The university will recognize African American athletes who broke barriers in North Texas sports during a day of festivities Oct. 2 as part of its yearlong observance of the 50th anniversary of desegregation at the university.
Basketball Firsts
| Decade |
Name |
Accomplishments |
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| 1959-60 |
Oscar Miller |
First in basketball, first as freshman team, varsity team in 1960-61 |
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| 1960-61 |
Alfred Nickleberry |
First on varsity |
| 1961-62 |
John Savage |
First basketball player of any color named by AP to All-Missouri Valley Conference in 1961-62; named to NT Athletic Hall of Fame 1988; first African-Aamerican named to Who's Who in college yearbook 1964. |
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| 1967 |
Ruben Russell |
1967 Team; Hall of Fame 1994 |
| 1968 |
Willie Davis |
1968 Team; Hall of Fame 1996 |
| 1970 |
Creston Whitaker |
1970 Team; Hall of Fame 1994 |
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| 1972 |
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Title XI Education Act of 1972 - Prohibits Discrimination Against Women |
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| 1975-76 |
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NT gives women's athletics official varsity status; first teams are basketball, volleyball, softball |
| 1976-77 |
Althea Tolliver |
First Female basketball player |
| 1977-78 |
Ken Williams |
First UNT basketball player to lead the country in rebounds; first/only to ever lead NCAA in statistical category; named to NT Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997. |
| 1982-83 |
Kenneth Lyons |
First to be number one in Thousand Point Club; 2,291 points in 111 games for career record. Named all-conference Southland Conference, first team, 1982-83; AP All American honorable mention 1981-82 and 1982-83; NT Athletics Hall of Fame 1993. |
| 1985-86 |
Clara Campbell |
First woman named All Conference, First team; Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year; averaged 20.4 points and 11.7 rebounds per game to lead NT to its first ever Southland Conference Championship; named to NT Athletics Hall of Fame 2000 |
| 1986 |
Jimmy Gales |
First head coach |
| 1987-88 |
Tony Worrell |
First Player of the Year |
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| 1987-90 |
Ramona Black |
First in field goal attempts |
| 1990-91 |
Donnell Hayden |
First to be named Newcomer of the Year |
| 1992 |
Jesse Ratliff |
First to be named Sports Illustrated Magazine Player of the Week for a two-game performance during week of Jan. 25, 1992; named to NT Athletics Hall of Fame 2001. |
| 1994 |
Carl Sheffield |
Asst. Track and Field Coach |
| 1996 |
Isalene Jones Welch |
Led as all-time leading scorer through 1980-84; remains ranked in top 10 in several categories; named to NT Athletics Hall of Fame. |
| 2001-2002 |
Jalie Mitchell |
First Woman Player of the Year, Sunbelt Conference; named all-conference all four years at NT, 98-99 through 01-02; all time leading scorer with 1,764 career points; #1 in free throws and attempts. With Rosalyn Reades (#25), first Lady Eagles to have jerseys retired (#44). |
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Rosalyn Reades |
First Defensive Player of the Year; #1 in assists and steals; two time All-Conference pick. With Jalie Mitchell (#44), first Lady Eagles to have jerseys retired (#25). |
| 1998-2000 |
Empress Drane |
First in rebounds |
| 1995 |
Freda Deckard |
First to be named Freshman of the Year |
| 1999-2003 |
Chris Davis |
First in Free Throws |
Track and Field
Firsts
| Decade |
Name |
Accomplishments |
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| 1959-60 |
Leonard Chance |
First in track; Ran 440 yd. dash and relays |
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Arthur Perkins |
First in track and field; Shot-put, weight man |
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David Dewberry |
First in track and field : pole vault |
| 1961-62 |
Jack Chance |
Freshman sprinter |
| 1965 |
Arvester Shepherd |
First of anyone in new 330-yd. hurdles; first to set Missouri Valley Conference record in 330 intermediate hurdles; and on Missouri Valley Conference championship 4x400 relay team. |
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Ira Daniels |
Also on Missouri Valley Conference championship 4x400 relay team; Missouri Valley Conference champion in triple jumpin 1965 and again in 1966. set school record in triple jump. |
| 1966 |
Louis Smith |
On Missouri Valley Conference 4x400-relay team(with Daniels); and Missouri Valley Conference champion, 120-yd hurdles; won same two championships in 1967. Also on 1967 mile relay team that won conference. |
| 1966 |
Oscar Howard |
Also on Missouri Valley Conference championship 4x400 relay team; won 100-yd dash Missouri championship; won same two championships in 1967. |
| 1968 |
Carl Jackson |
220 yard dash |
| 1971 |
Oren Smith |
