UTEP has received 16 new nominations for its Athletic Hall of Fame this year, and finally, finally, I had the sense to 
I’ve been a member of the UTEP Athletic Hall of Fame board since its inception 13 years ago. Why hadn’t I nominated Saxon before? I don’t know. Maybe I thought he was such an obvious choice that someone else was going to nominate him. Or maybe it was just plain stupidity.
Perhaps the reason no one else had nominated him before is that I’m the only member of the nominating committee old enough to remember the incredible things Saxon accomplished.
Just look at some of the records he still holds.
- The most years as UTEP football coach, 13 (from 1929 through 1941).
- The most victories by any UTEP football coach, 66.
- The most winning seasons by any UTEP coach, 8.
- The most seasons with only one loss, 4.
- The first coach to take a UTEP team to the Sun Bowl.
AND HE DID much more. Saxon, a former University of Texas quarterback, made football a viable sport at the school, created the impetus to build a football stadium at the school (Kidd Field), was so successful the Miners were invited to join the Border Conference, created so much excitement in El Paso that he became the toast of the town.
I was just a kid in the 1930s but I well remember those wonderful days.
And no, Saxon didn’t create such a great record playing patsies. His teams played such teams as Texas, Texas Tech, Arizona, Arizona State, SMU, Hardin-Simmons and New Mexico.
Needless to say, he was the first UTEP football coach to be inducted into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame way back in 1959.
He’s long overdue for induction at UTEP.
OTHER NEW nominees for induction into the UTEP Athletic Hall of Fame this year are:
The 1965 football team that went 8-3 and beat TCU in the Sun Bowl,
The 1967 football team that went 7-2-1 and beat heavy favorite Mississippi in the Sun Bowl,
Tom Dwyer, the first UTEP football coach who was given the formidable task of building the first football team from a student body of only 28 men.
Louis James, an outstanding football running back from 1961-1964.
Dick Shinaut, who quarterbacked the Miners to the 1954 Sun Bowl where they beat Southern Mississippi.
Stefon Jackson, who set a record for points scored of 2456 during the 2005-2009 basketball season,
Stacie Townsend, a two-time first team All-Conference USA softball pitcher (2008 and 2010).
Kelly Parker, an All-Western Athletic Conference soccer star in in 2000 and 2002.
Jereica Hughes, who set school records for assists and steals during her 2006-2009 women’s basketball career.
The 1977 men’s indoor track team that finished second at the NCAA meet.
Emmitt Berry, the 1976 NCAA indoor champion in the 35-pound weight throw.
Harrington Jackson, who won the 100-yard dash at the 1971 NCAA tournament,
Bob Kitchens, the highly successful Miners track coach from 1988-2010.
Ted McLaughlin, assistant track coach from 1977-79 when the Miners won three national titles.
Blessing Okagbare, who won NCAA crowns in the 100 meters and long jump during the 2010 outdoor season.
I GET A KICK out of our local athletic halls of fame. It’s so much fun looking back and remembering the great feats of our athletes, coaches and teams.
Dozens of others besides those listed here have been nominated for induction to the UTEP Athletic Hall of Fame and are still on the list. Sadly, only five of all those nominated this year and before will be selected for induction.
It’s a daunting task for the selection committee but you can bet we’re taking that chore with the utmost seriousness.
The induction banquet for the UTEP Athletic Hall of Fame won’t be held until October during homecoming.
Wish everyone luck.