a number of community newspapers before coming to Sul Ross. He re-ceived a B.S. from Sul Ross in 1967 and M.S. from the Univer-sity of Arizona in 1969. Metha Sprinkle, a native of Whitehouse, received a B.A. from North Texas State University in 1941 and M.A. from Sul Ross in 1972. Prior to her Sul Ross tenure, she taught 17 years in public schools in Monahans, Pecos, Chandler and El Paso. The Sprinkles were associated with Sul Ross athletics through-out their tenures and beyond. Bill died in 1994. “We have always appreciated the administrators and coaches for their character, interest in students and their abilities and performance,” Metha Sprinkle said. “We are happy to claim Sul Ross as ‘our university.”

Distinguished Alum

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Dora Alcala B.A. in Business Administration, 1978

Dora Alcala, a 1978 cum laude graduate in busi-ness administration, was the first woman elected Mayor in Del Rio’s history, serving three terms until 2006. She also ran for State Representa-tive of Texas House District 74 earlier this year. Dora earned a Master’s degree in Management from Webster University in St. Louis, and worked 37 years as a civilian for the Department of Defense and the United States Air Force. In 1990, she received an appointment from Presi-dent George H. W. Bush as the Deputy for Equal Opportunity for the United States Air Force at the Pentagon and attained the rank of

Senior Executive. In 2004, Alcala was appointed to the Board of Regents of the Texas State University System by Governor Rick Perry, serving a six-year term. Coin-cidentally, her swearing-in ceremony occurred on the Sul Ross campus in Alpine. “It was a wonderful honor to be sworn in at my alma mater,” Alcala said. “My most memorable experience was serving on the Board of Regents and being involved with Sul Ross during the building of new student housing,” she said. “I enjoyed all my years on the Board, looking after the develop-ment of the campus as we were growing.” Following her retirement from the Air Force, Dora formed Alcala & Asso-ciates, and worked as a management consultant, trainer and motivational speaker for her firm. Dora is the recipient of the Yellow Rose of Texas Award given by then Texas Governor George W. Bush; the Distinguished Public Service Award given by the governor of New Mexico; the California Hispanic Woman of the Year, given by the Mexican-American Opportunity Foundation; and the Woman of the Year Award from the National Council on Hispanic Women. This May, Dora was selected as one of the recipients of the 2012 Woman of Distinction Award given by the Texas Association of Mexican-American Chambers of Council. She and her husband, Alfonso, live in Del Rio and have three daughters (Diane, Monica, and Nora).

Distinguished Alum

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Gary Dunshee B.S. in Animal Science, 1973

Gary Dunshee, a 1973 graduate in animal science, is known nationwide for his sad-dle-making skills. Dunshee has demon-strated his work at the Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio and the Smith-sonian Museum in Washington, D.C. Dunshee purchased Alpine’s Big Bend Saddlery in 1977. Brett Collier and Carla Spencer later joined as business partners. Big Bend Saddlery creates custom saddles and specialty leather items for buyers throughout the world, and maintains a diverse client list including Tom Selleck, Nolan Ryan, and Charlie Daniels.

Gary has also built World Championship saddles for the Professional Ro-deo Cowboys Association. While a student at Sul Ross, Dunshee competed in rodeo for two years. As an alumnus, he served as president of the Sul Ross ANRS & Rodeo Exes Association, and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2008. Gary helped organize several ranch rodeos and later worked with the WRCA World Championship Ranch Rodeo to raise funds for Sul Ross scholarships. He is a member of the School of Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (ANRS) Advisory Board and an avid recruiter for the University. Dunshee recently helped with the formation of the Sul Ross Ranch Horse team in 2011. Dunshee is a founder of the University’s “Trappings of Texas,” and served as its curator for 16 years. The event, now approaching its 27th year, is a juried invitational exhibit that brings together the best contemporary cow-boy gear and art. In 2011, Dunshee was presented with the Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering’s Heritage Award. The award is given to a person who works to promote and preserve the cowboy way of life. Dunshee, a native of Tucumcari NM, lives in Alpine with his wife Hillary who is also a graduate of Sul Ross. The couple has two children, Wade and Mattie. “We have always been proponents of Sul Ross and helped whenever we could,” Dunshee said. “Sul Ross has been a part of me since I started out as a student. It’s been good to us and we have tried to do what we can for the University.”