On first team to win mile realay for Missouri Valley Conference championship |
| 1971 |
Austin Salter |
On first team to win mile relay for Missouri Valley Conference championship |
| 1972 |
Vernon Evans |
Missouri Valley Conference championship in 440 yard dash; also on mile relay team that won Missouri Valley Conference in1971 and 1972; and on sprint medley team that set school record in 1971 and 4x400 relay team that set school record in 1972. |
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Vernon Evans |
" |
| 1972 |
Bob Iverson |
First Missouri Valley Conference champion in high jump. [also basketball] |
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W. L. Mitchell |
On first team to set school record, 100 meter dash; 4 x 100 relay 4 x200 relay |
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Don Davis |
On first team to set school record 4 x 100 relay |
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Tom Williamson |
On first team to set school record 4 x 100 relay; on Missouri Valley Conference championship mile relay team in 1973 and 1974 |
| 1973 |
Abe Brown |
Missouri Valley Conference champion in triple jump; first to set school record in long jump. |
| 1973 |
Joe Jubert |
Set school record in 110-yd hurdles; still unbroken; also on team that set school record for 4x200 relay in 1974. |
| 1974 |
John Gilford |
Holds unbroken school record for long jump and triple jump set in 1975; was Missouri Valley Conference long jump champion in 1974 and again in 1975. |
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| 1974 |
Deonzia Freman |
One of team to set first school record in 4x200 meter relay. |
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| 1976 |
Marvin Baker |
First to set school record, 200-meter dash |
| 1976 |
Alvin Crenshaw |
First to set school record, 400 meter dash; also set school record 1977 in 800-meter |
| 1976 |
Keith Baker |
Member of 4 x 400 meter relay team that set first school record. |
| 1976 |
Matthew Boit |
Member of 4x800 meter relay etam that holds school record and 4x400 meter relay team tha set first school record. |
| 1978 |
Carol Blaylock |
First school record in 4 x 200 meter relay women outdoor |
| 1978 |
Debra Pinnix |
First school record in 4x200 and 4x400 meter relays, First to go to NCAA - women's mile relay team; first school record for 100 meter; set 200-meter record that still stands |
| 1978 |
Betty Pinnix |
First school record in 4 x 200 meter relay women outdoor |
| 1978 |
Joan Bennett |
First school women's record in 4x200 meter and 4x400 meter relays; long jump; and 400-meter run. |
| 1979 |
Julie Bergeron |
First to go to NCAA as member of women's mile relay team; first to set school record, 100 meter run and 4x400 meter relay. |
| 1979 |
Ben Moturi |
First to set and still holds school record for 1,500-meter run; on 4x800 team that set school record; set school 500-meter record. |
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| 1980 |
Robyn Wiley |
On team that set first 4x800 meter relay record. |
| 1980 |
Robyn Winnie |
On team that set first 4x800 meter relay record. |
| 1981 |
Rudy Levarity |
First to compete in NCAA in 100-meter aND 200-meter dash; holds school record in 100-meter and 200-meter dash and one of team that holds school record in 4x200 meter relay. |
| 1981 |
Richard Pace |
First NCAA 4x400-relay team; on 4x200-meter, 4x800 meter and sprint medley teams that hold school record. |
| 1981 |
Ed Simon |
Hold school record in 4 x 200-meter relay |
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| 1981 |
Greg Norman |
hold school record in 4 x 200-meter relay |
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| 1982 |
Dee Dee Rylance |
hold school record in 4 x 800-meter relay, 3 of 4-person team |
| 1982 |
Sherri Painter |
Hold school record in 4 x 800-meter relay, 3 of 4-person team |
| 1982 |
Kay Thompson |
Hold school record in 4 x 800-meter relay, 3 of 4-person team |
| 1983 |
Johnny Walker |
First NCAA 4x400-meter relay team; on sprint medley and 4x800-meter relay teams that hold school records.team that holds school record. |
| 1983 |
Matthew Boit |
Member of 4 x 800 meter relay team that holds school record. |
| 1983 |
Doug Jackson |
On 4x400 meter relay team that was the first to go to NCAA. |
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Donna Thomas |
First woman to compete in AIAW in long jump, indoor in 1982 and indoor and outdoor in 1981 and 1982; also on 800 meter and sprint medley team that went to AIAW; on 4x100 meter relay team that set first school record; holds school long jump record. |
| 1986 |
Johan Ngeny |
First Southland Conference champion in 5000-meter Run in 1986; again in 1987; and won 3000-meter steeplechase and 5000-meter run in 1988. |
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| 1987 |
Sandra Mondy |
First woman to win Southland Conference championship in triple jump in 1987 and won again 1990 and 1991. |
| 1988 |
Sherry Anderson |
