TISD ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Greg Priest (right) stands with 1956 Tyler High graduate Jim Davis as Davis is inducted into the TISD Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday night at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.

It was like old home week on a rainy Saturday night in Tyler.

While the present and future of Tyler ISD athletics were on display at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium, the school district honored the past.

The sixth class of the Tyler ISD Athletic Hall of Fame was inducted prior to the football game between John Tyler and Robert E. Lee.

The 2018 inductees were:

• Gary Baxter, John Tyler (football, 1997)

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

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

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

• 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).

Despite the rain, the honorees were smiling ear-to-ear. Inductees were joined by family and friends as well as former coaches, teammates and players.

“This is such an honor,” said Mayfield,

who was all-state at Lee. “Earl Campbell is in the hall of fame here, that’s all you have to say. To be included among this group and the others already inducted is beyond words.”

Mayfield’s coach at Lee, Biff Peterson, was on hand as well as former assistant George Losack and trainer Mark Gilbert.

Johnson and Baxter, all-staters at JT and All-Americans at Baylor, joined a legacy of previous John Tyler football inductees.

“What a night, the rain could not have kept me away from being here,” said Johnson, a junior on the 1973 JT state football championship team.

Another state champion, the 1968 Emmett Scott basketball team, joined the Hall of Fame. Several members were in attendance and each got an individual plaque.

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. Wesley Young was the statistician.

Along with Mayfield, Davis was a standout at Oklahoma after graduating from Tyler High School. He helped the Lions to the 1955 state football finals.

Waits was the second straight Lee netter to earn induction into the Hall. Last year it was Clayton Stanley.

“This is so humbling,” Waits said. “What an honor to be included among this group.”

Two basketball coaches — Jones for the Lee Lady Raiders and Lawson for the Lions — led their teams to numerous district titles and wins.

Both had family members and former players on hand and expressed how grateful they were to be a part of Tyler ISD athletics and the Hall of Fame.

Former Lee basketball coach Larry Jones, who was inducted two years ago, was on hand for both Marianne Jones and Lawson. Also, former all-state player Dayna Reed Westbrook, who played for Marianne Jones, was in attendance to celebrate the induction of her coach. Westbrook was a member of the inaugural class of the Hall of Fame.

Tyler ISD students put together a video of the inductees with announcer Roger Nunnally reading their accomplishments.

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.