Aggie Volleyball’s Laura Jones Hahn-Conti Inducted into Hall of Fame

Courtesy: Texas A&M Athletics

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M Lettermen’s Association ushered in seven new members into the Athletics Hall of Fame Friday at the 41st Burgess Banquet inside the Hall of Champions at Kyle Field.

Bronson Burgoon ’09 from men’s golf, Kip Corrington ’87 from football, A’Quonesia Franklin ’08 from women’s basketball, Laura Jones Hahn-Conti ’06 from volleyball, Claude Riley ’84 from men’s basketball, Kati Jo Spisak ’06 from soccer and George Woodard ’79 from football are the Hall of Fame inductees.

A tremendous ambassador and ardent supporter of all Aggie athletic teams, R.H. “Steve” Stevens ’62 was inducted into the Hall of Honor.

David Heath ’76, who was a lettermen as a student athletics trainer under the legendary Billy Pickard and went on to achieve success at the highest level of the sporting goods, footwear and apparel industry, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

2018 TEXAS A&M LETTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

BRONSON BURGOON ’09 – Men’s Golf
A four-year letterman for the men’s golf team, Bronson Burgoon is best known for one of the greatest golf shots in college golf history. In 2009, he provided the pinnacle moment in the history of Aggie golf program as he hit a gap wedge from the rough to within three inches of the 18th hole before converting a birdie to clinch his match and secure the program’s first national title. The Woodlands, Texas, native was highly decorated during his collegiate career, garnering All-America honors in 2007 and 2009 as well as earning All-Big 12 honors both seasons. He was named the team’s MVP in both 2007 and 2009. After the conclusion of his playing time at Texas A&M, he ranked No. 1 in career scoring average at 72.78. Burgoon, who made his PGA Tour debut during the 2015-16 season, has posted 13 top-25 finishes in 53 career PGA events with his top showing coming at the 2018 John Deere Classic where he tied for second.

KIP CORRINGTON ’87 – Football
A product of A&M Consolidated High School, Kip Corrington was a four-year letterman from 1984-87, and helped the Aggies to a trio of Southwest Conference Championships and trips to the Cotton Bowl. Corrington’s senior class was the first to log four straight wins over the archrival Texas Longhorns and helped the Aggies to Cotton Bowl victories over Auburn (1986) and Notre Dame (1988). The Aggies were an impressive 35-12 during his time in Aggieland. A two-time All-SWC selection as a defensive back, Corrington was even more impressive in the classroom as a three-time Academic All-American. As a senior, he became Texas A&M’s first Academic All-American of the Year. In 2003, he became Texas A&M’s only member of the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame. During his Texas A&M academic career, he made all As with one B. He was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and graduated from Texas A&M’s Medical School and completed his residency at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro, N.C., where Corrington currently runs a family practice. After his illustrious collegiate career, Corrington was drafted in the ninth round of the NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. He played for the Denver Broncos during the 1989 and 1990 seasons. His career included an interception during the Broncos’ AFC championship game victory against Cleveland in 1990 and an appearance in Super Bowl XXIV.

A’QUONESIA FRANKLIN ’08 – Women’s Basketball
A member of Coach Gary Blair’s first full recruiting class in Aggieland, Franklin was one of five freshmen whose commitment changed the direction of the Texas A&M women’s basketball program. Over the course of her career, the Aggies posted a 93-39 record, marking the most wins in any four-year period to that point. She led Texas A&M to the first three NCAA Tournament appearances in their still-active streak of 13 straight trips to the Big Dance, and to Big 12 titles in 2007 and 2008. Franklin ranks third in school history with 157 3-pointers and fourth with 627 career assists. She scored 1,115 points, which ranks 20th in school history, and nabbed 209 steals, which rank ninth all-time. In all four of her seasons, she led the Big 12 in assist-to-turnover ratio. As a senior in 2007-08, she earned All-America honors, helping the Aggies win the Big 12 Tournament, reach the Elite Eight for the first time in program history and post a 29-8 record, the second-highest win total in school history, behind only the 2011 squad. She earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors after ranking 14th nationally with a 2.01 assist-to-turnover ratio and was named to both the NCAA Oklahoma City Regional All-Tournament team and All-Big 12 Tournament team. She earned All-America and All-Big 12 First Team honors in 2007, helping the Aggies to their first Big 12 Championship and a 25-7 record. She was a two-time Big 12 Player of the Week, and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player. She was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention pick in 2005-06, helping the Aggies return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a decade, and was a three-time Big 12 Rookie of the Week in 2004-05. Franklin was a third round pick of the Sacramento Monarchs in the 2008 WNBA Draft, and played two seasons in the WNBA. She has since started a coaching career, where she is now the associate head coach at Kansas.

LAURA JONES HAHN-CONTI ’06 – Volleyball
Laura Jones Hahn-Conti, one of the most dominant players in Texas A&M volleyball history, was every opponent’s nightmare throughout her stellar four-year career. The outside hitter, who capped her remarkable career by being selected to the 12-member 2005 All-America first team by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), still holds more than 40 school career, season and single-match records set from 2002-05. Jones played in every match during her career, and she remains the only player to have led the Aggies in total kills and kills per set in four consecutive seasons. As a senior, the Arlington, Texas, native led the nation with a Big 12 Conference and school-record 6.09 kills per set and also shattered the school and conference records with 700 total kills. Furthermore, Jones, who remains only the third player in A&M history to receive AVCA All-American first-team honors, obliterated the A&M career record with 2,064 total kills, nearly 300 more kills than the previous record holder. Jones made an immediate impact upon her arrival in Aggieland in 2002. She was the first Aggie to be named AVCA Central Region Freshman of the Year and she made her first of three appearances on the All-Central Region Team. Jones also was selected to the All-Big 12 first team and was named the league’s Freshman of the Year. Jones received Big 12 and All-Central Region honorable mention honors as a sophomore, and as a junior she was named to the AVCA All-America second team, the AVCA All-Central Region Team and the All-Big 12 first team. In addition, Jones became the first player in A&M history to be named the AVCA National Player of the Week. As a senior, Jones led the Maroon and White in kills in 29 of 30 matches, and she was the only player in the Big 12 to tally 30 or more kills in a match during the 2005 season. She accomplished that feat eight times, including a still-standing school-record 38 kills in the regular-season finale at No. 10 Missouri. Jones help lead the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament every year of her career, including a Sweet 16 appearance and a No. 16 final raking in 2003.

Congrats to @AggieVolleyball's Laura Jones Hahn-Conti, the newest member of the @TAMULettermen Hall of Fame!#BurgessBanquet #GigEm pic.twitter.com/n0bkQ8Sy24

— Texas A&M Athletics (@12thMan) September 15, 2018

CLAUDE RILEY ’84 – Men’s Basketball
Claude Riley, better known around Aggieland as the “Crockett Rocket”, was a four-year letterman (1980- 83) for legendary head coach Shelby Metcalf and the Aggie men’s basketball team. He was a leading member of the 1980 Aggie squad that won the Southwest Conference regular-season title and SWC Tournament crown before defeating North Carolina on their way to the NCAA Sweet 16. Riley was named to the 1980 SWC All-Newcomer and All-Freshman squads and he was the team captain in 1982 and 1983, helping the Aggies reach the NIT in 1982. At the conclusion of his career, Riley ranked among the top 10 in Aggie annals in rebounds, rebounds in conference play, points, field goals and field goals attempted. He was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1983 NBA Draft, and played professionally in Spain and Italy.
 