Southland Conference champion in 200-meter dash; also went to NCAA competition in long jump |
| 1990 |
Nicole Trigg |
On team that set first sprint medley school record. |
| 1990 |
Sherri Whitfield |
On team that set first sprint medley school record. |
| 1974 |
Carl Sheffield |
Asst. Track & Field Coach |
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| 1997 |
Teddy Sondota |
First to set school record - decathlon - men, outdoor |
| 1997 |
Angela Taylor |
First to set school record 100-meter hurdles - women outdoor; also played basketball |
| 1998 |
MeShelly Sams |
On Big West Conference 4x400 meter relay championship team; on team that holds school record for sprint relay. |
| 1999 |
Brandie Riggs |
On 4x400 meter relay team that won Big West Conference in 1997; first to set school record in 400-meter hurdles. |
| 1998 |
Charnita Williams |
On Big West Conference 4x400 meter relay championship team; on team that holds school record for sprint relay; |
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| 1998 |
Chiqueta Ellis |
On sprint medley and 4x400 relay teams that hold school records. |
| 1998 |
Pam Lewis |
On sprint medley team that holds school record. |
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| 1999 |
Carlos Yearwood |
On team that won Big West 4x400-meter relay championship. Member of 4x100-meter relay team that went to NCAA championship playoffs in 1999.; team that holds 4x100 meter school record. |
| 1999 |
Tramaine Baker |
On team that won Big West 4x400-meter relay championship, 4x100-meter relay team that went to NCAA championship playoffs in 1999. |
| 1999 |
Jeff Hudson |
On team that won Big West 4x400-meter relay championship, 4x100-meter relay team that went to NCAA championship playoffs in 1999. |
| 2000 |
Paul Ndachi |
First to set school record in men's 10,000 meter run; also Big West conference champion in 1999; |
| 2000 |
Shazzell Grimes |
On 4x400 meter relay team that holds women's school record. |
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Cherri Rowe |
On 4x400 meter relay team that holds women's school record. |
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Dionte Campbell |
Holds school record in triple jump |
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| 2001 |
Detrion Woodson Taylor |
First Sun Belt conference champion, 100-meter dash; first to go to NCAA Track and Field outdoor championships in 100-meter dash in 2001; On 4x100-meter relay team that went to NCAA in 1999. |
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Rhatisha Scott |
First woman Sun Belt Conference champion, heptathlon; also was first to set school record in javelin |
| 2002 |
Monica Coates |
First women's Indoor Sun Belt Conference champion in 55-meter hurdles, won same championship again in 2003; |
| 2002 |
Maria Spencer |
First women's Indoor Sun Belt Conference champion, high jump. First individual conference champion, high jump; also holds school record in high jump |
| 2002-03 |
LaTrecia Taylor |
First women's Indoor Sun Belt Conference champion, shot put, 2002 and 2003. |
| 2003 |
Rhonda Williams |
First Sun Belt Conference champion, long jump. |
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Jessica Henderson |
First Sun Belt Conference champion, discus; tied with Gentry for school shot-put record on same day in 2003; set first school record in discus. |
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Lakisha Gentry |
First individual conference champion, javelin; tied for school shot-put record. 2003 |
| 2003 |
Jerome Carrothers |
First to set men's school record, discus and shot put. |
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Ananka Clark |
First woman to go to NCAA Track and Field Championships in 100-meter dash; holds school records for women, indoor 55-meters and outdoor and indoor, 200 meters. |
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Cherri Rowe |
On team that holds school record, 4 x 200 meter relay |
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Candace Rowe |
On team that holds school record, 4 x 200 meter relay |
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Rhonda Williams |
On team that holds school record, 4 x 200 meter relay |
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Dominique Rhymes |
On team that holds school record, 4 x 200 meter relay |
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Erika Washington |
First to set school record - 800-meter - women |
| 2004 |
Chastidy Russell |
On team that holds school record, 4 x 100-meter relay |
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Rhonda Williams |
On team that holds school record, 4 x 100-meter relay |
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Ronniqua Wilson |
On team that holds school record, 4 x 100-meter relay |
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Osaze Aghedo |
On team that holds school record, 4 x 100-meter relay |
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Ciji Brooks |
Holds school record, shot-put |
