Four Named
To Hall of Honor

Induction is scheduled at a noon luncheon Oct. 16 during 1999 Sam Houston State University homecoming activities.

Those selected are:

• Ray Burgess, four-year baseball letterman and co-captain and relief pitcher on teams that were among the nation's best in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for three years;
• Ricky Eggleston, four-year football letterman, starting tight end for three years, and all-America selection who ranks as one of the Sam Houston State football program's all-time leaders in several receiving categories;
• George "Jug" Jackson, two-year football letterman who was an outstanding running back and later coached nine high school teams to playoff seasons;
• Ken Jordan, four-year track letterman who continued to compete and be active as an amateur athlete and official, and recipient of the Silver Star for valor in combat in Vietnam.

Burgess compiled a career record of 26-5 as a Bearkat baseball player, primarily as a crafty change-up and curve-balling reliefer. He was 7-0 as a junior and 11-1 as a senior, and at one time won 14 games in a row. Teams on which he played finished third in the nation in 1972 and second in 1974 and 1975.

As a Bearkat he was named to several all-conference and all-America teams and ranks high in career statistics in several categories, including career yards, career catches, career touchdown catches and season touchdown catches. His performance against the University of Houston in 1987 produced seven catches for 181 yards and two touchdowns, and is considered one of the best ever by a Bearkat receiver.

His 31-year teaching and coaching career included positions at Lufkin, Bellville, Pearsall, Atlanta, New Diana, Elysian Fields, Arp, Clarksville, Lake Travis (Austin), Elgin and Harleton. His football teams at those schools went to the playoffs on nine occasions, including two that were semi-finalists, three quarter-finalists, one area finalist, and three district champions.

He entered the United States Marine Corps and compiled an outstanding military record which included awards for valor in Vietnam before his retirement as a colonel. He has since worked as vice president and manager in corporate human resources for the Bank of America in San Francisco and continues to consult in the areas of operations management, training, human resources, staff functioning, strategic planning and career management.

- END -

SHSU Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
September 27, 1999
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu