I get the neatest stories keeping in touch with folks. The following items are a few examples — plus our usual trivia question:
When I was at the El Paso Herald-Post and covering horse racing at Sunland Park Racetrack in the 1960s and ‘70s one of my favorite jockeys was Jeff Thrasher. It wasn’t just because he was outstanding at his trade but because he was also a friendly, happy fellow always ready to say hello.
Thrasher, long retired now, seemed a little happier than usual the other day when I ran into him at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino. You see, his daughter, Nicky Thrasher Adams, has been named 2015 women’s soccer Coach of
the Year in Conference USA.
And for good reason. Under her direction, Rice University set a school record of 14 victories in winning the conference championship. She was so popular with her players that at the school’s awards banquet the team captains interrupted the presentations to insert their own special recognitions of their coach.
Like father, like daughter.
TRIVIA QUESTION: Can you name the player who won the Jim Thorpe Trophy as the NFL Most Valuable Player three years in a row? Answer at end of column.
NICE CATCH for UTEP. Coronado High senior Evan Macias has signed a letter of intent to play for the Miners’ golf team.
Macias, 18, has been golfing competitively since the age of 12 in adult tournaments, including the Men’s City Championships, Pro-Ams and amateur qualifiers.
Macias was named Player of the Year in 2010 by Golfweek Junior Tour. Macias set a high school round of 64 and is the only freshman to win the 1-5A District Championship.
Thanks to Terri Wyatt for the above.
CORONADO COUNTRY Club has a new director of golf: Mark Gonzalez, former head professional at Painted Dunes Golf Course the last 14 years. He replaces Danny Swain, who had served in that position for years but retired recently.
Gonzalez was a unanimous choice of the search committee.
Thanks to Tom Hussmann for the above.
SPEAKING OF golf, did you know that Texas PGA Open golf championship was once held in El Paso and the old maestro of golf, Byron Nelson, won the darn thing?
Our editor, Wendy Polk, ran into a photo of Nelson holding the silver trophy he received for winning the 28th Texas PGA Open golf championship at El Paso Country Club on June 22, 1948.
Nelson shot a 72-hole total of 278 and was awarded $1200 first prize money plus a $50 bonus for making the best second shot on the 18th green.
Thanks, Wendy.
ONE OF MY nominees, Mack Saxon, the most successful football coach ever at UTEP, didn’t make it but the selection committee still came up with an outstanding, and diverse, group of inductees for the UTEP Athletic Hall of Fame this year. The 2015 inductees will be:
Troy Bassham (Rifle, 1989-93)
Bob Kitchens (Track & Field Coach, 1988-2010)
Kelly Parker (Soccer, 1999-2002)
Dick Shinaut (Football, 1951-53)
Stacie Townsend (Softball, 2007-10)
The induction banquet will be held in October. You’ll be reading more about the inductees as time goes on.
Thanks to UTEP sports information director Jeff Darby for the list
NOT EVERY news item you run into is happy. The following is from Courtney Heineman-Cannon.
She writes that she enjoyed our article on her uncle, legendary UTEP football star Ken Heineman, but she wanted to let me know that his baby brother, Lloyd (Courtney’s grandpa), “went to heaven to play football with Ken.”
She added, that “the Heineman name is slowly dying away. It was special that you valued my uncle Kenneth. LOL”
Thanks, Courtney
ANSWER to trivia question: Earl Campbell of Houston in 1978, 1979 and 1980