2016 Texas State Athletic Alumni Hall of Honor Class Announced

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State “T” Association has announced its 2016 Distinguished Athletic Alumni Hall of Honor Class, as voted on by the “T” Association Board of Directors. This year’s four-member class features Henry Garcia (men’s basketball), Brian Lusson (men’s tennis), Johnny Parker (football) and Jamie Person-Coleman (men’s track & field). Induction into the Hall of Honor is the highest athletics honor to be bestowed upon Texas State athletic alumni.

The 2016 Induction Ceremony takes place on Fri., Dec. 2, in the J. Garland Warren Reception Room at Bobcat Stadium. In addition, each recipient will be recognized during halftime of Texas State’s football game against Arkansas State on December 3.

To purchase tickets for either the ceremony or the football game, please contact the Texas State Athletic Department at 512-245-2220.

Texas State University Athletics would like to congratulate the 2016 Hall of Honor inductees.

Henry Garcia
Henry “Buck” Garcia was a four-year letterwinner for the Bobcat basketball team from 1963-66. During his career, Garcia scored a total of 1,368 points despite playing in just 75 games during his career. He ranks sixth among Texas State’s current career scoring leaders. A point guard for the Bobcats, Garcia earned All-Lone Star Conference honors during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. As a senior, Garcia served as team captain and was selected First-Team All-Lone Star Conference after being named Second Team All-LSC honors in his sophomore and junior seasons.

Garcia led the Bobcats in scoring during both his junior and senior years after averaging 18 points per game as a junior and 16.9 points per game as senior. Both years he was a member of the 400-point club. His 436 career field goals made ranks 10th all-time in Bobcat basketball. Garcia was also an excellent free throw shooter as he led the Bobcats in free-throw percentage during his junior (.814) and senior (.793) seasons.

The 1965-66 Bobcat basketball team finished second in the Lone Star Conference with 116 points per game to set a school record at the time. During the same season, the Bobcats produced a 16-11 record, including a Lone Star Conference record of 10-4.

Before his junior season, Garcia was selected by the United States Department of State to represent his country, and Texas State, in a Goodwill Tour. While traveling throughout the West Indies and South America, Garcia and his teammates played 21 games in several countries and conducted numerous youth basketball clinics.

Garcia graduated in 1966 and received a bachelor of science degree in physical education. Upon graduation, he began a successful career in teaching and coaching in various districts across Texas, including stops in San Antonio, Eagle Pass, Harlandale and Houston. Garcia was also recruited to coach professional basketball teams in Mexico from 2006-10, coaching in Zacatecas, Querétaro, and Cuidad Victoria. Garcia is involved in various volunteer efforts in the San Antonio area, all with a focus on basketball. He works with AAU youth basketball teams, Little Spurs League, officiating for youth leagues and volunteer coaching of high school players during summer leagues. Garcia retired from coaching in 2004.

Garcia was inducted into the International Hall of Fame for Basketball in Laredo in 1980. In 2001, he was also inducted into the National Hispanic Hall of Fame in San Antonio.

Brian Lusson
Brian Lusson was a two-year letterwinner for the Bobcat men’s tennis team from 1979-81. One of the most decorated players in the history of Bobcat men’s tennis, Lusson was captain of the 1981 NAIA National Championship team and the NCAA Division II National Runners-Up.

As a member of the 1981 National Championship team, Lusson played No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles for the Bobcats. That season, he accumulated 36-4 overall singles record and won the NAIA National Singles Championship. En route to his individual men’s singles championship, Lusson won the Lone Star Conference singles championship and the NAIA District 4 singles championship. Due to the Bobcats dual membership affiliation, Lusson was able to participate in the Division II National Tournament where he finished as an NCAA Division II National Singles Semifinalist.

He and his doubles partner, Bart Bernstein, won two national doubles championships in 1981 with an overall record of 28-6. They not only won the NAIA National Doubles Championship, but also the NCAA Division II National Doubles title that year. They also claimed the 1981 Lone Star Conference and NAIA District 4 doubles championships.

