FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 17, 2020

Contact:
Stuart Kantor
Texas Track & Field Coaches Association
ttfca@hotmail.com
214-732-8073
https://www.ttfca.org/hall-of-famers

Texas Track & Field Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Announced

Wylie, TX – Seven track & field legends (two posthumous) will find their place in
the Texas Track & Field Hall of Fame on the evening of January 8, 2020 when they
are inducted as part of the12th Hall of Fame class. The seven new inductees include:

VINCE ANDERSON: Began coaching career as a volunteer on Tom Tellez’ University

of Houston staff, before moving on to Tennessee and Texas A&M. One of the nation’s
more respected sprints and hurdles coaches – and widely sought after speakers –
Anderson has coached NCAA Champions in every sprint, hurdle and relay event.

BOB BEAMON: Transferring to the University of Texas-El Paso after the death of his
grandmother, Beamon qualified for the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. In Mexico
City, Beamon broke the World Record for the long jump: 29-02.50, nearly two feet
better than the existing record. Beamon’s 27-02.75 1968 long jump mark is still the
UTEP indoor record.

JAMES BLACKWOOD: “Blackwood began his collegiate coaching career at UT in

1972 as an assistant track and field/cross country coach with the Longhorns. During
his 12 years as an assistant at UT, the Longhorns finished in the top 10 at the NCAA
Championships 11 times. He later coached at Southern Miss and UTSA, where he
retired in 2008.” – Longhorn Foundation. Blackwood’s coaching career began at
Corpus Christi W.B. Ray, followed by CC King and Richardson High.

RYAN CROUSER: A four-time NCAA champion and nine-time All-American at the

University of Texas, Crouser captured Olympic Gold in the 2016 Rio Olympics with a
then personal best of 73-10.50. [He now sits at #2 all-time: 75-01.50.] From a family
of notable throwers, Crouser is a three-time National Outdoor Shot Put Champion
and captured gold (shot put) and silver (discus) in the 2009 IAAF World Youth
Championships. He is ranked #2 all-time in high school shot put (77-02.75i) and #1
all-time in the high school discus (237-06.)

TED McLAUGHLIN: McLaughlin coached Sothern Methodist University to three

NCAA Championships in the 1980s. From Hope HS in Rhode Island to Brown and

TTFCA – 1012 W. Foxwood Lane / Wylie, TX 75098 / 214-732-8073 / ttfca@hotmail.com

Cornell Universities and then UTEP, McLaughlin took over the reigns of the Ponies
in 1979. In nine seasons at SMU, McLaughlin coached 23 individual NCAA
champions and three Olympic medalists, including Michael Carter. McLaughlin also
coached Roy Robot Martin.

POSTHUMOUS INDUCTEES
KERMIT COURVILLE: In a thirty-four year coaching career, Courville produced state
championships during segregation. Galveston Ball’s first black head coach and
athletic director, Courville won five boy’s and one girl’s state title. Among the many
state champions is Derrick Florence, who became a national high school record
holder and World Junior Champion. The stadium in Galveston is named in his honor.

HOLLIS GAINEY: A record-setting career at the University of Texas started in

Colorado City, where Gainey was both a football and track star. At UT, Gainey ran on
three World-Record relay teams. As a freshman, set the SWC 100-yard record: 9.4.
Finished 6th in both the 100 and 200 at the 1957 NCAA Championships, and led the
Longhorns to Gold in the 440 relay at the 1957 Penn Relays.

The Texas Track & Field Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place the
evening of January 8, 2021 at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine at 7:00 p.m.
Contact information is above. Come welcome the new class, and meet several of the
Hall of Fame’s current members.

For more information about the Texas Track & Field Hall of Fame:
https://www.ttfca.org/hall-of-famers

###

TTFCA – 1012 W. Foxwood Lane / Wylie, TX 75098 / 214-732-8073 / ttfca@hotmail.com