COLLEGE STATION, Texas— The Texas A&M Lettermen’s Association’s Hall of Fame Class of 2019 honors 10 lettermen representing a cross-section of sports with great individual efforts and team successes. The 10 Texas A&M legends are inducted into the Hall of Fame on September 13 at the annual Burgess Banquet.
Alia Atkinson ’10 from women’s swimming, Morenike Atunrase ’08 from women’s basketball, Patrick Bates ’92 from football, Kyle Hawthorne ’79 from baseball, Joseph Jones ’08 from men’s basketball, Justin Oliver ’09 from men’s track and field and Ty Warren ’03 from football are the Hall of Fame inductees. The Hall of Fame recognizes those whose accomplishments in the field of athletics have brought credit to Texas A&M.
The Hall of Honor inductees are Hunter Goodwin ’96 from football and Randy Wylie ’86 from football. The Hall of Honor recognizes individuals who have gone over and beyond in support of the athletic programs at Texas A&M.
The late James Wiley ’46 from football is the Lettermen’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner, after a life of giving back to Texas A&M. The Lettermen’s Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes former lettermen who have made significant contributions to society and whose accomplishments, affiliations and careers have honored the legacy of excellence at Texas A&M.
The organization’s 42nd-annual Burgess Banquet will be held Friday, September 13 in the Ford Hall of Champions on the west side of Kyle Field, and the event is open to the general public.
A reception begins at 6 p.m. with dinner beginning at 7 p.m. Event sponsorship opportunities and individual tickets are still available by calling the Lettermen’s Association (979-846-3024) or at 12thman.com/burgessbanquet.
Alia Atkinson ’10
Women’s Swimming
Alia Atkinson was a four-year letterwinner (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) for the Texas A&M women’s swimming and diving program.
Throughout her four years, she received 19 All-American Honors, which ranks fourth-best in program history. The 2010 NCAA Champion in the 200-yard breaststroke, Atkinson was a three-time Big 12 Champion in the 100 breaststroke (2007, 2008, 2010) and in the 200 breaststroke (2007, 2008, 2010). She also garnered Big 12 Champion titles in the 400 Medley Relay (2007 & 2008), 200 Medley Relay (2008), and the 200 Free Relay (2010).
She currently ranks sixth in program history in the 100-yard breaststroke (59.43) and in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:06.99), both of which she set in 2009 as a junior.
In 2010, Atkinson received her Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology. Upon graduation, the four-time Jamaican Olympian set the 100-meter breaststroke (SCM) world record in 2014, while winning the race at the Short Course World Championships in Doha, while becoming the first black woman to win a world swimming title.
Morenike Atunrase ’08
Women’s Basketball
Morenike Atunrase was a member of Coach Gary Blair‘s first full recruiting class at Texas A&M, and along with the four others in her class, turned around the women’s basketball program.
During four seasons as a letterwinner (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008), 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 14 straight trips to the Big Dance and to Big 12 titles in 2007 and 2008.
She scored 1,317 points in her four-year career, which ranked sixth at Texas A&M when her career ended, and still holds career records with 176 blocked shots and a 35.8 3-point field goal percentage. She additionally ranks in Texas A&M’s career top-10 for 10+ point games (68), free-throw percentage (72.8) and 3-pointers made (110)
While on campus, Atunrase racked up conference recognition, earning 2008 Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year, 2005 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, and was a two-time All-Big 12 selection.
Patrick Bates ’92
Football
Patrick Bates was a two-year letterwinner (1991, 1992) and a member of the Aggie squad in the first two of the three-year stint of consecutive Southwest Conference Championships during the period of 1991-1993.
Bates was a First Team All-American Free Safety in 1992 and is one of only 51 Aggies to receive All-American honors. Bates also earned back-to-back All-SWC honors in 1991 and 1992. In 1991, he led the team with four interceptions, and in 1992, led the team with 95 tackles.
Bates was a First-Round pick by the Los Angeles Raiders in the 1993 NFL Draft, going 12th overall. He played three seasons in the NFL with the Raiders and the Atlanta Falcons.
