Sixth class of TISD Athletic Hall of Fame to be inducted today

Four all-state football standouts, two championship coaches, a tennis star and a state title team are the latest additions to the Tyler ISD Athletic Hall of Fame, Greg Priest, the district’s athletic director, announced.

The 2018 inductees are:

• Gary Baxter, John Tyler (football, 1997)

• James Warren Davis, Tyler High (football, baseball, 1956)

• Gary Don Johnson, John Tyler (football, 1975)

• Marianne Jones, Tyler Lee (girls basketball coach, 1983-98)

• Billy Lawson Sr., John Tyler (boys basketball coach, 1978-88)

• Corey Mayfield Sr., Tyler Lee (football, 1988)

• Laura Hanna Waits, Tyler Lee (tennis, 1980)

• 1968 Emmett Scott Basketball Team (Prairie View Interscholastic League 3A state champions)

Inductees were selected based on their high school achievements, post-high-school accomplishments and other contributing factors, Priest said.

The Hall of Fame inductees will be recognized at a ceremony Saturday before the John Tyler vs. Tyler Lee football game on Earl Campbell Field at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.

The ceremony is set for 6:50 p.m. Kickoff for the football game is 7 p.m.

2018 CLASS

GARY BAXTER — John Tyler High School Class of 1997. Gary was a three-year starter and four-year letterman at John Tyler, earning All-East Texas honors three years and all-state accolades his senior season. He helped JT earn playoff berths all four seasons and his senior year he had 106 tackles and two interceptions as a defensive back.

After JT, he played college football at Baylor University, playing in 41 games and making 202 tackles with six interceptions. He returned to Baylor in 2003 to earn his degree in speech communications.

After Baylor, he was drafted in the second round by the Baltimore Ravens. After playing in a situational and reserve role for the Ravens his rookie season, Baxter started 46 games over the next three seasons. For his career, he had six interceptions, 36 passes defended, three sacks, 253 tackles and two forced fumbles. In 2005, he signed with the Cleveland Browns, but injuries plagued his career there.

He has invested in several businesses in Tyler.

JAMES WARREN DAVIS — Tyler High School Class of 1956. Davis played both baseball and football for the Lions, including helping the football team to the 1955 state championship game.

Davis was a two-year letterman in baseball and football and was all-district and all-state in 1955 as a center and linebacker as the Lions finished runner-up to Abilene in the state football title game.

He played in the 1956 Oil Bowl and was inducted into the Oil Bowl Hall of Fame in 2009.

After Tyler High, he played for the Oklahoma Sooners and lettered as center, linebacker, guard and placekicker all three eligible years. He played in the 1958 and 1959 Orange Bowl, the 1960 East-West Shrine Game in San Francisco and Hula Bowl in Honolulu.

Davis also played on the Quantico Marine football team and made the All-Marine team of 1962 and 1963. He retired from the military as a captain in 1970.

He attended First Baptist Church of Tyler as a youngster and among his many business honors he was Sales Manager of the Year for Willy Wonka Candies in 1976.

GARY DON JOHNSON — John Tyler High School Class of 1975. While at JT, Johnson was not only all-district and all-state, but also All-America. He was a top five recruit in the nation as a senior.

Johnson, playing nose guard, helped the Lions to the 1973 Class 4A state championship as a junior.

After JT, he was a starter for four years at Baylor University, earning first-team all-Southwest Conference as a sophomore and was Sports Illustrated Defensive Player of the Week in 1976. He is a member of the Baylor Hall of Fame, All-Decade Baylor Team and is a member of the all-time Baylor defensive first-team.

Johnson was drafted in the seventh round by the Cincinnati Bengals. He also played for the Baltimore Colts and the USFL’s San Antonio Gunslingers. A severe knee injury limited his NFL career.

MARIANNE JONES — Robert E. Lee Lady Raider basketball coach from 1984 to 1998, compiling a record of 300-156. She led the Lady Raiders to 12 playoff appearances in 15 seasons and to the state tournament in 1986. Lee finished second in the state to Victoria and had a record of 30-2 that year. Also, the 1985-86 team snapped Longview’s 67-game home winning streak.

She was named Coach of the Year and Sportswoman of the Year by the Tyler Morning Telegraph in 1986. Jones was Texas High School Girls Coaches Association president in 1996-97.

After Lee, she was an assistant principal at Brownsboro High School, principal at Chandler Intermediate School and is in her fifth year as principal of DAEP at Brownsboro.

Jones attended Baylor University from 1978 to 1982 and then continued as graduate assistant from 1982-83 while earning her master’s degree.

