Cameron announces inaugural HOF class

LAWTON, Oklahoma (November 8) – In a ceremony last evening, Cameron Athletic Director Jim Jackson announced the ten members of the inaugural class of the Cameron University Athletics Hall of Fame. Over 100 people attended the Gold Club/Hall of Fame event held at the Best Western in Lawton where the inductees were officially announced.

“I was very pleased with the turnout, and the anticipation of the announcement from the people that were there,” Jackson said. “They were genuinely interested in who was going to be in the first class. I think the ten honorees are all deserving, as are many other people, and they are a quality group that spans a good range of years, programs, and different aspects of the history of athletics at Cameron.”

The ten inductees were unveiled to those in attendance via pictures, statistics, and stories of each honoree. The inaugural class of the Cameron University Athletics Hall of Fame is as follows:

Jerry Davenport, men’s basketball: Davenport is the greatest scorer in Cameron’s history as a four-year institution. He is CU’s career scoring leader with 2,603 points in 102 games, for a 25.5 ppg average and he ranks first, second, third, and fifth in single-season scoring. He also owns five of the top nine single game highs. His 27.7ppg average in 1971-72 is still a record. He was named to the 1974 NAIA All American team after helping Cameron reach the NAIA National Tournament in its first season of eligibility.

James “Bimbo” Herron, men’s track and football: Herron was a three-time All-American in track and field and was the NAIA National Decathlon Champion in 1974, 1975, and finished second in 1976 despite a hamstring injury. He was a member of the football team in the 1973-75 seasons, with career numbers of 57 rushes for 162 yards, 76 receptions for 1,114 yards, and 7 touchdowns. His best numbers were in 1974 when he caught 24 passes for 504 yards and 4 touchdowns. The team advanced to the NAIA National Semi-finals in 1974, a year when he also led the Oklahoma Collegiate Conference in punt returns.

Herb Jacobs, media: Jacobs was a writer for The Lawton Constitution from 1959-2002, and still contributes weekly pieces to the paper. He has given 42 years of full-time service, and has continued to write sports since the time of his retirement. Jacobs was the only inductee to be listed on multiple nominations.

Val Maples, coach: Maples is widely considered the pioneer of women’s sports at Cameron, having coaches a number of sports. She started women’s basketball, volleyball, and softball at Cameron, and served as Dean of Women from 1957-1967. She spent 22 years in women’s athletics and was a  faculty member in the Health and Physical Education Department for 31 years. A bench outside of Aggie Gym was dedicated in her honor just a few weeks ago.

Jackie Martin, men’s basketball, baseball, and football: Martin earned six letters while at Cameron. He was the starting quarterback, defensive end, punter, and extra point kicker on the football team and was also a gifted basketball guard who helped to lead the basketball team to a #1 national ranking in 1958. That team was the first ever to enter the National Junior College Tournament undefeated. In baseball Martin was a starting catcher in 1957 and starting right fielder in 1958. He was named Outstanding Freshman Athlete in 1957, Outstanding Sophomore Athlete in 1958, and voted Most Popular Football Player in 1958.

Raymond “Red” Miller, coach: Miller was head men’s basketball coach from 1965-67 and from 1970-1977. His 1966 team won the Region II Championship and finished second at National Tournament. In 1967 the team won Region II and finished third at the National Tournament. In 1971 the team finished fourth in the Oklahoma Collegiate Conference and won the Southwestern All Sports Classic. Miller also won the SWASC in 1972 & 1973. His 1973 team won the Top of Texas Tournament and was the Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference Champion. He retired from coaching in 1977 and from teaching at Cameron in 1985.

Brian Naber, coach: Naber was head football coach from 1984-1990. His team finished as Runner-up National Champions in 1987 when he was voted the District IX NAIA Coach of the Year. His team finished as National Champions in 1988 and he was the March of Dimes Oklahoma Sports Headliner Award in 1988.

Ted Owens, coach: Owens was the head basketball coach from 1956-1960 where his basketball teams made it to the national tournament semi-finals three consecutive years with a record of 93-24. His team was ranked No. 1 in the nation in 1958 where they were the first undefeated team to enter the National Tournament. Owens also won the National Championship in Baseball in 1958. He also coached football at Cameron and was awarded an Endowed Lectureship in 2006.

Bud Sahmaunt, men’s basketball: Sahmaunt earned an Associate of Science Degree in 1958 and was a member of the Student Senate. He was a two-year letterman in basketball and the JayCee’s Basketball Classic MVP. He also made the NJCAA National Basketball All-Tournament Team and was a second team NJCAA All-American. Sahmaunt won the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1998 and became a member of the Cameron Centennial Commission in 2006.

Orban “Speck” Sanders: Sanders played for Cameron his junior and senior years of high school and then two years for Cameron Junior College. He holds the Cameron record for the longest kickoff return of 110 yards and was elected to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1970. He played professional football and is arguably the best football player ever to grace the field at Cameron. Sanders was drafted by the Washington Redskins but opted to play for the New York Yankees football team of the All-American Professional Football League. ESPN rated him as the best Sanders ever to play football, above the great Barry Sanders.

The ten inductees will be honored at Cameron’s Homecoming/Alumni Weekend on February 22-23, 2008. There will be a Hall of Fame banquet on February 22, and nominations for next year’s class will open on February 24, 2008.

“I encourage people to go online and nominate those they think are worthy of being in the Hall of Fame,” Jackson said. “Rightfully so I am getting some responses of, ‘Why is this person not on the list?’ If your favorite coach, athlete, booster is not on the list, I encourage you to nominate them. That’s the only way it could happen is for you to give the name.

Nomination forms are available online via the Cameron Athletics website (goaggies.cameron.edu) and in the Athletics offices on the campus of Cameron University.

This year’s class of ten inductees was narrowed down from over thirty nominees. Subsequent Hall of Fame classes will be limited to just five inductees. Those who were nominated and not inducted this year will stay on the ballot without another nomination for three years. After that they will have to be nominated again.

“I anticipate more interest next year and in years to come,” Jackson said. “Hey if there is someone out there who is deserving, and there are many, let us know.”