Kyle Hawthorne ’79
Baseball
Kyle Hawthorne was the main power source of the Aggies’ Southwest Conference championship squads of the late 1970s. During his three seasons as a letterwinner (1977, 1978, 1979), the Aggies claimed SWC titles in ’77 and ’78 while going a combined 50-19 in league play over the three seasons.
Hawthorne led the Aggies in home runs and RBI all three seasons. He clubbed 30 home runs during his career, which ranks eighth on Texas A&M’s all-time list.
Hawthorne earned the Aggies’ Wally Moon Award in 1977, honoring the most improved player on the squad. He earned All-SWC and served as team captain in 1979. Hawthorne had two stints with USA Baseball, including playing in the 1978 World Baseball Games and the 1979 Japan-USA Series.
After a brief stint in the minor leagues, Hawthorne pursued a career in law. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Texas A&M in 1979 and his J.D. from South Texas College of Law in 1986. Hawthorne currently serves as a judge on the 85th District Court of the State of Texas.
Joseph Jones ’08
Men’s Basketball
Joseph Jones’ freshman year marked the rebirth of Texas A&M basketball, as the team would go 95-37 with a trip to the NIT Quarterfinals, three NCAA Tournament Appearances, and an NCAA Sweet 16 berth in his four seasons in Aggieland.
The four-year letter winner (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008) carved his name all over the school record books. Jones ranks third in career points (1,679), second in made free throws (480), sixth in rebounds (843), seventh in field goals (588), seventh in blocked shots (96), second in games started (132).
Jones earned Big 12 All-Freshman Team in 2005 and All-Big 12 for each of his four years (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008). Jones was also awarded NABC All-District in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Academically, Jones was a member of the All-Big 12 Academic Team in 2006 and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Leadership and Development in 2007.
Since the completion of his career at Texas A&M, Jones has been playing professionally in Europe.
Justin Oliver ’09
Men’s Track & Field
Justin Oliver was a nine-time All-American for the Aggies and a member of the first national championship team in program history during his senior season in 2009. Oliver, who lettered four years with Texas A&M (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009), anchored three Aggie school record performances in the 4×100, 4×200 and 4×400 relays.
Running on three NCAA silver medal 4×400 relays in 2007, 2008 and 2009, Oliver anchored Texas A&M’s runner-up effort in 2009 with a 44.85 split as the Aggies equaled the school record of 3:00.91, previously set in 1989, and secured the points needed to win the team championship by two points.
Oliver ran on a school record in the 4×100 relay as the Aggie foursome posted a time of 38.51 during the NCAA semifinals in 2009 to break a 20-year-old record of 38.53. In 2008, Oliver was a member of the silver medal 4×100 relay at the NCAA Championships when A&M challenged the school record with a time of 38.58. In winning the Penn Relays 4×200 title in 2009, Oliver anchored the Aggies to a 1:20.32 performance that bettered the previous A&M record of 1:21.28 from 1990.
In individual races, Oliver earned three silver medals and one bronze in the 400m at the Big 12 Championships. He was runner-up in the 400m at the Big 12 Outdoor meet in 2006 and 2009, while finishing third in 2008. Oliver also finished second in the 2008 Big 12 Indoor meet.
Ty Warren ’03
Football
Ty Warren was a four-year letter winner (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002) who appeared in the final three bowl games during the R.C. Slocum era, the Alamo Bowl (1999), Independence Bowl (2000), and the galleryfurniture.com Bowl (2001).
Warren earned All-Big 12 honors in 2002, and earned Big 12 Player of the Week on September 21, 2002.
Warren received Academic All-Conference honors in 2000, and returned to complete his Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Development in 2010.
In the 2003 NFL Draft, Ty Warren was drafted with the 13th pick in the First Round by New England, where he would play eight seasons. Warren helped the Patriots to back-to-back Super Bowl Championships, winning Super Bowl XXXVIII and Super Bowl XXXIX. He was named First Team All-Pro in 2007, and finished his NFL career with 20.5 sacks.
