Houston ISD celebrates rich athletic history with 2025 Hall of Honor ceremony

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Just before HISD opens its doors to a new school year, the athletic department honored some of HISD's best and brightest athletes and coaches at the 2025 Hall of Honor ceremony at Delmar Fieldhouse.

"It is a way we can honor former athletes and coaches, and it can also let current and future students know that these individuals walked the same halls as they walk at the same schools," HISD Athletic Director Andre Walker Sr.

said.

"That is an encouragement to them that 'I can do it'." Fourteen individuals and one team, the 1968-70 Wheatley Wildcats basketball team, were inducted on Saturday.

"I feel blessed and happy to be here." Russel Charles, a Hall inductee who went to Kashmere then UCLA before starting a college coaching career, which included coaching under legendary Bill Walsh at Stanford.

Lamar High School's Tom Nolen is in the top five in all-time wins for a high school coach in the state of Texas.

He adds HISD Hall of Honor to his long list of accomplishments.

Coach Nolen is happy he is in the same class as former Madison head football coach Ray Seals.

"In 35 years at HISD, the kindest person I ever met was Ray Seals", Nolen said.

"To be in the same class as him, it means a whole hell of a lot." Three from Jack Yates were inducted.

Running back from the 1985 state championship football team, Johnny Bailey, Donna Roper of the '83 girls state basketball championship team, and George Walker Senior, who went to Yates in the 1970s.

Walker excelled in basketball, track, and football.

He was touched to represent not only the high school he attended, but also the neighborhood where he grew up.

"I'm speechless," Walker Sr said.

"I mean, I grew up a little boy watching Yates and living in a neighborhood, and to stand here today as a representative for them is really a big deal for me and my family." Also going into the Hall, Bellaire softball's Gabby Smith, three-sport athlete David Hoot from Reagan, and former Philadelphia Eagles and Booker T Washington's Leonard Mitchell.

Van Malone III from Waltrip was honored to be part of this impressive class.

"To be in this group to be honored in this way, I'm really, truly...

and this is hard for me", Malone III said.

"I'm at a loss for words." Malone's mom, Bobbie Brockman, is very proud of her son's accomplishment.

"It's an honor because he worked hard, and all this-- it's well deserved.

I'm so very proud," Brockman said.

The Tamborello sisters, Lisa and Renee, were back-to-back state doubles champions in tennis from Lee High School.

They credit their dad, Joseph, for laying the foundation for life on and off the court.

"In doubles, we complemented each other so well because Rene was fast on her feet and she loved the net".

Lisa Tamborello Lipman said.

"I would hang in the back of the court and put it up the line, and I had a great lob." The final group recognized was the 1968-1970 Wheatly Wildcats, who are thought by many to have been the best collection of talent and coaching ever in the Houston area.

They were 3x state champions and had a record of 97-2 overall..

This article has been shared from the original article on abc13, here is the link to the original article.