As a senior, Lusson was selected as both an NAIA and NCAA Division II All-American, after earning First-Team All-Lone Star Conference honors. After participating in both the NAIA and NCAA Division II Tournaments, Lusson advanced to the Division I National Tournament in both singles and doubles, where he upset the No. 7 ranked player, UCLA’s Blaine Willenborg. Along with Bernstein, Lusson was the first NCAA Individual national champion in school history. He was a member of the Dean’s List and was named to the Lone Star Conference All-Academic Team.

Lusson transferred to Texas State in his junior year from Kalamazoo Valley Community College. In his first year as a Bobcat during the 1979-1980 season, Lusson and his partner, Lee Davis, won the Lone Star Conference doubles championship, was named First Team All-Lone Star Conference and earned Honorable Mention All-American honors.

Lusson graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism in 1981 and began a professional career in tennis. Lusson participated on the USTA Professional Penn Circuit where he qualified for the 1981 Grand Prix in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1984, he won the U.S.P.T.A. National Doubles Championship and was a singles semifinalist. In addition to being a competitor in the U.S.P.T.A., Lusson has been a member of the organization since 1983 and served as the Texas secretary in 1984-85.

In 1984, Lusson was named the director of tennis at the Sweetwater Country Club in Sugarland, Texas. He is currently the director of tennis at the Westwood Country Club in Austin, Texas; a position he has held since 1986.

Lusson is also an active member of his community. He served as president of the “Restoring Baseball in Inner Cities” (RBI) youth organization from 2011-15, and still serves on the Board of Directors. RBI is a league dedicated to mentor at-risk youths in the east Austin area through sport, with a focus on developing opportunities for the kids. Lusson has also volunteered his time in Austin Little Leagues and Pony Leagues, holding numerous positions.

Johnny Parker
Johnny Parker was a three-year letterwinner for the Bobcat football team from 1969-71. A wide receiver for the Bobcats, Parker holds numerous receiving records, including most career receptions and most career receiving yards.

After transferring from New Mexico State University, Parker made an immediate impact on the Bobcat football team, breaking several Texas State individual season receiving records. In 1969, Parker set the record for most receptions in a single game with 12 against Angelo State. He also set the Bobcat record for the highest receiving yards-per-game average in a single season at 103. He holds two top 10 all-time single-game performances in receiving yards. His 189 receiving yards against Sam Houston State in 1970 is fourth all-time and his 162 receiving yards against McMurry University in 1969 is eighth. He also is listed among the top 10 single-season records for most receptions with 59 in 1970 (sixth all-time) and 58 in 1969 (seventh all-time). His 5.80 catches per game average in 1969 and his 5.36 catches per game average in 1970 rank third and sixth, respectively. Parker’s 927 receiving yards in 1969 is the fifth-highest total in a single season at Texas State.

In addition, Parker holds numerous career receiving records for the Bobcats. He holds career records for most receptions (160), receiving yards (2,479) and receiving yards per game (82.3). His 5.16 receptions per game is second among school leaders and his 81.6 all-purpose yards average is the 10th highest career average.

Parker was named an Associated Press Honorable Mention Little All-American and NAIA Honorable Mention in 1971. He also was an All-Lone Star Conference First Team selection in 1971 after being selected Lone Star Conference Honorable Mention selection in 1969 and 1970. During his career, he scored 19 total touchdowns and led his team in scoring in 1969 with 52 total points. Parker’s 1971 team went 8-1-1, won a Lone Star Conference Championship and finished fourth in the final NAIA national poll.

After his collegiate football career, Parker worked for Gary Job Corps in San Marcos from 1978-86. In 1987, he began working for Texas State Parking Services and continued to work full-time for the school for 27 years. He was recognized for 25 years of service through the University Police Department and was named the employee of the month twice, once in 1989 and another time in 1996. Parker worked at all Bobcat football games from 1983-13. In addition, Parker is an annual supporter of the “T” Association.

Jamie Person-Coleman
Jamie Person-Coleman was a four-year letterwinner for the Bobcat men’s indoor and outdoor track and field team from 1985-89. A member of the fastest 4×400 relay team in Texas State history, Person-Coleman was named to the NCAA Outdoor All-American Track & Field Team in 1989 and was an eight-time all-conference selection.

