October 8, 2001

NJCAA ANNOUNCES 2001-2002 FOOTBALL COACHES HALL OF FAME SELECTIONS

ELLISVILLE - Eight men have been inducted into the 2001 National Junior College Athletic Association's Hall of Fame selected by the Football Coaches Association.

Of the eight, three are being recognized as coaches, three as players and two as contributors and supporters of junior college football.

"These men represent the spirit of junior college football," said Parker Dykes, head coach at Jones County Junior College and president of the NJCAA Football Coaches Association. "They have all worked hard in their various roles to promote junior college football."

2001 Coaching Selections

Coaching selections are Glen Wolfe, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami, OK, Michael B. Eaton, Itawamba Community College in Fulton, MS, and Sylvester "Cy" Champa, Rochester Community and Technical College in Rochester, MN.

Wolfe served as the head coach at NEO from 1978-1991. While he was there, his Golden Norse teams compiled a 109-19-3 overall record, including NJCAA National Championships in 1980 and 1986.

Under Wolfe, the Norsemen played in 10 post-season bowl games, winning six. Forty-seven players coached by Wolfe at NEO were named junior college All-Americans.

Prior to coaching at NEO, Wolfe was head coach for three years at Northwest Oklahoma State University in Alva, OK. He also coached at three Oklahoma high schools. After NEO, he was head coach for one year at Georgia Military Academy in Milledgeville, GA.

Eaton's Itawamba Indians posted a 111-64-7 record during his tenure as head coach from 1974-1992. The Indians were North Division Champions eight times and played in four bowl games while Eaton was the head coach. They won State Championships in 1975, 1977 and 1990.

As head coach at Rochester State from 1968-1985, Champa saw his teams compile a 132-30-3 overall record. He has been named the Minnesota Community College Football Coach of the Year, and was the NJCAA Region XIII Coach of the Year five times (1969, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980).

Champa has coached 39 All-Americans, been to seven bowl games, won six Minnesota Community College Conference State Championships, and 16 MCCC Division titles.

2001 Player Selections

Player selections include Dr. Richard Garza and Floyd Randle, both from Blinn College in Brenham, TX, and Cliff Frazier, Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KS.

Garza played football at Blinn in 1965 and 1966 under Coach Leroy Dryer who was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 1997. Garza was a two-time All-Conference and All-American selection, as well as a member of the All-Texas Team.

After playing at Blinn, Garza went on to play at Texas A&I where he suffered a career-ending injury. He is now a dentist.

Randle played at Blinn under Coach Ben Boehuke in 1975 and 1976. In 1976, Randle averaged 15 tackles per game. He had six interceptions; two for touchdowns, and 14 quarterback sacks. He was named twice to the All-Conference and All-State teams. In 1976, Randle was selected All-American in 1976. Blinn played in the Texas Shrine Bowl both years Randle was a player.

After playing at Blinn, Randle went on to start at middle linebacker for two years at Texas A&M University. He played in the Bluebonnet Bowl in 1977 and the Hall of Fame Bowl in 1978. Randle then played for the Austin Texans from 1979-81.

Frazier played at Fort Scott in 1972 and 1973. Both years, the team was second in the nation. Frazier was a two-time All-Conference and All-American selection. He was also the National Defensive Player of the Year.

Following his years at Fort Scott, Frazier played for two years at UCLA where he was named Team Captain, All-Conference Most Valuable Player and All-American. Frazier played professionally for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams.

2001 Contributor Selections

Those selected for their contributions to junior college football include D. O. "Bud" Thoms, Jones County Junior College, Ellisville, MS, and Walter C. Schwartz, Blinn College.

Thoms attended JCJC from January 1936 through May 1938. Although he went on to attend Mississippi State University, Thoms never finished college because he chose to serve his country in World War II.

He went on to become a successful businessman as president of B. M. Stevens Company and senior vice-president and secretary of Richton Tie and Timber Company from 1945-present. He is also director of Trustmark National Bank's Advisory Board of Directors.

For 50 years, Thoms served on the JCJC Board of Trustees, the final 28 as chairman. When he retired from the board in 1997, his service marked the longest continuous membership on the JCJC board.

Throughout his years on the JCJC board, Thoms was a faithful supporter of the Bobcat football program, both financially and as a loyal fan. He attended the games during the regular season, as well as during the play-offs and bowl games. All three of his sons played football for the Bobcats.

As a member of the JCJC Board of Trustees, he supported the team's participation in the 1955 Junior Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. This game marked the first time a JCJC football team ever played an out-of-state team, and the first time a team from Mississippi played a racially integrated team.

He again supported the Bobcats in 1977 when they made their second trip to the Junior Rose Bowl. The JCJC football team participated in eight bowl games during Thoms' tenure on the board.

The football facilities were greatly enhanced as a result of Thoms' interest in the program. These improvements included a new field house, bleachers and lighting for the football field, and the organization of a booster club.

Schwartz is the chancellor of Blinn College, a position he has held since 1994. He has been associated with Blinn since 1948 when he started his career there as a teacher. He became dean of students in 1959 and president in 1984.

Schwartz also attended Blinn where he was captain of the basketball team and student council president. After graduating he served in the South Pacific during World War II. Throughout his many years at Blinn, Schwartz has always been supportive of varsity athletics at the school. One of the most memorable athletic events during his tenure as Blinn's chancellor was the back-to-back national football championships won by the college in 1995-96.