The Texas Sports Hall of Fame has announced the induction of eight new members into its 2017 Hall of Fame class. Among the eight members, former Texas A&M and Los Angeles Rams defensive back Dave Elmendorf, and current Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will be honored on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 6 p.m. at the Waco Convention Center.
The rest of the 2017 class includes former Houston Cougars NCAA women's volleyball player Rita Buck-Crockett, Texas A&M University track & field coach Pat Henry, former Houston Cougars NCAA women's volleyball player Flo Hyman (deceased), 2008 Olympic all-around gymnastics champion Nastia Liukin, University of Texas track & football star Eric Metcalf and former Dallas Cowboys All Pro safety Darren Woodson. The induction class of 2017 will join a long list of Texas sport legends forever being honored as a member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
"We are thrilled to induct such a distinguished class of hardworking, determined individuals into this year's hall of fame," said Jay Black, interim director and vice president of museum operations at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. "These athletes stand out not only for their accomplishments, but for their work ethic, tenacity and persistence -- qualities we want to highlight for younger generations."DAVE ELMENDORF
A native of Houston, Texas, Dave Elmendorf was a star football running back and baseball player. He was a 1971 graduate of Texas A&M and was a 1970 All-American selection in football as a safety, kick returner and occasional tailback, and was a two-time All-American center fielder on the baseball team. Elmendorf was named All-Southwest Conference in 1969 and 1970. He also was named Academic All-American and won a graduate scholarship from the National Football Foundation. In 1971, he was drafted to play baseball by the New York Yankees but chose to play football for the Los Angeles Rams. He was drafted in the 3rd round of the 1971 NFL Draft, earning all-rookie honors his first season. In his nine NFL seasons Elmendorf played in 130 games, starting all 130, intercepting 27 passes and recovering 10 fumbles. After the NFL he became a broadcaster on radio and TV and serves as the color commentator for the Texas A&M football radio broadcasts, as well as being involved in other business enterprises. In 1997 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and in 2016 into the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame.WADE PHILLIPS
An Orange, TX native, Phillips attended PNG High School before playing collegiate football at the University of Houston, where he was a three-year starter as a linebacker. The son of storied former NFL head coach Bum Phillips, Wade began his professional coaching career with the Houston Oilers under his dad. Since then, Phillips has held multiple NFL positions, including head coaching stints with the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys. Phillips added to his legacy by being named the 2015 NFL Assistant Coach of Year and orchestrating a phenomenal defensive performance in Super Bowl 50 that led to a Broncos victory. Phillips met his wife Laurie at PNG in 1964, where she was the head cheerleader and he was the starting QB. In 2017 Phillips was hired as the defensive coordinator by the Los Angeles Rams.
