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THE HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP AWARD
1992 - Jim McKinney, Baird , Texas . Jim began his coaching career in the Junior High programs in the HEB school district and has continued with more than twenty years of successful teaching/coaching at Abilene Cooper High School . An early leader of the men’s judging association, an international judge representing TGJA at a number of international meets. Past president of the Texas High School Gymnastics Coaches Association. 1993 - Sandy Streeter, Metroplex Gymnastics, Dallas , Texas . Sandy was on of the “Griff’s Kids” at Dallas Athletic Club, beginning training in tumbling and trampoline in 1953 amidst other early Texas greats. 2nd Place AAU Tumbling Nationals, 1959. Her “tumbling Texans” program, started in 1963, later grew to be the multi-gym “Metroplex Gymnastics” programs. One of the first multi-gym operators in Texas .
1991 - Gerald Bartosh, JCC, Houston , Texas . Gerald is a Houston club pioneer. His “gymnastics Associate Southwest” was the first storefront operation in Texas , operating on a major thoroughfare with high visibility. He is an accomplished watercolor artist collected by many Texas Gyms.
1991 - Nikki Yeager, Naples , Florida . Past President of GAT, 1984-85. Past President of the Texas Gymnastics Coaches Association. Distinguished Service Award, 1985. Nikki has been active in gymnastics teaching in high schools and private clubs since the early 1970’s and has operated the Texas summer Gymnastics camp in Kerrville since 1975.
1990 - Martha Mitchell, Permian High School , Odessa . Beginning at Permian in 1971, Martha Mitchell’s girls teams qualified to the Texas high School Championships for eighteen of the next nineteen years; coached the State Champions in 1975 and State runner-ups in 1982, 1989, and 1990, with 11 State Champions, 10 All American Teams, and 90 Individual High School All Americans. President of GAT in 1973-74. First female President of THSCGA in 1986, re-elected to a second term in 1989. 1990 - Jack Tillinghast , West Texas State University, Canyon. As a youngster, Jack was a Maverick a the Amarillo Boy’s Club; as a national and world-class trampoliner, he competed all over the world in the 1950’s. With Edsel Buchanan and Ralph Dykeman, the created the West Texas AAU gymnastics program in 1956. Since the 1950’s, he has been a physical educator at West Texas State , teacher of dozens of the West Texas coaches. He is the last of the “pioneer generation” to be honored by the Life Membership.
1989 - Bob Finch, Gymnastics USA , Houston . Bob began his gymnastics career in 1952 and has maintained a continuing association with the sport since that time. He entered coaching in 1957 part time and has been active a s a full time coach since 1964, serving at Houston Downtown YMCA, Dad’s Club YMCA and Philips 66 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He opened his own program in 1971 and has been active in coaching since that time.
1989 - Avis Tieber Jamison, Mountain View College , Dallas . Avis was a national and international champion in gymnastics while working as an athlete with Lester Griffin at the Dallas Athletic Club and later coaching at Crenshaw in Austin . She has become a career physical educator. She served as a staff member at the Texas high School gymnastics Clinic, during the “form-active years” of his high school gymnastics.
1988 - Ben Zickefoose, Abilene . Ben was a founder and first President of the GTAT/Gymnastics Teachers Association of Texas, which was the predecessor of GAT in 1965. He has been an Associate Professor of Physical Education at Abilene Christian University since 1963 and has been active in gym sports since 1953. In recent years he has traveled more than half a million miles in a Christian ministry utilizing gymnastics principles. Ben has trained ACC demonstration or competition teams in gymnastics since 1963.
1987 - Ginger Arons, San Angelo . A former GAT President (1981), former State Judge director for NAWGJ, and an international Brevet judge, Ginger Arons was a modern pioneer for club gymnastics in West Texas , beginning Texas Tumbleweed Gymnastics Club in the 1970’s.
1987 - Bee Crenshaw, Elgin . Bee’s elevation to the Life Membership is long overdue. She was half of the Crenshaw Athletic Club team of Bee and Bill from 1949-1977. She is remembered as a pioneer coach of tumbling, trampoline, and artistic gymnastics.
1987 - Beau Biron, Houston. Beau continues to give top-quality leadership on the USGF State Board and as the inspiration and moving force of the USGF Women’s Coaches group. He served as GAT President in the 1985-86 term. He has been active as a gymnastics businessman since 1972, and has been a part of the national USAIGC program. He also was a leader in the 1986 National Sports Festival presented in Houston .
1986 - Bettye Martin, Garland . Bettye Martin has served as President of GAT; organizer of the Private Gymnastics Clubs competitive conference in the 1970’s, and leadership to countless competitions in Texas since 1965.
1983 - Dr. Garland O’Quinn, Dev. Gymnastics, Austin. Garland was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team in Rome , 1960. He has been a leader in teacher training. Emphasizing importance of movement ed. programs for all children. “Gymnastics is for everyone” is a fundamental concept in his approach. 1984 - Robert Cowan, Formerly, Fort Worth ; USGF National Men’s Director, Indianapolis , Indiana . High school and club coach, 1968-1983. Host of State High School gymnastics Championships, 1983; floor director for 1984 Olympic gymnastics Championships, Los Angeles ; High School Coach of the Year, 1983; Past President of Texas High School Coaches Association; President of GAT, 1973-74. Only person to be awarded the Distinguished Service Award of GAT two times; Officer of Nat. HS Gymn. Coaches Assoc. Elevated gymnastics and has had a profound effect upon hundreds of athletes. 1985 - William Valentine, Fort Worth . Bill Valentine began coaching gymnastics in the 1950’s and by the middle 1960’s was conducting one of the great “gymnastics marathons” at the Fort Worth Country Day School Gymnastics Meet. He was national program Director for girls for the USGF in the 1970’s and is truly a veteran of building gymnastics competition programs in Texas . 1985 - James White, Central High School , San Angelo . The amazing story of gymnastics in San Angelo keeps coming back to a determined, dedicated, stubborn man names James White. Beginning a program in 1967, James literally sold the idea of gymnastics to San Angelo . Many college scholarship athletes have come from the Central High program. The splendid facilities at Central High are James’ monument. (Deceased, 1997).