During his time as a Bobcat, Person-Coleman participated in the 400-meter dash, the 800-meter dash and 4×400 relay in both outdoor and indoor track & field. He also competed in the 500-meter dash in indoor competition.

As a senior, Person-Coleman, along with Darrell Hadden, Robert Thompson and Mike Murphy, set the current outdoor 4×400 relay school record running a blistering 3:04.71. That same year, the Bobcats also recorded the second best 4×400 time in Texas State history running a 3:05.41. In 1989, the men’s 4×400 team won the SLC Indoor Relay Championship and finished second at the Southland Conference (SLC) Outdoor Championship. Person-Coleman also dominated in the 400-meter dash for the Bobcats, running 47.10 in the outdoor championships and 49.23 in the indoor championships. Both times are currently top-15 all-time in Texas State history. Person-Coleman helped lead the Bobcats to an SLC Indoor Team Championship and a second-place team finish at the SLC Outdoor Championships. The relay team qualified for the NCAA Track & Field Championship finishing in eighth place. The Bobcats as a team finished 13th at the NCAA Championships. That same season, Person-Coleman was selected to the NCAA Track & Field All-American Team and was named to the All-Southland Conference Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Team.

During Person-Coleman’s junior year, the Bobcat relay team again dominated the SLC. The 4×400 team won the 1988 Southland Conference Outdoor Championship title, helping lead the Bobcats to a second-place finish in the team championship. That season, the Bobcats also recorded the sixth fastest relay time in the history of Bobcat athletics running a 3:06.86. Person-Coleman was selected to both the indoor and outdoor All-SLC teams.

While competing in the Gulf Star Conference (GSC) his freshman and sophomore seasons, Person-Coleman and the Bobcat relay team again dominated their competition. In 1986, the 4×400 team won the GSC Outdoor Championship and set the fastest 4×400 indoor time in the history of Bobcat athletics with a time of 3:10.97. As an individual, Person-Coleman became the first Bobcat track & field athlete in the program’s history to qualify for the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championship. Competing in the indoor 500-meter dash, he finished fourth in his heat. He qualified for the National Championship meet by setting the school record in the indoor 500 with a time of 1:02.24. He also placed third in the GSC Outdoor Championship in the 400-meter dash. The 1986 men’s track team won the GSC Outdoor Team Championship, and Person-Coleman was selected to both the indoor and outdoor All-GSC teams. He was also named the Bobcats “most improved” male track athlete and was listed as a member of the Texas State Track & Field Division I Honor Roll. As a freshman, Person-Coleman was selected to both the All-GSC indoor and outdoor Track & Field teams.

Person-Coleman graduated from Texas State with a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice. After his senior year of athletic eligibility, Person-Coleman began an illustrious 23-year military career in the United States Army. He honorably retired in 2014 after being promoted to the Army rank of Master Sergeant in 2009. During his military career, he was decorated with over 30 medals, awards, and accolades. The highlight of his military career was being inducted into the 1st Calvary Division’s Order of the Spur, bestowed upon him for having served during combat as a member of a Calvary unit.

Person-Coleman served as the Senior Health Care NCO and Assistant Chief of Clinical Operations at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood, Texas. Because he demonstrated outstanding empathy for wounded soldiers returning from war, he was selected to serve as one of 24 soldiers throughout the world to start and implement the U.S. Army Medical Command’s Ombudsman program.

While assigned as a Soldier Medic Training Instructor at Camp Bullis, Texas, he trained more than 6,500 soldier medics for war in Iraq. He and his team of instructors were featured in a National Geographic Documentary and on CNN for their training techniques.

Person-Coleman currently lives in San Antonio where he has remained active since his retirement from the Army. He currently serves as a residential treatment officer for a Post-Adjudication Program within the Bexar County Juvenile Probation Department. He is a 31-year member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. He serves as a member of the East Central High School FFA Booster Club Board of Directors. He mentors young athletes and their families in their quest for college selection and admission, contributing special knowledge in the area of Veteran’s benefits. Person-Coleman also volunteers with the Military Working Dog Program at Lackland Air Force Base where he socializes and trains working dog candidates for the first six months of their lives.