KATI JO SPISAK ’06 – Soccer
Kati Jo Spisak, a four-time letterwinner and one of the top goalkeepers in Aggie history, is Texas A&M’s career leader in wins (69), minutes played (8,559) and saves (291). She was recognized as an All-American across the board in 2003 as a sophomore, earning First Team status from Soccer America, as well as Second Team from Soccer Buzz and Third Team from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Spisak was a Freshman All-American and Soccer Buzz All-America Honorable Mention in 2002. The St. Louis native was tabbed as one of the best goalkeepers in the Central Region all four of her seasons. Soccer Buzz tabbed her All-Central Region First Team in 2003, Second Team in 2002 and Third Team in 2004 and ’05. NSCAA named her All-Central Region First Team in 2003 and Third Team in 2002 and ’04. She earned All-Big 12 First Team recognition on three occasions (2002, ’03 and ’05). Spisak was also tabbed to the 2002 Big 12 All-Newcomer team. She garnered Most Valuable Player distinction at the 2004 Big 12 Championship and received All-Tournament recognition in 2004 and ’05. A winner on the field, Spisak led the Aggies to Big 12 regular-season titles in 2002, ’04 and ’05 and Big 12 Tournament crowns in 2004 and ’05. She also pushed Texas A&M to an Elite Eight appearance in the 2002 NCAA Championship, as well as Sweet 16 spots in 2003 and ’05. Spisak earned her bachelor’s degree in agricultural leadership and development in 2007. Professionally, Spisak played for the Washington Freedom of the USL W-League from 2007-09 and later was a member of Saint Louis Athletica and the Boston Breakers in the WPS. International playing experience for Spisak included winning the 2004 Nordic Cup with the United States Under-21 Women’s National Team. Spisak has been on the coaching staff of the Washington Spirit in the National Women’s Soccer League since 2014. She also serves as Associate Athletic Director and head coach of the girls’ soccer team at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, Md.

GEORGE WOODARD ’79 – Football
Few players have captured the imagination of college football fans like George Woodard. Woodard, hailing from the tiny southeast Texas town of Cedar Lake, combined the size of an offensive lineman with the speed of a world class sprinter. That unheard of combination of size and speed at the fullback position in then-head coach Emory Bellard’s famed Wishbone offense made Woodard a nearly unstoppable force in the old Southwest Conference. The district champion in the 100-yard dash and the shot put at Van Vleck High School, Woodard was an immediate success at Texas A&M. He set the Aggies’ freshman rushing record with 604 yards, which included 100-yard games against LSU, Baylor, SMU and Rice, while helping the 1975 team rise as high as No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25 and a share of the Southwest Conference title. He followed his big freshman season by becoming the first Aggie running back to post consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns. Woodard rushed for 1,153 yards with a school record and SWC-best 17 touchdowns in 1976 while helping the Aggies to a berth in the Sun Bowl, and 1,107 yards in 1977 when the team earned a spot in the Bluebonnet Bowl. A freak injury kept him out of action in 1978 and he was limited to just 47 rushing yards as a fifth-year senior in 1979. A four-year letterman (1975, 76, 77, 79), Woodard finished his career with 2,911 rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns. His rushing total ranked No. 2 in school history when he finished and still ranks No. 6, while his 35 rushing scores were a school record and still rank No. 4.

2018 TEXAS A&M LETTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION HALL OF HONOR INDUCTEE
R.H. “Steve” Stevens ’62
R. H. (Steve) Stevens, Jr. grew up in Boling and Lake Jackson, Texas. Steve received his Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from Texas A&M University in Accounting, As a student, Stevens was involved in the Corps of Cadets as executive officer of the Ross Volunteers, a member of the Permanent Firing Squad, Supply Officer and Lieutenant Colonel on Corps Staff and the Cadet Court. He was a member of the Brazoria County Hometown Club, where he served as president his senior year, the Accounting Society, SCONA, the Aggie Sweetheart Selection Committee and the 12th Man Bowl. After graduation, Stevens served as an officer in the United States Air Force in Reno, Nev., and then in Paris, France, at Dreux-Louvilliers Air Base until 1966, and received an Outstanding Unit Citation. He went on to become a certified public accountant and provided tax services to clients in various industries, including oil and gas, real estate and agriculture, for 40 years. After 33 years with Arthur Andersen, he retired from the firm in 1999 and became managing partner of Stevens & Matthews LLP, where he still serves in that role. He has over 50 years’ experience in business, financial and tax matters for a number of businesses in various industries, including oil & gas, real estate and agriculture. Previously, he was a senior partner with Arthur Andersen, a Big 5 public accounting firm. During his time with Andersen, he served as a Firm-wide specialist in consolidated tax returns, real estate and agriculture. Stevens retired from Arthur Andersen in 1999. Stevens also served as a chief financial officer and director of a publicly traded oil and gas company. Currently, he serves as director of Anco Insurance. Stevens also serves on the board of Capital Farm Credit, a customer-owned cooperative, providing financing to rural landowners, country homeowners, agricultural operators and agribusiness firms throughout Texas. In 1981, Stevens served as Vice President of the Former Students Association and President of the 12th Man Foundation in 1983.  In 1999, then Governor George W. Bush appointed Steve to the Board of Regents of the Texas A&M University System. During his tenure he served as Chairman of the Finance and Audit committees and as the Board’s special liaison to the Board for Lease of University Lands, the governing board responsible for leasing of more than 1,000,000 acres of state-owned oil & gas properties in West Texas. Stevens served as a member of this board through 2005. During this time, he also served as a member of the UTIMCO, the investment arm of the University of Texas System responsible for the investment of more than $13 billion of funds of the University of Texas and Texas A&M University systems. Stevens served as Chairman of the Audit Committee. Stevens was selected as a recipient of Texas A&M University’s 2013 Distinguished Alumnus Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a former student of Texas A&M University. In 2003, Stevens served as President of the American Quarter Horse Association, the world’s largest equine breed registry with more than 340,000 members located in all 50 states as well as numerous foreign countries. He presently is a member of AQHA’s Finance Committee and its Investment Oversight Committee. Stevens joined the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in 1975.  He volunteered on numerous committees and served in various capacities. He was elected to the Show’s board of directors in 1992. Stevens has been a member of the Show’s Executive Committee since 2005 and served as Chairman of the Board from 2012 to 2014.