Hunter Goodwin ’96
Football
Hunter Goodwin earned induction into the Texas A&M Hall of Honor for his time and service giving back to Texas A&M and the Texas A&M Letterman’s Association.
Goodwin lettered for the Aggies in 1994 and 1995, earning All-SWC Honors in 1995 as an offensive lineman. He went on to play eight seasons in the NFL with Miami and Minnesota, earning respect as one of the top blocking tight ends in the league and earning a selection onto the USA Today’s All-Joe Team. During his career, he was a team captain, and the NFLPA representative, for Miami.
Since his playing career ended, he has served as president of the Texas A&M Letterman’s Association in 2012 and is a current 12th Man Athletic Ambassador. Goodwin was instrumental in the planning, funding and construction of the Coach Jackie Sherrill Lettermen’s Club. He co-owns his own real estate investment company, and serves or has served on the board of countless entities in the Bryan-College Station community.
Goodwin graduated with a degree in Agricultural Economics, returning in the NFL offseason to complete his degree.
Randy Wylie ’86
Football
Randy Wylie was selected into the Texas A&M Hall of Honor for his commitment to Texas A&M and the Texas A&M Letterman’s Association and his direct involvement in the planning, funding and construction of the Coach Jackie Sherrill Lettermen’s Club.
Wylie lettered three seasons (1983, 1984, 1985) for the Aggies, helping the Aggies to the 1985 Southwest Conference Championship. Following completion of his degree in Construction Science, he served as a graduate assistant for the football team during the 1986 season and Cotton Bowl victory over Auburn.
After his playing career, Wylie served as president of the Letterman’s Association, helping membership numbers grow to an all-time high. Wylie remains active as a past president and over the years has served on nearly every Lettermen’s Association working committee.
Wylie, president of RLW Properties, Inc, a Fort Worth based company specializing in commercial construction, has sponsored nearly every Texas A&M Letterman’s Association event in the last two decades, always in honor of others.
James E. Wiley ’46
Men’s Track & Field, Football
A proud member of the 1944 Kiddie Korps football team, Wiley lettered in track and football at Texas A&M, and played in the 1944 Orange Bowl before receiving a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1948.
He and his brother, A.P., founded Wiley Brothers General Contractors which designs, leases and manages commercial and industrial buildings. During his career, he supervised construction of many Dallas landmarks including the Federal Reserve Bank, Moody Coliseum and the “new” Parkland Hospital.
In 1983, James and his brother, A.P. Wiley were on campus to endow the A.P. and Florence Wiley Chair in Civil Engineering in honor of their parents, after James Wiley, Jr. ’71 rekindled their interest in A&M student activities. The brothers attended a Memorial Student Center lecture series featuring two former U.S. Secretaries of State and were so impressed with “how these young people were able to put it all together” that they volunteered to endow the series, thus the creation of the MSC Wiley Lecture Series.
In 2014, the Wiley families recommitted to the students and the series by doubling their endowment gift and in 1983, Wiley continued his spirit of giving by endowing a Chair in Civil Engineering. Since then, the Wiley’s have contributed a President’s Endowed Scholarship, a Sul Ross Scholarship and have donated funds to enhance the Sterling C. Evans Library research facilities.
In addition to his professional and community service, Wiley served on key advisory groups on campus and was a major supporter of programs in a variety of areas.
2019 Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
Alia Atkinson ’10, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Morenike Atunrase ’08, Women’s Basketball
Patrick Bates ’92, Football
Kyle Hawthorne ’79, Baseball
Joseph Jones ’08, Men’s Basketball
Justin Oliver ’09, Men’s Track & Field
Ty Warren ’03, Football
2019 Hall of Honor Inductees
Hunter Goodwin ’96, Football
Randy Wylie ’86, Football
2019 Lettermen’s Lifetime Achievement Award
James Wiley ’46 (deceased), Football
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics