WHS ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY HELD

By JoAnn Livingston
joann@waxahachiesun.com

The Waxahachie High School Athletic Hall of Fame held its annual induction ceremony Thursday evening at Coleman Junior High Fine Arts Center. Since its inaugural class of 2012, the Hall of Fame has served to honor the school’s sports legends, modern heroes and friends of WHS athletics.

The induction is a kickoff to homecoming weekend activities and is “a time to reconnect with friend and faculty,” Waxahachie Ex-Students Association president Terry Connor said. “We are celebrating the past and we’re here to celebrate our outstanding athletes and friends.”

Connor encouraged those on hand to support the Hall of Fame’s efforts to award scholarships to graduating senior athletes.

KBEC general manager Ken Roberts again served as emcee for the ceremony, which saw five names added to those of previous honorees’.

“It is so good to be here again,” Roberts said before introducing retired WHS head coach for the varsity girls basketball program, Lesli Priebe.

“Really lucky schools get a great coach that comes along and stays,” he said, noting that the Hall of Fame wanted to recognize her career. Priebe coached 28 years in all, with the last 24 at WHS, where she posted 523 wins and was a perennial playoff contender. She took her first team to state in 2000 and won the state title in 2006.

“I witnessed those 24 years,” Roberts said. “Very few coaches get the best out of their players as you did.”

Priebe expressed her appreciation for the recognition, noting, “There’s nothing like a one high school town and there’s nothing the fans here. I feel blessed.”

The induction ceremony itself saw the late Maggart Howell Jr. (class of 1959) inducted in the Legend Category, with Phil Turner (class of 1970) and David Hudson (class of 1984) inducted in the Modern Era Category.

Two people were inducted into the Friend of WHS Athletics category: the late Peggy Doherty Cantu (class of 1964) and the late James “Buddy” Hosford.

Tom Borders provided the introduction to Howell’s induction, whose posthumous award was accepted by his sister, Ruth Robbins.

“It was a pleasure to put the name of Maggart Howell into the Legends,” Borders said. “He was a champion of mind, body and spirit.”

Of her brother, Robbins shared, “He was such a beacon of light in my life. He loved sports, football, basketball and track but, most of all, he loved his teammates and his coaches.”

Gary Fox and Steve Harriman provided the introduction for Turner’s acceptance of his award, with Jerry McLemore doing so for Hudson.

Fox described Turner as someone who “kept his nose to the grindstone without caring if anyone saw him,” with Harriman adding, “He talked with his bat, glove, arm and his feet.”

Turner expressed appreciation for the honor, thanking his family, classmates, teammates, coaches and parents.

“Without their total support, this night would not have been possible,” Turner said.

Of his former player, Hudson, McLemore said he was “lucky to have had that type of athlete in Waxahachie. He was one of the finest athletes I ever coached.”

Appearing via a video, Hudson thanked everyone, saying, “I couldn’t have made it without my teammates and coaches.

Cantu’s children, Chris Cantu and Tracy Moore, spoke for their mother in accepting her posthumous award.

“Mom’s here in spirit and if she were here in person, she’d have the biggest smile on her face,” Chris said, with Tracy adding about their mom, “She just enjoyed it. She loved meeting these young boys and girls. It’s sad she’s not here but I know she’s watching and smiling. We appreciate this so much and I know she does too.”

Connor provided the introduction for Hosford, whose posthumous award was accepted by Gary Vasseur.

“It’s about time and it’s been a long time coming,” Connor said of the late Hosford’s induction. “If you grew up in the 1950s, 1960s or 1970s, you knew him. Buddy is one of the first names that comes to mind when you talk about youth sports.”

Of his friend, who passed away in 2014, Vasseur said, “There are a lot of good citizens in this world because of Buddy. Although he’s left this world, he left a lot of himself with us. He was beloved by so many people and is so deserving of this award.”

Following are the recipient biographies as included in Thursday evening’s program:

LEGEND CATEGORY

Maggart Howell Jr. (class of 1959)

Although Maggart lost his life in an auto accident in 1960, he is remembered and respected by his high school friends, classmates and fellow athletes. Maggart displayed leadership in all of his high school activities. He was president of the junior class and the Boys League and served as vice president of the Scholarship Club. Maggart was an ordained minister as well.

In his athletic career at Waxahachie High School, Maggart participated in football, basketball and track and field. He was captain of the football team where he made all-state and the regional track team. During the 1958 state finals basketball championship game, Maggart went in the game to replace a teammate with foul troubles and with only four to five minutes left to play, he scored 12 quick points to give the Indians the momentum and spark to pull away and win WHS’s first state championship basketball title.

Maggart attended SMU after his graduation from WHS in 1959.

MODERN ERA CATEGORY

Phil Turner (class of 1970)

Phil was a three-year letterman at Waxahachie High School in basketball and baseball. In his junior year in basketball (1968-1969), Phil was co-captain of the team and chosen for the second team, all-district. He received the J.W. Williams’ Team Spirit Award that year. In baseball his junior year, Phil was chosen all-district, first team (1969), with a batting average of .456.

Phil was captain of the basketball team his senior year (1969-1970). He received the Most Valuable Player Award and led the Indians in the most points scored for the year with a highest scoring average of 18.5 ppg (54-percent field goal percentage and assists). Phil made first team, all-district, and was a finalist for bi-district; he was third team all metro.

His senior year of baseball, Phil was captain of the team. He was chosen as Most Valuable Player for the district and was picked for the first team, all-district. The Indian Booster Club also chose Phil for the Most Valuable Baseball Player Award. Phil led the Indians with a .536 batting average and RBIs.

