TEXAS GYMNASTICS HERITAGE AWARD
2004 - PAT HAMILTON: Orlando, Fl. We honored Pat in 2002 with the GAT Service to Youth Award. We couldn’t find Pat to present that award to him and did not know he had moved out of the state where he has distinguished himself as he continues to work with young boys and girls in a variety of ways. Pat started his gymnastics at the Maverick Boys Club in Amarillo, Texas in 1956 under the direction of Nard Cazzell and Ralph Dykeman. His competition began in 1964 at the Oklahoma City Competitions, the Midland YMCA Meets and the SW AAU in Dallas and in Forth Worth at the SOKOL Club. He competed for Odessa College under Mike Wilson from 1968-1970, earning National Division III Champion and All-American in Floor Exercise and Trampoline while there. He also was President of the Student body at Odessa College and became Mr. Odessa College. In 1970-71, he competed for LSU New Orleans, and graduated from West Texas A&M University in 1973. He did graduate work at UTEP and the University of Houston – Victoria. As a coach, he coached championship gymnasts in Amarillo, El Paso, Arlington, Austin, and Plano. When judging certifications first came out, Pat was a National Men’s Judge and judged meets throughout Texas for many years. He was a coach and part owner of Texas Summer Gymnastics Camps, held in Kerrville, for 10 years and was active in GAT from it's inception until his retirement from gymnastics in 1996. Pat took a teaching position in a middle school in Victoria, Texas in 1991, and taught gymnastics, tumbling and trampoline for Cindy Alkek at Gymagic in Victoria on the side. Pat gave up his gymnastics after suffering a broken neck while coaching a pole vaulter. After his recovery, he turned his energy from teaching with his body to teaching with my mind and has become an accomplished multimedia teacher and author. Pat currently lives in Orlando, Florida with his wife and six children, and teaches multimedia and Social Studies there at Liberty Middle School. GAT is pleased to honor Pat Hamilton with our 2004 Texas Heritage Award
2002 - Jack Hyman: New York City: Jack was an active owner/coach in the 70’s. He owned and was coach at San Antonio Gymnastics Academy, where he hosted numerous GAT conventions in the earlier years, and served as president during the 79-80 year. Jack continued to teach gymnastics when he moved to New York as a great support job while pursuing his two other loves, acting and writing. It was through his work with preschoolers and his gymnastics background that landed him the job of “Jumpin Jack” on the PBS-TV show, “Bloopy’s Buddies.” The show features characters who stress health, safety, fitness, and nutrition for children ages 3 to 7. His role on the show has been to exercise interactively with children watching at home and to teach on each episode a different interactive motor skill that the child at home may follow and participate along with “Jumpin Jack” and “Bloopy”. This show has been broadcast on PBS, Cable, Web-MD, and Health Network for almost 10 years, with its final season this year. Jack hopes to find or create another Children’s Show that stresses some of the same elements. In 2001, Jack, as a writer with a gymnastics background, was asked by ESPN to travel to Belgium to write for the broadcast. He has been asked back for the 2002 World Championships in Hungary and for the 2003 World Championships in California. Jack continues to write and direct regularly in New York City and…..”I make sure that I do at least one handstand everyday, for old times sake!” It is indeed a pleasure to present Jack Hyman with the GAT Texas Heritage Award.
2001 - Dennis McIntyre: Williamsport, Ohio: Dennis Participated In High School And College Gymnastics In San Angelo And Odessa, Texas, respectively. He then went to Ohio, and, after earning his degree at Ohio State University, moved into full time coaching as owner and operator (for 13 years) of the Columbus Gymnastics Academy. He spent a year working with the Chicago Park District before joining the USA Gymnastics staff in July of 1994. As of January of 2001, Dennis became the Junior National Team Coordinator for the Men's Program where his responsibilities include the continuing education of the Junior National Team as he gathers and distributes information to Junior National Team coaches and athletes. When asked why he likes working at USAG, Dennis responded: "Moving from coaching to a mostly administrative position at USA Gymnastics was a dramatic change for me. However, I really enjoy working with the coaches and athletes in designing and implementing programs that will help them meet their professional and competitive goals. The fact that the needs of the different groups within the men's program are very diverse keeps the job a constant challenge and insures that there is never a dull moment." Our congratulations to Dennis, we are proud of this former Texan.
1997 - Jon Cada, Bedford, Texas. Competitor at Western Illinois University, Jon Cada “moved a lot of equipment” in the 1950’s. After college, he “went on the road” for Nissen Corporation, & later for Nissen Universal. 15 years of service to Texas in the 1970’s and 80’s as equipment manufacturer’s representative and good friend of gymnastics in Texas. Jon worked beyond the call of duty, as equipment representatives often do, to facilitate the growth of gymnastics. He is widely known and remembered.
1995 - Robert Cowan, Indianapolis, Indiana. Serviced Texas gymnastics 1967-1984, he served for 9 ½ years as the Nat. Dir. of the Programs for the USGF at Indianapolis. In Texas, Robert was the President of THSGCA; a Nat. HS Coach of the Year; Officer of the NHSGCA; and Pres. of GAT 1973-1974. His energy and love of gymnastics were legendary. He received the GAT Distinguished Service Award twice and GAT honor award six times, elected GAT Life Member in 1984. A new base for athlete dev. was built in schools & private clubs while collegiate programs slowly diminished. This “new base for athlete dev.” is the star in Robert’s crown as Nat. Men’s Dir. for shepherding that transition. He was the Floor Dir. for the 1984 Olympics, an Intern.-level Judge, member, & officer of the FIG, and worked actively in the production of nat. teams for the Pan American Games, World Championships, & the 1988 and 1992 Olympics. The major intern. events held in the USA in his period of service were only successful because of Robert’s dogged determination to “get things right” & to do things which would benefit the sport & the athletes.
1994 - Mike Wilson, former coach at Odessa College. Coach Wilson’s tenure at OC from 1967 to 1976 resulted in the creation of the dominant powerhouse junior college program of that time. OC teams won ten NJCAA National Championships and produced dozens of NJCAA All Americans. After OC, Wilson was head coach at Ohio State University. Coach Wilson is now a public school administrator in Ohio.
1993 - Charlie Pond, Began gymnastics in Dallas at Dallas Athletic Club with Marshall Brown. Served as Abilene city recreation director while attending Hardin-Simmons University. Led first college team to first Texas gymnastics meet. Southwestern AAU Meet, Dallas, 1941. After World War II service, became coach at D.A.C. and directed 1946 and 1947 SWAAU Meets. Served as first SWAAU Gymnastics Chairman, member of the AAU National Board. Meet Director 1947, Nat. AAU Gymnastics Championships held at SMU. Moved to the University of Illinois in 1947. Won the Big Ten men’s team title for 11 consecutive years, 1950-60, and NCAA men’s team titles in 1950, 1955, 1956, and 1958. He was a significant early Texas leader.
1993 - Barbara Gallaher-Tonery, Nine times national tumbling champion while training at Dallas Athletic Club, 1960-1963. National trampoline champion, 1960. Member of U.S. Olympic Training Team, 1964. Assistant Coach U.S. Team, World Gymnaestrada, 1963. Elected to Helms Hall of Fame, 1965. Although not active in Texas since 1963, her national achievements are meritorious and her outstanding competition record is a symbol of another era in Texas Gymnastics.