TVCC announces 2016 Cardinal Hall of Fame class

Press release

Five new members have been selected to become the 2016 class for the Cardinal Hall of Fame at Trinity Valley Community College.

“This class is a great representation of the storied tradition of our athletic teams,” said Benny Rogers, sports information officer and chairman of the hall of fame selection committee. “Each of them made significant contributions to the success our athletic program has enjoyed through the years.

“It will be an honor to have them back on campus and recognize them for their contributions.”

The hall of fame’s ninth class is scheduled to be inducted on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 11 a.m. Tickets for the induction luncheon will be $10 and available at the door at the Student Union Building ballroom.

Inductees this year are:

Betsy Coker Anderson – Women’s Basketball (1973-75)

Records may be made to be broken, but certain distinctions are not. Anderson will forever be the first female to receive an athletic scholarship at the college.

The Frankston native was signed by Cardinal Hall of Fame member Connie “CJ” Russell as the first member of the first women’s basketball team in 1972. What followed were two outstanding years that saw her average in double figures (12.0 as a freshman, 17.0 as a sophomore) and help the Chicks (now Lady Cardinals) to their first-ever winning season in the second year.

Anderson was selected as team captain both seasons and participated in the first-ever North-South Texas Women’s JUCO All-Star game.

Anderson continued her playing career at Stephen F. Austin State University, where she helped the Ladyjacks to a 29-4 record and No. 9 national ranking as a senior. That same season, she became the co-recipient of the coveted Dick Wright Sportsmanship Award, making her the first female to receive the award.

In 1998, Anderson was named to the SFA Ladyjack Silver Anniversary Team, which included 25 players from 1972-97.

Anderson enjoyed a successful teaching/coaching career at Chapel Hill (1978-82) and Frankston (1982-2012).

Joe Curl – Women’s Basketball (1990-93)

In a 20-year coaching career, Curl amassed 331 wins. It all began at the helm of the Lady Cardinal basketball program, resulting in 66 wins and two-conference championships during a three-year tenure.

Curl was twice named the conference’s Coach of the Year after leading the Lady Cardinals to back-to-back titles and appearances in the regional championship game. In his final season in 1993, the Lady Cardinals reached No. 1 in the NJCAA rankings.

During his tenure at the college, Curl, a tireless recruiter, coached five All-Americans and 14 all-conference players.

Before leaving to become the head coach for a season at Stephen F. Austin State University, Curl recruited the bulk of the 1994 Lady Cardinal team that went on to win the NJCAA championship. At SFA, Curl led the Ladyjacks to a conference title, earning him Coach of the Year honors.

After four years at Blinn College, where he coached the women’s team two years and then the men’s team for two years, he moved on to the University of Houston, where he would coach 12 seasons and become the winningest women’s coach in school history with 193 wins.

At Houston, Curl’s teams made two NCAA and three WNIT tournament appearances, reaching the WNIT title game in 2002. In 2004, Curl was named the national Coach of the Year.

Curl died at age 59 on April 14, 2014.

Todd Fowler – Football (1980-81)

Arriving at the college after having won a Class 3A state championship at Van High School in 1979, Fowler, the son of legendary coach Mal Fowler, brought with him a work ethic that benefited the Cardinal football program. A two-year starter at tight end and safety, he became a leader.

Once Fowler moved on to Stephen F. Austin State University, his stock as player began to rise and would eventually carry him to the NFL, where he played four seasons (1985-88) with the Dallas Cowboys. At SFA, Fowler was the Lumberjacks’ third-leading receiver both seasons and earned all-conference honors.

Fowler was the 19th selection of the Houston Gamblers in the 1984 USFL draft. He played two seasons for the Gamblers, moving from tight end to running back and becoming the franchise’s all-time leading rusher. Fowler set a USFL single-game rushing record with 208 yards and was named to the 1984 USFL All-Rookie Team.

In the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft, Fowler was the 25th overall pick by the Cowboys. During his career with the Cowboys, he played in 52 games as a running back, tight end and kick returner.

Chris Landry – Men’s Basketball (1998-2000)

In nothing else, Landry was a finisher. He emerged down the stretch of his freshman season in 1999 and helped the Cardinal basketball team to come out of nowhere and win the Region XIV Tournament championship, earning the college’s third national tournament berth.

The Cardinals won the regional title and finished eighth at the national tournament largely in part to Landry. He averaged 13.0 points in three regional tournament games and 11.5 in four national tournament games.

As a sophomore, he was the team’s leading scorer and earned all-conference honors.

Landry went on to play two seasons at Kentucky Wesleyan College, resulting in back-to-back NCAA Division II national championships. Both years he was named the CBS Player of the Game in the national title games.

He finished his 67-game KW career with 924 points, 357 rebounds, 213 assists and 111 steals. Landry averaged 29.1 minutes played per game in his two-year career.

Landry was named the Kentucky Wesleyan All-Decade Team for the 2000s.

Lola Reescano – Women’s Basketball (1980-82)

In a long line of All-America women’s basketball players at the college, Reescano was the first. In fact, she was also the first to twice receive the honor in 1981 and ’82.

The Lady Cardinals did a lot of winning during Reescano’s two years, twice winning conference and regional championships to advance to the national tournament. A two-time all-conference selection , she averaged 14.0 points during her career and helped the Lady Cardinals to 59 wins.

Reescano moved on to turn in a successful two-year career at Baylor University, where she averaged 16.0 points and 6.1 rebounds. During her Baylor career, she scored a career-high 28 points against Texas A&M as a junior and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds against Rice as a senior. Reescano had five career double-doubles at Baylor.

She capped her playing career, which began as an all-state performer at Hardin-Jefferson High School, in the WABA, where she played two seasons and was coached by Elvin Hayes.