|
Longhorn Hall of Honor: Vintage, special inductees
Nov. 2, 2012
Alex Hubbard, Texas Media Relations Founded in 1957, the Longhorn Hall of Honor is one of the most cherished athletics traditions at The University of Texas.
Preston Davis said that being inducted into the Hall of Honor is "the best thing that has ever to me in my career. It's just something really special." However, Davis was surprised to learn that he was inducted, noting that his career at Texas was "ancient history." Davis ran track and cross country at UT in 1963 and 1965-66. During his time on campus, Davis won two Southwest Cross Country championships, and was selected as the "outstanding athlete" at the 1966 Texas Relays. Davis came to Austin after attending high school at San Antonio Lee. He was recruited by fellow Hall of Honor member Clyde Littlefield, which "was a big deal" in his decision to attend school here. Davis did not start running track until his sophomore year in high school. He decided to attend practice with a friend, and three weeks later "won the district meet, and was off and running." A leg injury in 1968 ended Davis's track career. He was scheduled to compete in the 1968 Olympics as a distance runner, but was forced to change plans. Since his time at UT, Davis has been a successful track coach at Long Beach State University in California, and worked in the athletic shoe business for more than 20 years Davis now lives in California and loves interacting with other Longhorns in the area. "I wear a Longhorn cap a lot, and I am being stopped all the time by people yelling 'hook 'em," Davis says. "It's a good feeling, these people reaching out to you. They are just as proud to be a Longhorn." Davis plans to bring his whole family with him on Nov. 9. "We are bringing everybody. It's such a wonderful honor, and I want them to be there with me."
Dr. Carey Windler recognizes several of the faces in the Hall of Honor, because he has operated on them. As the orthopedic specialist for UT Athletics, Windler has helped the careers of many Texas athletes, including fellow inductees Major Applewhite and Phil Dawson, with his skillful hands. Windler first began working with the Texas football team in 1986, and became the orthopedic surgeon for male athletes in 1987. He has been in that position ever since. Windler's credit the working environment on the Forty Acres as one of the reasons why he has enjoyed his time at Texas. "It's the relationships that mean a lot," he says. "The relationships with the people I work with on a daily and weekly basis. That includes the athletic trainers, the rehab folks, and the administration." DeLoss Dodds has been the Texas Men's Athletic Director throughout Windler's tenure, and Windler prasies Dodds for his help over the last 26 years. "Having one athletic director in my tenure has meant a lot," Windler said. "Just in knowing that I had his support in things we wanted to do to make treatments of athletes as safe as possible. Windler has been practicing in Austin since 1977. In 1998, Windler and his partners opened Austin Sports Medicine, a facility that specializes in comprehensive care for active lifestyle and sports-related injuries. The induction into the Hall of Honor is special for Windler. "It's just amazing, the backgrounds and different things that people have accomplished," he says of the other inductees. "There's a saying that a man is known by the company he keeps. To be considered in this some company, to me, is an incredible honor."
Hub Ingraham calls his induction into the Hall of Honor " a great honor and a surprise." However, Ingraham meant as much to the Longhorn football teams of the early 1950s as did any other player. Ingraham played for Texas and head coach Ed Price in 1951 and 1952. During those two seasons, Ingraham contributed at end on offense and defense, halfback, defensive back, and was the kicker in 1952. Ingraham played three different sports at Abilene High School. He earned 10 letters in football, basketball and baseball, and was named outstanding senior athlete in 1950. During his freshman year at UT, Ingraham played football and baseball. He played quarterback on the freshman football team before an injury forced him to change positions going into his sophomore season. Ingraham enrolled at UT at the start of the Korean War, and was a member of the ROTC in addition to his athletics duties. He says that receiving a scholarship to UT allowed him to get an education and kept him out of Korea. Earning a degree is Ingraham's fondest memory of his time on campus. He says his diploma has helped him with everything he has done since he graduated. After college, Ingraham served in the Air Force, and later became successful in the insurance business. Ingraham currently lives in Austin and will join teammates Gib Dawson, Carlton Massey, Richard Ochoa, Harley Sewell and Tom Stolhandske in the Hall of Honor. Ingraham is still involved with UT athletics as a volunteer, and is still active with Texas Exes and the T-Association. With so much Longhorn pride, Ingraham's biggest worry is what to say, or not to say, in his speech on Nov. 9. "They say I have five minutes, but I could talk for 200 minutes if they let me."
Mike Dean is also a member of the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame, but this distinction by his Longhorns means a lot. "It's just very humbling to be associated with this great group of legends," Dean says. Dean played offensive line from 1968-1970, one of the most successful three-year stretches in school history under coach Darrell Royal. During these three years, the Longhorns had a 30-game winning streak, won three Southwest Conference championships, and two national championships (1969, 1970). Texas played in the Cotton Bowl in all three of Dean's seasons, and Dean was inducted into the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame in 2005. According to Dean, the Longhorns were so successful during this stretch because of the work ethic instilled in them by Royal. "The main reason we won was because you didn't want to let the guy next to you down," Dean says. "Everybody covered everybody's back." A majority of the team still stays in touch. Dean and several other teammates have gone to lunch on the first Thursday of each month for the past eight years, many times with Royal. "We are like a band of brothers," Dean says of his teammates. Dean is proud to be a Longhorn, and calls Texas "the greatest school in the world." "I am Mr. lucky."
|