Sherman, Texas – The Austin College Athletics Department and the Alumni “A” Athletics Association Board inducted honorees into the Austin College Athletics Hall of Honor on Saturday, July 25, at the annual Legends Weekend event. Austin College Legends are nominated and selected based on their athletic record while playing for the ’Roos and for showing excellence in their community and profession.
This year the College recognized and inducted the 1979 Football Team into the Hall of Honor. The 1979 Austin College Kangaroos came out on top of the TIAA conference and earned the team its first NAIA Division II playoff appearance in the College’s history. The team finished with a conference record of 7-1 in the TIAA and an overall record of 9-2, following a loss to Bethany College in the quarterfinals. The success of the 1979 Kangaroos laid the foundation for the most successful stretch in Austin College football history, highlighted by the 1981 NAIA National Championship, which featured several members of the 1979 squad.
Other new members of the Hall of Honor inductees include:
Jordan Anderton ’11
Jordan Anderton graduated cum laude from Austin College in 2011 with a B.A. in Business Administration. She played ’Roo volleyball throughout her four years at AC. Her efforts on the court earned her the Most Valuable Player award in 2010; All-SCAC Second Team honors in 2008; All-SCAC Third Team honors in 2009 and 2010; Honorable Mention All-South Region in 2008; CoSIDA/ESPN Academic 2nd Team All-District in 2010; SCAC Academic Honor Roll in 2009 and 2010; and the Sig Lawson Award for Dedication and Commitment to AC Athletics in 2009.
Rex Baker ’84
Rex Baker graduated from Austin College in 1984 with a B.S. in Economics, having played four years of football for the ’Roos. He was a member of the 1981 ’Roos football team that became the NAIA National Conference Champions and was named both All-American and TIAA All-Conference in 1983. Rex was the recipient of the William B. Traylor Award, given for hard work and dedication, in 1982 and 1983.
Ransom Okpala ’14
Following an illustrious high school basketball career, Ransom Okpala chose to continue his education at Austin College, graduating with a B.A. in Finance and Economics in 2014. He played basketball all four years and served as team captain for three of those seasons. During his time as a ’Roo, Ransom became the 18th player in school history to score over 1,000 points. He was named All-SCAC First Team in 2013 and was chosen as SCAC’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. He was also named Team MVP in 2013 and 2014.
Ann Savage ’19, MAT ’20
Ann Savage graduated from Austin College in 2019 with a B.A. in Mathematics and minors in Education and Environmental Studies and stayed at AC to complete a Master of Arts in Teaching in 2020. In the four years she played basketball for the ’Roos, Ann received nearly every award available to women’s basketball players from both Austin College and SCAC. She was also recognized as the winningest player in program history, with a record of 82 and 24.
Bobbi Schulle ’10, MAT ’11
Bobbi Schulle earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2010, and went on to complete the Master of Arts in Teaching program in 2011. During her time as an undergraduate at Austin College, Bobbi played three years of softball while also making the Dean’s List. She earned All-SCAC Honorable Mention in 2007 and 2009. As an Austin College graduate student, she served ’Roo Athletics as an assistant for the men’s and women’s basketball teams.
Bob Simeone ’80
Bob Simeone graduated with a B.A. in Business in 1980, having left his mark on Austin College Football. He lettered in football all four years, was a four-year starter, and served as a team captain. Bob was a member of the Conference Championship team, which went on to compete in the national championship playoffs. In the national playoff game, he contributed two touchdowns. He also lettered in track in 1977 and for a short time, held the school record for the indoor 60-yard dash.
The College also awarded the Coach Joe Spencer Award for Meritorious Service and Lifetime Achievement in Coaching to Howard Ballard ’77. Ballard played football at Austin College in 1975 and 1976. Under his guidance as Athletic Director of Dripping Springs ISD, his school district saw expansion of athletic offerings and outstanding performances in the 4A and 5A conferences. Howard was instrumental in bringing boys’ and girls’ soccer, swimming, wrestling, and lacrosse to Dripping Springs, and creating a UIL Middle School league with the nearby school districts of Lake Travis and Eanes (Westlake).
The excellence of Howard’s athletic programs is evidenced by three top-ten finishes in the UIL Lone Star Cup standings in the State of Texas. He was the head football coach when the team won the Lone Star Cup Championship in 1997. Numerous Dripping Springs teams and individual student-athletes advanced to playoffs across all of the district’s athletic programs under Howard’s leadership, and the softball, boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer, volleyball, boys’ and girls’ swimming, and girls’ basketball teams all made appearances in state tournaments.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
