Lion Athletics Announces 2024 Hall of Fame Class, Induction Ceremony Set for November 9

Lion statue is in a sitting pose. Photo is taken at night with statue lit up.

By Lion Athletics

COMMERCE – Texas A&M University-Commerce has announced the 2024 Lion Athletics Hall of Fame Class on Wednesday afternoon, with the induction ceremony set for November 9.

This year’s athletics hall of fame class includes former football players James Suiter and Kenneth Parks, former women’s basketball star Andrea Hines Thomas, former track & field athlete Gerald Blansitt, and the 2004-05 men’s basketball team.

The Hall of Honor welcomes longtime Lion Athletics supporters Scott and Kathryn Wheeler, while this year’s Bobby Fox award recipient is Lyndon Love.

2024 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY
The 2024 Lion Athletics Hall of Fame Ceremony is set for 11 a.m. inside the Traditions room at the Rayburn Student Center on November 9 prior to the Lion Football team playing Stephen F. Austin.

Tickets for the ceremony can now be purchased HERE. All past inductees interested in attending the ceremony should contact Assistant Athletics Director of Development Tre’ Johnson ([email protected]) for more information.

Membership in the Lion Athletics Hall of Fame is limited to former Lion student-athletes, coaches, and athletics administrators. Student-athletes must have completed their eligibility 10 years prior to nomination, while coaches and administrators must have served A&M-Commerce for a minimum of five years. In addition, the nominee must be a person of such integrity, character, and sportsmanship that the A&M-Commerce family will be inspired by the recognition.

Full list of honorees in the Lion Athletics Hall of Fame can be found HERE.

2024 LION ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CLASS
Gerald Blansitt, Men’s Track & Field, 1956-60

  • Blansitt was a three-time first team all-conference honoree for the Lions and went on to win the 1959 NAIA shot put national championship. He was the program’s only throwing national champion till 2019 and is now just one of two.

Andrea Hines Thomas, Women’s Basketball, 1992-94

  • Thomas was the fastest player in program history to reach 1,000 career points, while being named to first team all-conference twice, and earning Academic All-America honors. She was an all-Lone Star Conference Tournament team selection in 1992-93 and was named to the academic all-conference team as well. To this day, Thomas is fourth all-time in scoring average (20.5), third in steals per game (2.5), fourth in field goal percentage (.519), and 10th in field goals made (443).

Kenneth Parks, Football, 1971-72

  • Parks, a running back, was part of the 1972 National Championship Team, and was named an All-American by three publications after the 1972 season, including two naming him on the first team. He was also named the Lone Star Conference’s Outstanding Back of the Year, named to first team all-conference. Parks currently ranks second all-time in rushing yards per game, sixth all-time in career rushing yards, and is tied for seventh all-time for rushing touchdowns.

James Suiter, Football, 1993-96

  • Suiter was a three-time all-conference selection at offensive tackle for the Lions, including first team in 1996. The Lions went 25-19 in his four seasons with the team and played in the NCAA Division II Playoffs in 1995.

2004-05 Men’s Basketball Team

  • The 2004-05 men’s basketball team, coached by Sam Walker, is the only court sport team in school history to win the conference regular season title and tournament championship in the same season, while going 18-1 at home, which included hosting the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament, and winning five post season games. The Lions went 28-5 that season and 10-2 in conference play, which is the second-best record for any court sport at A&M-Commerce.
  • Walker was named the Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year, becoming just the third coach in program history to receive the honor.
  • Individually, Jermart Miller was named the Lone Star Conference Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and to first team all-conference, leading the team in scoring (551), three-pointers (94), and steals (32). Matthew Rager and Allen Walker, who led the team in assists (151), were named to second team all-conference, and Chris Fantroy, the team leader in rebounds (203), was named to honorable mention all-conference. 

2024 HALL OF HONOR INDUCTEES
Scott and Kathryn Wheeler

  • Scott and Kathryn Wheeler have been longtime supporters of Lion Athletics, and their decades of generous contributions rank among the top of all contributions to Lion Athletics. The Wheelers have given back to Lion Athletics not just with their financial contributions but with their time as well, being long time season ticket holders, serving on advisory boards, and Scott currently serving as the interim dean for the College of Business. They have made the largest capital gift in athletic department history, which kickstarted a 7,800 square-foot expansion to the Lion Football Locker Room, creating the Champions Center in 2019. 

2024 BOBBY FOX AWARD WINNERS
Lyndon Love

  • A 1994 graduate of A&M-Commerce, Love played men’s basketball for two years. A native of Oak Cliff and graduate of South Oak Cliff High School, Love began his coaching career at South Oak Cliff in 1997 and was part of three state championship teams. Love has earned District Coach of the Year award five straight years and amassed over 400 career head coaching wins. He is now the head boy’s basketball coach at Carter High School in Dallas.