Phil continued his baseball career at TCU, where he was a four-year letterman from 1971-1974. He was an anchorman for his team both offensively and defensively. He led his team with 47 hits in 1971. Phil was the team leader with a batting average of .388 and 38 RBIs in 1973 and was named all-American at second base as well. He received the Rawlings Big Stick Award for leading hitter in a major college division. Phil continued to lead his team with 17 stolen bases in 1974. Phil was named to the All Southwest Conference Team n 1973 and in 1974.

Phil’s accomplishments in sports speak volumes. He doesn’t like the attention but his abilities on the baseball diamond and on the basketball court cause everyone to notice. However, “Phil is the most humble athlete that has ever walked the earth,” one classmate stated. “He is a true leader, hero and an overall classy individual. His work ethic is seldom matched and nobody can represent the Athletic Hall of Fame any better than Phil Turner.”

MODERN ERA CATEGORY

David Hudson (class of 1984)

While at Waxahachie High School, David achieved in several areas, including track and football. He was all-state, all-conference, team MVP and football captain in his senior year. During his football career at WHS, he rushed for 1,600 yards, averaging 171 yards per game and scored 16 touchdowns.

David received numerous scholarship offers from Division I schools but ultimately chose to accept a full scholarship to play football at the University of Iowa, where he became an outstanding member of that team. He played fullback at Iowa from 1985-1988. David took a redshirt in the 1984-1985 season but was a starter all four years afterwards, which is rare. He scored 25 touchdowns and played in four consecutive bowl games, including the Rose Bowl, the Peach Bowl and twice in the Holiday Bowl.

David rushed for 1,523 yards and his reception yardage was 464 for a combined 1,987 yards earned during his time at the University of Iowa. For his 1985 season, he was named Football News Sophomore All American team and, in 1986, he earned honorable mention All Big 10. In 1988, David was the ninth leading rusher in school history. David also received numerous offensive MPV awards during his football career at the University of Iowa.

After college, David remained in Iowa, where he is married to Lori. They have two children, Michelle and Cody, and one granddaughter, Harper. David was very active in local youth sports when his children were growing up. Over the years, he coached numerous teams in baseball, ASA softball, soccer and basketball. David has worked for RR Donnelly Business Communications in Iowa City for more than 25 years. He enjoys golfing and spending time with his family.

Classmates describe David as “always humble.” They also share, “Everything he did was for the team and not just for himself. He treated everyone with respect; there was never a person that he would not befriend. David was not only an outstanding athlete but he was an even better person. It is an honor to have been his classmate.

FRIEND CATEGORY

Peggy Doherty Cantu (class of 1964)

Peggy was the epitome of what it means to be a friend of Waxahachie High School athletes. She was a sports fanatic, attending volleyball, football, basketball and baseball games over the years after her graduation from WHS in 1964. During the 1980s and 1990s, Peggy seemed to have a relative on the baseball team every year. She and her husband, BJ, would often load up their Suburban with students to take them to out of town games.

Always there to support the Indian team, Peggy attended two state championship tournaments and many playoffs. In 1983-1984, she watched the volleyball team advance to finals and she saw the basketball team beat Borger for the state title. In 1988, she saw the Indian baseball team in the two-game playoff sweep against Liberty-Eylau; the Indians advanced to the state tournament and she advanced with them.

In 2006, Peggy was in Austin to see the Indians basketball team beat Kerrville Tivy for the state championship. She was one of the most enthusiastic Indian fans and supported all sports and especially loved going to the games and listening to Ken Roberts on KBEC. Peggy was once and always an Indian fan.

FRIEND CATEGORY

James ‘Buddy’ Hosford

Buddy’s name is synonymous with “friend and supporter” of Waxahachie youth athletics and Waxahachie High School athletics during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. His legacy goes way beyond those years with a network of young men who were fortunate enough to know him as friend, coach and mentor. He coached Little League Baseball and PeeWee Football and every kid wanted to be on his team, not because of their winning record but because of the man that was the leader of the team.

Buddy once told Hal Curry, director of the Waxahachie Little League, to let him know if any kid was unable to play because he needed the fee or a glove or shoes and he’d cover the expense for the boy. Buddy didn’t want any kid denied the opportunity to play, even for an opposing team.

Buddy attended Trinity University and SMU after high school graduation. He was a patriot and proud veteran of WWII, serving with the Navy Seabees. He was active in the American Legion, Waxahachie Lions Club and the Waxahachie Quarterback Club. Buddy was a postman and it wasn’t unusual to see a boy tagging along the route with him keeping him company.

Buddy and his wife, Gwen, didn’t have any children of their own but they “adopted” a town full of boys and girls who participated in athletics. Shy and reserved, but a fierce competitor, Buddy taught his team members to never give up and always show good sportsmanship. All the while he demonstrated how to live by example.

“A finer man never walked the earth,” “a model of integrity and character” and “The most decent human being I’ve ever known” were some of the comments accompanying his nomination. His humility, generosity, kindness, dedication and tirelessness are unequaled.

The Hosfords were extra parents for those who were unfortunate enough to be part of their “family” during those years. A hamburger and Coke at Oma’s was often a stop on the mail route for the kid who tagged along. Trips at the end of a season to the Alamo or Carlsbad Caverns to “show the kids a perspective outside of Waxahachie” are also well remembered by participants. Buddy’s sense of humor and endearing ways keep him always in the hearts of those who knew him.

The WHS Athletic Hall of Fame has a permanent display on view at the Waxahachie Civic Center. A program of the Waxahachie Ex-Students Association, a primary function for the Hall of Fame is to raise funding for scholarships. During the 2019 WHS awards ceremony, the Hall of Fame presented three scholarships to graduating seniors Sophia Melick, Luke Morgan and Anna Rogers.

For more information about the association, including membership, visit the website at Click Here.