BILLY LAWSON SR. — Graduated salutatorian Class of 1959 at Gladewater Weldon High School. He was captain of his high school football, basketball and baseball teams his junior and senior years. He also ran track. At Wiley College he played basketball and baseball all four years and was president of his sophomore and junior classes and was president of the Student Senate his senior year. Received his masters of Natural Science Degree from the University of Oklahoma, his master’s of Science Teaching Degree from Texas Southern University and his Mid-Management Certification in Educational Administration from UT Tyler.

He became John Tyler basketball coach in 1978 and won five district championships. He was named district coach of the year six times and All-East Texas Coach of the Year in 1986. He was named Coach of the Decade by the Tyler Morning Telegraph. Lawson retired from coaching with 610 career wins.

During his time at John Tyler he was also Science Department Chairman, taught honors biology and chemistry.

COREY MAYFIELD — Robert E. Lee High School Class of 1988. While at Robert E. Lee he was an all-state defensive lineman and All-East Texas Defensive Player of the Year. He was instrumental in the Red Raiders earning their first-ever football playoff berth in 1987. He then went on to the University of Oklahoma where he was a three-year starter, finishing his career with 12 sacks and 88 tackles. He was selected in the 10th round of the 1992 NFL Draft. In professional football, he was a member of the San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Grand Rapids Rampage, Orlando Rage, Philadelphia Soul and the Dallas Desperados.

He has been a coach with the New York Dragons, East Texas Wranglers, San Antonio Talons, San Jose SaberCats and Texas Revolution, based in Frisco. He was a member of the Arena Football League All-Rookie team in 1999 while playing for the Rampage.

He has served as president of the East Texas Youth Association, the Forney Niners Youth Football Team and participated in Big Brother/Big Sisters of America.

LAURA HANNA WAITS — Robert E. Lee High School Class of 1980. She was known as perhaps one of the best all-around athletes from Tyler ISD. While playing for Lee tennis, she was ranked No. 1 in Texas for 16 & under players.

After high school, she was a four-year letter winner for Texas A&M. Upon graduation she had won more doubles matches than any other player in A&M history. She went on to play professional tennis before becoming tennis pro at Willow Brook Country Club. In her 30s, she took up golf and became one of the top-ranked amateur players in the country. She finished in the top five at the Texas State Amateur multiple times and advanced to the Round of 16 in the U.S. Mid-Amateur.

As a youngster she played Little League Baseball before there was softball for girls. Her father made her stop playing because other parents did not like the fact a girl was a better baseball player than the boys.

1968 EMMETT SCOTT HIGH SCHOOL STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM — The Bulldogs won the 1968 Prairie View Interscholastic League state basketball championship. The Bulldogs defeated Carthage Turner 114-90 in the state 3A championship. They won over Houston Elmore in the semifinals, 87-78. It was the 12th time for Tyler Scott to make the PVIL state tournament. The Bulldogs were also in the state tournament in 1941, 1954, 1958 to 1963, and 1965 to 1968.

Gratin Fields Jr. was the head coach and was assisted by J.D. Steger.

Members of the team include: Wilbert Loftin, George Tate, Wendell Day, Jerry McGee, LaSalle Gipson, Young Tilley, Freddy McCloud, Calvin Phillips, Foy Medlock, Charles Biggs, Ricky Martin, Billy Curtis, Earl Sash and Joe Evans.

Thurman Fry was the trainer with Charles McKenzie the manager. Welsey Young was the statistician.

The team was honored by the City Commission of Tyler on March 1, 1968 after becoming the first basketball team in the history of Tyler Public School System to win a state championship. The Bulldogs were also honored for their conduct and sportsmanship.

Norris A. Wimberley, chairman of the City Commission, signed the document that was presented to each coach and member of the team.

On the 50th anniversary of their state basketball championship, the Tyler Emmett Scott Bulldogs were honored by the University Interscholastic League in San Antonio at the 2018 State Basketball Tournament.

The UIL said the PVIL played a leading role in developing African-American students in the arts, literature, athletics and music from the 1920s through 1967.

NOMINATION PROCESS

To be considered for the Tyler ISD Athletic Hall of Fame, an athlete, coach or contributor must be nominated.

To nominate someone for the 2019 class, visit http://tylersports.rankonesport.com. Nomination forms must be received by June 1. Athletes, coaches and contributors must have graduated or no longer be a part of the school district for at least five years before being considered. Tyler High, Emmett Scott, John Tyler and Tyler Lee graduates are eligible.