Texas Tech University Athletics
Three to Be Inducted Into Texas Tech Hall of Honor
Three to Be Inducted Into Texas Tech Hall of Honor
Oct. 4, 2000 LUBBOCK, Texas - A trio of standout performers on and off the field has been selected for induction into the Texas Tech Hall of Honor. This year's inductees are former football players Lonnie "Primo" McCurry, former volleyball player Lisa Love, and Dr. R.G. "Wick" Alexander, whose strong involvement in Texas Tech athletics has spanned six decades. The group will be inducted Oct. 13 at the Texas Tech Athletic Hall of Honor Banquet at the Lubbock Country Club. The three will be recognized the following afternoon at the Texas Tech-Nebraska football game. Tickets for the Athletic Hall of Honor Banquet can be purchased through the Red Raider Club at (806) 742-1196. The Hall of Honor is designed so that any person who has made a significant impact on Red Raider athletics is eligible for consideration. There is a 10-year waiting period for athletes, and full-time university employees are not eligible. This year's class brings the number of inductees to 101 since the Hall of Honor's inception in 1961. McCurry, who captained the 9-1-1 football team in 1940, was an outstanding guard for Coach Pete Cawthon's final Texas Tech team. He gained Little All-American recognition by Collier's News Bureau of Chicago after his senior year, and was called "the greatest lineman I ever coached" by Tech line coach Duchy Smith. The 198-pound Lubbock High product was known for his speed and toughness on the field. After graduation in 1941, McCurry received NFL interest from George Hallas of the Chicago Bears and Wellington Myra of the New York Giants, among others. However, he opted to serve in World War II, rising in rank to colonel in the United States Marine Corps. A highlight of his 20-year military career was winning the Purple Hear in the invasion of Guam. After leaving the military, he was active in the real estate business in the Houston area. He currently resides in Eastland, Texas. Love, who is currently associate athletic director at the University of Southern California, helped pioneer women's college athletics, not only at Texas Tech, but also around the country. She was a four-year starter for Tech's volleyball team from 1974-77, earning All-Region and MVP honors following her senior season. She also was twice voted team captain. Love received her bachelor's degree in physical education in 1978 and later earned a master's degree in educational administration from North Texas. Love began a highly-successful volleyball coaching career at Arlington Bowie and, after five years, was named head coach at the University of Texas-Arlington. In seven seasons at UTA, she won five league titles and advanced to the NCAA playoffs four times. Love was named national coach of the year in 1988, when her team finished 30-4 and ranked No. 7 nationally. Love moved on to USC, where she coached nine NCAA playoff teams in 10 seasons. In 1991, she doubled as associate athletic director. Love resigned her coaching post in 1998 to devote more time to her administrative duties. She handles day-to-day supervision of five USC sports and is active on a number of NCAA committees. She is a past president of the American Volleyball Coaches Association and a member of the Division I All-America Selection Committee. Alexander has served the university in a variety of capacities since 1954, when he arrived on campus on a football scholarship. He lettered in baseball during his freshman year, but an injury ended his two-sport career early. Hard luck did not stop Alexander from supporting Red Raider athletics. He has been active in the Texas Tech Lettermen's Association and recently made a substantial financial commitment to the Marsha Sharp Academic Center. In addition, he has been a past president of the Tech Ex-Student's Association, a distinguished alumnus and a member of the board of directors of the Texas Tech Foundation. Alexander also has made his presence felt in the field of orthodontics since opening his practice in Arlington in 1964. He has won numerous professional awards and, along with his practice, he teaches at the Baylor College of Dentistry as a clinical professor in the orthodontic department. The Alexander name certainly is not new to Texas Tech. Alexander's brother, Moody, served as a football manager and son, Chuck, earned Academic All-America honors as a defensive back in the early 1980s. |
