A sports information director, a faculty athletics representative and a women’s volleyball standout are the newest inductees to the Lone Star Conference Hall of Honor, it was announced Tuesday by league officials.
Fred Nuesch of Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Lewis Ingraham "L.I." Smith of East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University-Commerce) and Julie Myatt O’Dell of West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M University) make up the 2005 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 LSC Hall of Honor was established in 1996. A total of 28 former players, coaches and administrators have been inducted. Texas A&M-Kingsville leads all schools with eight inductees, while Angelo State has six. Smith is the fifth inductee from A&M-Commerce, while Myatt O’Dell is the first-ever inductee from West Texas A&M.
Here’s a closer look at each of the 2005 inductees to the LSC Hall of Honor:
Fred Nuesch, Sports Info. Director, Texas A&M-Kingsville: Nuesch recently completed his 37th year with Texas A&M University-Kingsville and his second as the Coordinator of External Affairs. He retired from a full-time capacity in May 2003 after 35 years as sports information director. He gained the title of associate athletic director for media relations during the last decade of his service.
While in the sports information office at TAMUK, he edited media guides and programs for the men’s and women’s sports and his publications received more than 100 awards and citations during a 35-year period.
Nuesch has played a key role with the College Sports Information Directors of America, earning numerous awards and serving in many capacities. Nuesch worked as the CoSida secretary for 23 years before retiring in 2002 and has served on the organization’s board for 28 years.
He received the first-ever CoSIDA Distinguished Service Award in 2002. Other awards include the Arch Ward Award for bringing prestige and professionalism to sports information; the Warren Berg Award for being college division SID of the year; and the Lifetime Achievement Award for having a proud career of more than 25 years.
He’s a Hall of Fame member for CoSida, NAIA, TAMUK and Paris Junior College. He received the first-ever Extra-Mile Award in 1996, marking him as the best promoter of Division II football and the Harlon Hill Trophy. He has been named AVCA SID of the Year and NAIA SID of the Year, plus he twice received the NAIA Award of Merit.