1982 - Dr. Darlene Schmidt, Southwest Texas State University , San Marcos . Arriving in Texas in 1968, Darlene was the first USGF State Director in the 1970’s. She served as GAT President, in 1972-73. For more than ten years, the SWTSU women’s team were strong competitors in AIAW and NCAA gymnastics competition. Training of gymnastics teachers in physical education classes, as well as the training of judges, conduct of safety programs, and operation of an age group community service program was all part of the “Miracle at San Marcos ”.
1981 - Ralph Reeves, formerly Gymnastics Incorporated, Garland . Nat’l Judge; Past President of GAT, 1974-75; USGF State Men’s Director. 1974-1981. Ralph made significant nat. contributions in the dev. of a USGF Boys age-group comp. program. Consultant in development of 1980 nat’l compulsories for boys.
1981 - Dr. Edsel Buchanan, University of Nebraska , Omaha , Nebraska . Elected to the National Trampoline Hall of Fame, 1979, for his performance as an athlete as a youth in national and international competition. Trained at Maverick Boys Club with Ralph Dykeman. While a professor at Texas Tech, Edsel was the crossroads of gymnastics and trampolining for the Texas Panhandle area during the 1950’s, 1960’s, and 1970’s.
1980 - Fillmore Hendrix, former consultant in Physical Education Program Development, Texas Education Agency, Austin . Fill was the founding President of GTAT in Fort Worth , 1967. He made significant contributions at the highest state education levels toward creating and open atmosphere for public school gymn. program dev. in the 1950’s, 60’s, and 1970’s after developing a very successful gym. program in the Clear Creek School district near Houston . 1980 - Bill Willis, Dallas SOKOL, Dallas. Bill was one of “Griff” griffin’s gymnasts in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Coached national level competitors in the 1970’s.
1979 - Jamille “Jaye” Ashmore, Dallas, Pan American Games Competitor, 1963; trained under Bill Crenshaw at UT-Austin, and later succeeded Crenshaw at UT Coach in 1966; dedicated clinician and teacher. National Special Events Director of the USGF, 1977-79.
1978 - Brian Schenk, Stephen F. Austin High School , Austin . While serving at Reagan and Austin High School, 1966-1977, Brian designed the public school gymnastics program of the Austin Public Schools . He served ten years as editor of the GAT state newsletter, was state President 1977-1978, and has been a member of the State Executive Committee since 1971.
1976 - Emil Milan, L.D. Bell High School , Hurst . Emil was and is the backbone of high school gymnastics competitive programs in Texas . His teams have won more state titles than any other high school. Served as Executive Director, Texas High School Gymnastics Coaches Association, 1970 – to date.
1976 - Jerry Milan, Trinity High School , Euless , and Fort Worth SOKOL. Jerry has been a distinguished high school coach/program builder, a national SOKOL leader, a member of the men’s Olympic Gymnastic Committee, and GAT First President, 1971-72. 1977 - Jeanette Hawkins, Pan American University , Edinburg . This lady has spent more than thirty years as a great national leader of AAU gymnastics. Her P.E. classes at Pan American University have produced dozens of coaches and teachers of gymnastics.
1975 - Patrick Yeager, Naples , Fl. (awarded while a resident of Corpus Christi ). Coach Yeager was U.S. Women’s Coach, 1960 Olympic Games, Rome , Italy , and World Games Women’s coach, Prague , Czechoslovakia , 1962. He had a long career as a college coach, AAU leader, private club operator, and leader of competition organizations. Founder of Texas Summer Gymnastics Camp. (Deceased, 1994).
1974 - Nadeane Barber, Rufugio JHS. Nadeane was the first public school educator to receive the Life Membership. She was instrumental to the addition of a gymn. sport section to the annual events at the TAHPER conv., giving gymnastics full status in the activities of the State. (Deceased, 1982).
1973 - E.A. “Pop” Snapp, YMCA programs, Houston . Pop was the father of gymnastics in the Houston area. Active for many years in the TAHPER Prof. Teachers program. (Deceased, 1981).
1972 - Walter Hosek, Dallas SOKOL. Walter was one of the early national & international gymnastics competitors from Texas . He competed as a SOKOL athlete for more than 30 years. Competed in 1938 World SOKOL SELT in Prague , Czechoslovakia in 1938.
1971 - Nard Cazzell, Nard’s Gymnastics School , Amarillo . Nard is one of the rich characters – and great coaches – who added so much to hundreds of trampoline and gymnastics championships over the years. (Deceased, 1999).
1970 - Lester A. “Griff” Griffin , Dallas Athletic Club, Dallas . One of the early pioneer coaches in Texas. Griff’s coaching at DAC in the 1930’s, 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s produced many of the Texas Coaches of today. (Deceased, 1977).
1969 - Ralph Dykeman, Maverick Boys Club, Amarillo . Coach Dykeman coached many national and international champions in tumbling and trampoline in his 5 years with the Mavericks. Many pioneers in Texas have vivid memories of the red shoes of the Maverick tumblers and trampoliners. (Deceased, 1986).
1968 - Dr. W.A. “Bill” Crenshaw, Elgin . Dr. Crenshaw was a pioneer collegiate coach at the University of Texas in Austin , while operating Crenshaw Athletic Club from 1952-1977. He served in 1974-75 as the VP of USGF. (Deceased, 1996).