2018 Texas A&M Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
David Heath ’76
David A. Heath ’76 of Bryan was a National Merit Scholar and graduated cum laude from Texas A&M University in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education, and earned a master’s degree in the same field in 1979. He was Texas A&M’s first full-time assistant athletic trainer and was later named Head Athletic Trainer in 1979 for all men’s and women’s sports within the university. After spending those years working closely with several of the team’s suppliers such as Adidas and Nocona, his knack for developing protective products with those brands led to an offer to shift his career and move into the Sporting Goods industry in 1981. Heath spent eight years with Adidas before joining Nike as a regional apparel sales manager in Dallas in 1990. He directed Nike’s U.S. territory sales, managed the U.S. equipment division and directed commerce in the Americas region before he became Vice President for U.S. Sales in 2004 where he led the wholesale business of Nike branded footwear, apparel and equipment sales. In February 2007, Heath was promoted to Vice President for Global Sales where he was responsible for over $16 billion in sales revenue in the four global operating regions. Prior to his retirement in 2009, Heath managed global HR planning for the entire sales organization, as well as designed and implemented all go-to-market strategies to interface with wholesale customers with his primary day-to-day focus being on the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, China, India, Russia and Brazil. Retired from Nike, Inc. in 2009, former teammates from his almost 20 year career at Nike encouraged him to come back to the industry and help spur the rapid growth at Under Armour where he served as SVP of Sales based in Baltimore, Maryland until his recent retirement. A community volunteer, Heath has served as Chairman of the Board of The Association of Former Students, President of the Texas A&M Lettermen’s Association, and as a board member of Hawk Apparel, Inc.,  Hillerich & Bradsby, Broder Brothers, Inc and Luke’s Locker LLC. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors for Nutrabolt, and volunteers with Startup Aggieland in the Mays School. A third generation Aggie, David followed in the footsteps of his father, James A. Heath ’40 and two great uncles who graduated in the 1920s. He and his wife, Andrea, have two sons, Joel ’05 and Todd ’07, and daughter in law Shalane ’12.

2018 Inductees into the Texas A&M University Athletic Hall of Fame
Bronson Burgoon ’09, Men’s Golf
Kip Corrington ’87, Football
A’Quonesia Franklin ’08, Women’s Basketball
Laura Jones Hahn-Conti ’06, Volleyball
Claude Riley ’84, Men’s Basketball
Kati Jo Spisak ’06, Soccer
George Woodard ’79, Football

2018 Texas A&M Hall of Honor Inductee
R.H. “Steve” Stevens ’62

2018 Texas A&M Lifetime Achievement Award
David Heath ’76, Athletics Trainer