Welcome

A GLANCE AT TONIGHT’S ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME BANQUET

It is such an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of five outstanding Pasadena ISD alumni athletes, three coaches, and a team that knocked it out of the park by making history as the J. Frank Dobie High School state softball champions. We’re celebrating a lot of firsts this evening, including honoring our first Hall of Fame inductee family, Pasadena Memorial High School’s first inductee in PISD Hall of Fame history, and hosting this banquet at the Pasadena Convention Center.

Tonight, we honor:

• Willy Raby, Sam Rayburn High School Track and Cross Country Coach who led the Texans to two district titles and one regional title;

• Marlen Esparza, who has made waves in the news over the years for her illustrious boxing career;

• Charlie Goehring, a Pasadena High School graduate who coached track and cross-country in Pasadena ISD for more than 30 years;

• T.J. Mills, a graduate of Pasadena High School whose successful coaching career led Sealy’s football team to four-straight state titles;

• Steve Prentice, a South Houston High school swimmer who earned All-American honors in high school and qualified all four years for the NCAA at Texas A&M, setting records for multiple events;

• Ron Schroeder, Sam Rayburn High School alumnus and five-time Greater Houston Amateur Champion, who has been named the Southern Texas PGA Senior Player of the Year and winner of the Texas Open;

• Bo Snelson, the first Pasadena Memorial High School alumni athlete to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, who was named an Old Spice Red Zone National Player of the Year, a title given to only 50 football players in the U.S.

• Bryan Willingham, of Pasadena High School, who set a record with 11 catches for 166 yards and three touchdown grabs during the 1971 Texas Coaches Association All-Star Football game;

• The Snelson Family, including Billie Snelson (former basketball and volleyball coach), Andy Snelson (a Sam Rayburn graduate and all-State sprinter in track and three-year letterman in football) and John Snelson (a four-year letterman in baseball, one of the top players all three years of football and the head football coach of the Pasadena Memorial Mavs, coaching the team to their first district championship.)

• The J. Frank Dobie High School 1993 Girls’ Softball State Championship Team, who captured a historical championship trophy after winning 1-0 against Tomball.

Each one of these individuals have set a standard of excellence for current Pasadena ISD students and staff to follow and we applaud their contributions to the athletics programs that they have served.

We are also honored to welcome our guest emcee, Jason Bristol, anchor, reporter and multi-skilled journalist at KHOU-TV Channel 11 in Houston, Texas.

Congratulations to our Athletics Hall of Fame scholarship recipients. We wish them the best in their college experience and in their professional careers!

None of the above would be possible without the generous support of the Pasadena ISD Athletics Department, the Pasadena ISD Athletics Hall of Fame Committee and the Pasadena ISD Education Foundation. We want to thank our table sponsors, our Founding Donors and all our inductees – past and present – their families and their guests. We also wish to acknowledge the generous support of the Pasadena ISD Administration, the Board of Trustees and Pasadena ISD employees. We would like to thank our Pasadena ISD high schools and the students and athletes who have volunteered their time this evening. Thank you to all.

Special thanks to Ernie Zardeneta for their catering services and for our delicious meal, and for the servers from the Sam Rayburn High School Culinary Arts program. Thank you to all the vendors who have helped to make this event truly special for our inductees and guests.

After the induction ceremony, we invite you to the front lobby reception area, where you will have an opportunity to meet with the inductees for photographs and autographs.

This evening, we celebrate our inductees’ achievements, spanning decades. From sports to academics, you can see that success is at the mission of Pasadena ISD. I am thankful for the opportunity to showcase this tonight.

Thank you again for your attendance at this very special event.

Sincerely,

Chairman, Pasadena ISD Athletics Hall of Fame

PISD Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Banquet Ceremony

Welcome to the 10th anniversary Pasadena ISD Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Banquet. Tonight, we celebrate and honor the achievements of 10 inductees -- many of them are graduates of our great school district.

These athletes have demonstrated grit, discipline and dedication to reach their goals and achieve excellence in their athletic careers. Undoubtedly, our high school athletes continue to excel in each of our schools and make us proud on and off the field. As we celebrate the achievements of tonight’s inductees, we also thank them for setting a positive example for current athletes of Pasadena ISD to follow.

The accomplishments of these outstanding inductees could not have occurred without the continuous support of coaches, teachers and staff, alumni, and our Pasadena ISD Board of Trustees. Their contributions continue to be a crucial part of the success of our athletic programs and the district as a whole. Thank you for joining us as we recognize the outstanding achievements of this group of inductees into the Pasadena ISD Athletics Hall of Fame.

Congratulations!

Dr. DeeAnn Powell

Superintendent of Schools, Pasadena ISD

The Pasadena Independent School District Athletics Department would like to welcome everyone to the annual Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet. We are honored to have you as our guests as we recognize former PISD athletes who have made significant contributions on and off of the competition fields.

We would also like to thank our Hall of Fame committee members and sponsors who have contributed their time and efforts to making this special night a continued success.

Once again, congratulations to the inductees on their well deserved recognition tonight. We applaud the accomplishments of these former student athletes and the positive impact they have made on our PISD teams, community and beyond.

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

Football/Powerlifting/Archery

Athletic Achievements: All-State Academic Elite Team, Houston Touchdown Club Scholar

Athlete of the Year, Heart of a Maverick

Award, Bullseye State Champion

College: Undecided

Major: Mechanical Engineering