They will be inducted at a noon luncheon during 1996 SHSU Homecoming activities Oct. 26 in Huntsville.
Rose ('37) received scholarship offers from five Texas colleges including Sam Houston State. In his first year he played football, basketball and track and served as president of the freshman class.
He later concentrated on football and track, lettering four years in each, serving as captain of both squads in 1936-'37. In football he was a quarterback and punter and in track competed in the javelin, high jump and pole vault.
His athletic reputation was such that he was chosen along with the legendary Sammy Baugh to demonstrate passing and punting at a coaching school in Houston.
Rose went into coaching in Richmond, then Milby High in Houston. After three years service in the U. S. Navy in World War II, he returned to coach at San Jacinto and then Jones High in Houston. He became associate athletic director for the Houston school district, retiring from that position in 1978.
Lindley ('40) played center and was a leader on the Sam Houston football team that upset Rice Institute in 1939. He finished his Sam Houston State athletic career as captain that year on a team that was the Lone Star conference runner-up with a 7-2-1 record.
He also earned all-conference recognition in 1938 and 1939 and was a member of the Student Council in 1939-'40.
Lindley began his military career in the U. S. Air Force in 1941, serving in World War II in both training and combat roles. After the war he specialized in military education, and is known as the "father" of modern ROTC.
After retirement from the Air Force, he served in student affairs, continuing education and development positions with the University of North Texas and University of Texas/San Antonio, retiring in 1982. He was honored as a SHSU distinguished alumnus in 1992.
Choate ('69) was an all-American pitcher at Sam Houston State in 1965, setting records for most wins (12) and most strikeouts (117) in a season. Both still stand. He ranks third in all-time pitcher's winning percentage with a career mark of .857 (18-3) . He also pitched in two NAIA College World Series.
He played in the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system, and has coached and taught in the Galveston school district for 29 years. His community interests have included serving six years as a Galveston County Navigation District #1 commissioner, city parks and recreation, youth baseball, the Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, and a criminal justice advisory commission.
Choate has been honored for his community service by the Galveston Daily News and Galveston Island Rotary Club.
Wendt ('77, '79) transferred to Sam Houston State in 1973, where he lettered four years in baseball as a designated hitter and first baseman.
He was a second team all-American designated hitter in 1975, setting school records in most hits and most doubles in one season. He was voted honorable mention all-America in 1976, and first team all-America in 1977 at first base.
Wendt is one of only seven Bearkat baseball players to hit over .400 in a single season, leading the 1977 team with a .428 average. He ranks sixth in all-time Bearkat hitting with a .357 career average.
He played on two teams that finished second in the NAIA College World Series, in 1974 and 1975. He is now assistant principal at Hildebrandt Intermediate in the Klein school district.
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