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Lam Jones immortalized
On Saturday, that star gleamed. In a ceremony at the Ferrell Center with a large contingent of Lampasas residents on hand, Jones, a 1976 Lampasas High School graduate, was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame. "It's one of those deals where if you played football in Texas or have been associated in any way with football in Texas, you understand how humbling this is," Jones said after a press conference at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. "When you receive an honor like this, you realize there are thousands of other former Texas players and coaches who could have been honored. There are just so many great athletes and great coaches who could have their names on this."
Each year, the Hall of Fame committee inducts one contributor from each decade back to 1950 and one from before 1950. Jones, who starred for LHS in football, basketball and track from 1973-76, was the representative of the 1970s. The pre-1950 selection was Conrad Magouirk from London High School. Magouirk was an outstanding fullback there from 1946-48 before continuing his stellar career at Texas A&M. The 1950s inductee was Johnny Treadwell from Stephen F. Austin High School. A guard and linebacker from 1956-58, Treadwell went on to become an All-American at the University of Texas.
The 1980s selection was Nati Valdez from Mission High School. He was a wide receiver at Tom Landry's alma mater from 1986-88 before having a productive career at Brigham Young University. The 1990s selection was Branndon Stewart from Stephenville High School. Stewart quarterbacked from 1990-93, leading the Yellowjackets to a Class 4A state title in 1993 before he starred at Texas A&M. Cessna was inducted as a specialcategory selection. The reporter got his start at the Bryan Eagle in 1974, and has been a highly decorated sports writer. For the past three decades Cessna has spearheaded the task of compiling the Texas Sports Writers Association's all-state football team. Briles, who left the University of Houston to accept the head coaching job at Baylor University earlier this year, was inducted for his success at Stephenville, where he coached Stewart. A high school coach from 1979-99, Briles took the Yellowjacket post in 1988, 36 years after Stephenville's last playoff appearance. Six years later, he won the first of four state titles and finished with a 136-28-2 record in 12 seasons.
That summer, Jones earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team's 400-relay team, helping lead it to a goldmedal performance at the Montreal Games.
He was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer in 2005 that has taken its toll on his body for the past three years. Once a sleek, 6-foot specimen, Jones now stands at 5'9", but he is in full remission. Though Jones experienced the bulk of his athletic success after he left Lampasas, he hasn't forgotten the important role the town has had on his life and career. The people of Lampasas helped raise money for Jones to attend Olympic qualifier meets in the summer of 1976. "It's like every guy I practiced with and played with at Lampasas is being inducted with me," he said. "All the folks in Lampasas are being inducted. I'll never forget how everyone got together with the fund-raisers and the support that helped get me to the Olympics. "It felt like the whole town of Lampasas was with us at the state track meet and that the whole town was with me at the Olympics. Now it feels like the whole town is being inducted with me." A large contingent of Lampasans were on hand for the induction festivities. Jones' friend Steve Reinshuttle, who owns Walkabout RV in Waco, drove an RV to the Ferrell Center so Jones and his supporters could celebrate before the ceremony. Celebrate they did. "Lampasas has always been a town that celebrates its successes together as a town," Jones said. "That's the neatest thing about something like this: You get to celebrate it with people, share it with folks." THSFHOF Class of 2008 Former Lampasas High School, University of Texas and New York Jets star Johnny "Lam" Jones was inducted Saturday into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.• Pre-1950: Conrad Magouirk, FB, London HS, 1946-48. • 1950s: Johnny Treadwell, LB, Stephen F. Austin HS, 1956-58. • 1960s: Joe Wylie, RB, Henderson HS, 1966-68. • 1970s: Johnny "Lam" Jones, RB, Lampasas HS, 1973-75. • 1980s: Nati Valdez, WR, Mission HS, 1986-88. • 1990s: Branndon Stewart, QB, Stephenville HS, 1990-93. • Special Category: Robert Cessna, sports writer, 1974-present. • Coach: Art Briles, Sweetwater, Hamlin, Georgetown, Stephenville, 1979-99. |
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