Homecoming Honorees and Inductees Announced
Keeter Alumni Service Award, Distinguished Alumni, and Athletics Hall of Fame
ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD
The John J. Keeter, Jr. Alumni Service Award is the highest alumni honor HSU can bestow.
It is presented to the former student(s) who has contributed the most in his or her field of endeavor toward the betterment of HSU or who has rendered the greatest service to the University. Awards are selected by a committee whose members are established by a campus leadership role.
This award will be given during the Alumni Awards Banquet on Thursday evening, October 15, 6:30 p.m., Abilene Civic Center Conference Hall.
Joe Sharp
BA 1958
With a quiet strength of character, HSU Trustee, Joe Sharp, has supported his alma mater for more than 50 years. He has served on the Board of Trustees for 13 years and is currently chair of the budget and audit committee. He is a past member of the HSU Board of Development, a lifetime member of the Presidents Club, and continually serves as an alumni volunteer.
As an HSU Trustee, Joe has held offices as chair, vice chair and assistant secretary, and secretary. Joe also served as vice chair for the Presidential Search Committee and presided over the 2001 inauguration of Dr. Craig Turner, 14th president of HSU.
Joe retired from his 30-year career as a geophysicist in 1997. He and his wife, Lynn (Miller '58), live in Granbury, Texas, and are active members of First Baptist Church, where he is a deacon, teaches adult Sunday school, is a member of the choir and praise team, and serves on various committees. The couple has two daughters and three grandsons.
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DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
The Distinguished Alumni Award, given since 1970, is presented to alumni whose personal and professional accomplishments are exemplary of the ideals and aims of the University and thus bring honor to HSU.
Awards are selected by a committee whose members are established by a campus leadership role.
This award will be presented during the Alumni Awards Banquet on Thursday evening, October 15, 6:30 p.m., Abilene Civic Center Conference Hall.
Harvey Catchings
BBS 1974, Sport, Fitness, Leisure Science
When Harvey Catchings left Hardin-Simmons University in 1974, he answered the call as a third-round draft pick by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Harvey played 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association from 1974 to 1985 for the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Jersey Nets, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Los Angeles Clippers.
During his HSU basketball career, he scored 1,281 points and pulled down 837 rebounds. As a 6-foot, 10-inch center from Jackson, Mississippi, and Weatherford Junior College, Harvey was named Honorable Mention All-America in 1972, Third team All-American in 1973 and again in 1974.
Known for his defense and rebounding, he was in the top ten in blocked shots on five occasions during his NBA career. He finished with averages of 3.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.7 blocked shots. His NBA statistics include scoring 2,335 points, 3,839 rebounds, and 1,227 blocked shots. He also played an additional year with the Segafredo, Italy team.
After retiring from the NBA in 1985, Harvey was the spokesperson for the NBA "Stay In School Program" and spent several years working in mentoring and career guidance capacities. In 1997, he embarked on a career in fund-raising and advertising for corporate and nonprofit clients. He established Harvey Catchings Promotions in 1992, which he developed into the largest minority-owned promotion company in Illinois by 1997.
In 1997, Harvey joined Chase Manhattan Mortgage as a senior loan officer and is currently with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in their Reverse Mortgage Division which services the financial needs of seniors over the age of 62.
Harvey has served on the board of directors of the Black United Fund of Illinois, Small Fry International, Young Professionals of Jackson Park, Interfaith Housing Center, Childserv, the American Cancer Foundation, and the Little City Foundation.
He currently lives in Houston and has five children and seven grandchildren.
Jack Graham
BS 1972 Bible
Dr. Jack Graham is pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, one of the nation's largest congregations with a membership that has more than tripled since he began his tenure in 1989.
Under his direction, Prestonwood's current membership of 28,000 continues to grow with five weekend worship services, a midweek Bible study, more than 100 Bible Fellowship classes, and multiple outreach and community ministries that reach thousands.
He previously pastored churches in Fort Worth, Oklahoma, and the First Baptist Church in West Palm Beach, Florida, before accepting the pastorate at Prestonwood.
He served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) from 2002 to 2004 and as president of the SBC Pastors' Conference in 1992.
Graham has authored numerous books and is founder of PowerPoint Ministries, taking the message from the Prestonwood pulpit to the world through broadcasts, online sermons, and email messages.
He and his wife, Deb (Peters '72) live in Frisco, Texas, and have three children and one grandson.
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ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
The Athletics Hall of Fame honors former athletes and coaches who made a significant contribution to HSU and the athletics program. They are selected at least 10 years after completing their HSU playing career (after five years for coaches), by a committee including current and former HSU athletes from various sports. Nominations are accepted year-round.
The Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet is Friday, October 16, at 6:30 p.m. at the Abilene Country Club.
Mrs. Micky Davis Brewer
BS '97/ MPT '99 Basketball
Brewer, who played basketball for the Cowgirls from 1995-1998, started 92 games in her career and remains the fourth all-time leading scorer in HSU history with 1,478 points.
She also ranks fourth in career rebounds, third in blocked shots, tenth in assists, fifth in free throws made, and third in field goals made. She was named as the TIAA Freshman of the Year, twice named Academic All-American, and was selected All-American Southwest Conference.
In her senior campaign, she helped lead the Cowgirls to an ASC Championship while she was enrolled in Physical Therapy school at HSU, making her the only student-athlete to date to simultaneously attend PT school and compete for an athletic team.
Mr. Doyle Brunson
BS '54 Basketball & Track
One of HSU's most decorated athletes, Brunson was an immediate impact on the track team his freshman year.
He placed in the mile run in every meet, including a third-place finish at the 1951 Border Conference meet. He also played on the freshman basketball team. As a sophomore, Brunson scored 151 points for the basketball team, placed second in the mile, and ran on the fourth-place mile relay team at the BC track meet.
The following year, Brunson again placed second in the mile at the BC meet, while excelling in basketball, assisting HSU to win the Conference championship and enter the NCAA Division I playoffs. Brunson scored 412 points and was the only HSU athlete in any sport to be named the MVP of the Division I Border Conference.
Mr. Collin McCormick
BBS '95 Football
McCormick was one of the first great players for the Cowboy football team after its revival in 1990.
He played from 1991 to 1994 and excelled as a slotback, putting up many records that still stand today, including most receptions in a game, season, and career.
He was the first player of the Jimmie Keeling era to be named All-American. McCormick was a four-time all-TIAA performer at slotback and as punt returner.
In 1993 he was also the nation's eighth-leading punt returner. His 90-yard punt return for a TD in a 1992 game tied the school record held by Wilton "Hook" Davis. McCormick also holds the record for most catches in a game, setting a single game scoring record with 26 points. He led the Cowboys into the playoffs three times, including the NAIA Semifinals in 1993.
Mr. Morris Southall
BS '47/ME '53 Football
Southall was a member of the 1946 football team that posted an 11-0 record and defeated the University of Denver 20-0 in the Alamo Bowl.
After leaving Hardin-Simmons, Southall spent over three decades as an assistant coach with Gordon Wood '38/'52. At Stamford, Texas, the two of them won consecutive state championships in the 1950s.
Later, Wood and Southall combined to win seven state championships in their 26 years at Brownwood High School. In 1973, Southall was inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor.
He is also a member of the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame (1994).
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