Article IV - Hall of Fame Dates
I have a concern about the dates that may be put on the first inductees into the Texas Hall of Fame. I have found things printed in the Ringer, a time or two, that the first inductees were inducted in 1974, and once I even saw it stated as 1975. I have never been satisfied that these printings were correct.
In 1995, when Jean had Bob Graham's Newsletters, I took down a note from the September 1973 Newsletter, covering minutes of the 1973 State meeting, stating that Bob Graham was the Chairman of the newly formed Hall of Fame committee, and that four men were nominated and voted in. I was never comfortable about saying anything about this, when the printing came out in the Ringer, saying that the first nominees were inducted in 1974, because I felt that I could have made a mistake, when making my notes. Now that I have this Newsletter in hand (from Jim Woodson), I know that my notes were correct.
I'm going to quote that piece about the HOF inductees at the 1973 AHPT meeting, that is in the September 1973 Newsletter. It states: "Bob Graham is the chairman of the newly formed Texas Hall of Fame. Four people were nominated and voted in. Berlin Sipple (deceased), Ed McFarland, Rev. Marvin Burgess, and Jim Woodson." It goes on to name the Mose Sanderson Sportsmanship for 1973 ( a group, Bob Alexander, Paul Kirby, Richard Ferrell, and Todd Coons, for their work in construction of two clay courts at the Madrid Motor Inn, in San Antonio, I believe); and the award for the 1973 Most improved Pitcher, (Rod Hatton),etc.
I see no way that these four people could have been inducted in 1974, as stated in the '03 Ringer, I believe, or '04 ringer. I was planning on putting this in a future Looking Back article, before ever saying anything about this, but I now feel I should mention this to maybe keep errors from showing up somewhere. On this matter, I will make some changes, at the beginning of this piece, to make it a "Looking Back" article. By making this a Looking Back article, we will have it out in front of everyone, as to why we have changed the first inductees from 1974, to 1973. Also, because I'm writing this before I was planning to, it will not be as complete as I would have liked, but I feel this needs to be said now.
There have been printings that say that Archie Roach was chairman of the first Hall of Fame committee, but he was not elected to that post until a year or so later. The '74, and '75 Newsletters that I have are skimpy on info. I only have two '74 Newsletters, and they do not cover the '74 State Tournament. The '75 newsletter does not cover the '75 State Tournament, either. The 1975 Texas Horseshoe Pitchers Association Annual Report has the minutes of the '75 State meeting. The first order of business, under OLD BUSINESS reads, and the capital letters are included as I write this:
"HALL OF FAME COMMITTEE report by ARCHIE ROACH. Recommendations of the committee were to induct BOB GRAHAM and MATT BOWERS (deceased) into the TEXAS HALL OF FAME. Both men were inducted by a unanimous vote." The 'Jan./Feb.1977 Ringer covers the minutes of the 1976 State meeting. It says, and I quote:
"The next order of business was the nomination for the Texas Hall of Fame. Those names previously submitted were Archie Roach, Jim Burrow, Joe Minnich, J. W. Cash, and Red Kiser. After discussion of the various candidates, Archie Roach has been unanimously elected as the 1976 Hall of Fame member."
These people were inducted into the HOF at the State meetings, during the State tournaments of the year that they were inducted, as we do now. Othana Donnell was inducted at the 2006 State meeting, making her the 2006 inductee, not the 2007 inductee. I hope this letter does not put an undue hardship on anyone.
'Til next time,
Johnny Davenport
THPA Historian