LSC selects 2011 Hall of Honor inducteesThe 2011 inductees to the Lone Star Conference Hall of Honor include two former dual sport athletes and a past football star league officials announced on Thursday.
Roberto Garza of Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Eastern New Mexico’s Jennifer Goble Poyer and Dwight White of Texas A&M University-Commerce compose the 2011 class of inductees for the LSC Hall of Honor, which recognizes outstanding individuals who have brought pride and honor to the conference through their contributions as an athlete or who have demonstrated a long-term commitment to the betterment of the conference as a coach or administrator.
The inductees were chosen by a panel of athletic administrators throughout the league.
“The Hall of Honor is reserved for individuals who have brought pride and honor to the Conference, and certainly this year’s class embodies that,” said LSC Commissioner Stan Wagnon. “Dwight White and Roberto Garza are key figures in the LSC’s tradition of football student-athletes who experience success in the Lone Star Conference before going on to become high-profile NFL players. Both men had the good fortune of playing in the Super Bowl. Jennifer Goble-Poyer will forever be one of the best athletes to compete in the LSC, having dominated on both the basketball and volleyball courts. Her efforts truly helped to increase the amount of attention and respect given to women’s sports by those in and around the league.”
Each of the inductees will receive the LSC’s signature Hall of Honor award, a 15-inch custom-sculpted eagle figurine mounted on a cherry wood base. The awards for Garza, Poyer and White are to be presented this fall with ceremonies at each recipient’s institution.
Here’s a closer look at each of the 2011 inductees to the LSC Hall of Honor:
Roberto Garza, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Football/Track & Field: Garza was an outstanding athlete for the Javelinas and has played in the NFL for the past 10 years with the Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears. Garza played football for four seasons and was a standout in track and field. On the gridiron, he was a two-time AP Little All-America and AFCA first-team All-America selection.
He won the NCAA Division II national title in the shot put in 2000 after a third-place finish in the 1999 meet. Garza won LSC titles in the discus in 1999 and the shot put in 2000 to earn most valuable men's field performer honors. He gained a starting role with the Falcons his rookie season and played for Atlanta from 2001-04. Garza was signed by the Bears in 2005 and has been a starter on the offensive line, including a Super Bowl appearance. Chicago won the NFC North Division last season before losing to eventual NFL champion Green Bay in the NFC title game.
Garza has done numerous community projects in the Atlanta and Chicago areas and his hometown of Rio Hondo, Texas, has a “Roberto Garza Day” each Dec. 2.
Jennifer Goble Poyer, Eastern New Mexico, Basketball/Volleyball: Poyer is the Zias only four-time first-team All-LSC pick in volleyball and was also the LSC Player or Co-Player of the Year all four years. She stood out on the basketball court as well, earning LSC Player or Co-Player of the Year honors twice and LSC Freshman of the Year acclaim as a four-time All-LSC pick. Poyer was the Zias career kills leader in volleyball when she graduated (1,687 kills) and ranks second today. She remains the school’s all-time scoring leader in basketball with 1,852 points.
She holds several LSC volleyball records: block solos in a match (18) and career (360), and total blocks in a season (266) and career (791). At ENMU, she also ranks first in career service aces (153), is tied for second in career hitting percentage (.324), and holds third place in career digs (1,309). Poyer led ENMU to their best-ever volleyball record (33-6) in 1993 en route to the LSC regular season and tournament titles. The Zias were 105- 35 (.750) during her four years on the court.
On the hardwood, she tops the records for scoring average in a season (23.9 in 1991-92) and career (20.4). Poyer also holds marks for made free throws in a game (15), season (174, 1990-91) and career (568). She paced the Zias to an LSC regular-season basketball title and best-ever record (23-5) in 1992-93. ENMU was 74-36 (.673) during Poyer’s four seasons on the basketball team.
A member of ENMU’s All-Century and All-Decade volleyball teams, Poyer was inducted into Eastern’s Athletic Hall of Honors in 2000.
Dwight White, Texas A&M-Commerce, Football: White was a four-year letterwinner for A&M-C from 1967-1970, helping lead the Lions to a share of the Lone Star Conference title in 1969. A two-time All-LSC selection at defensive tackle, White was an honorable mention NAIA and Associated Press All-American following the 1970 season. A standout at Dallas Madison High School, White was a fourth-round selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1971 draft and played 10 years for the organization as part of the famed “Steel Curtain” defense.
A two-time Pro Bowl selection, he would help the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories and recorded the first points in Pittsburgh Super Bowl history, sacking Frank Tarkenton in the end zone for a safety in Super Bowl IX. He finished his playing days with 46 career sacks and was named to the Steelers All-Time Team in 1982 and 2007. White passed away due to complications with surgery in 2008.
RIO HONDO — Like most youngsters in this tiny community, Joshua Anthony Gonzalez has heard all about the Chicago Bears’ Roberto Garza.
As a matter of fact, Joshua’s dad, Ruben, played football with Garza in high school at Rio Hondo. Ruben graduated in 1996 and Garza a year later in 1997.
Ruben went on to a military career in the U.S. Army that saw him serve three tours of duty in Iraq between 2003 and 2010. Now Ruben’s back home and spending as much time as he can with Joshua.
After high school, Garza went on to a stellar playing career at Texas A&M-Kingsville followed by an equally successful 10-year career in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and the Chicago Bears.
Depending on how fast the NFL labor dispute will be settled, Garza will be entering his 11th season in the NFL and eighth with the Bears this fall.
But on Thursday, Garza was back at his alma mater hosting the 2011 Roberto Garza Skills and Drills football camp. The camp is in its fourth year but was forced indoors for the first time due to rain.
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