Dayton ISD inducts new members into Sports Hall of Fame

The Dayton ISD Sports Hall of Fame inducted new members during a ceremony on Friday, Oct. 11, at the Dayton High School Performing Arts Center. Each new member was presented with a plaque and a medallion. Their photos now will be added to the wall of honor at the Sports Hall of Fame on the Nottingham Alternative Education Campus.

Larry Wadzeck served as emcee of the ceremony that recognized the achievements of eight individual athletes – Edward Anderson, Tim Bentley, Gordon Dillard, Brenda Johnson Lindsey, Mandy Miller Haltom, Leon Rahn, George Redmon and Gene Roberts; three teams – the 1949 Bronco Football Team, 1955 Colbert Girls Basketball Team and the 1958 Mile Relay Team; and two sports boosters, Little Richard and Little Anna Holbrook.

“This is a small way for this community to thank you, not just for your athletic ability and many hours of fun watching you play football, run track, play basketball, volleyball, baseball or softball, or whatever may be. This is to thank you for not only representing yourself and your family but for representing this community and this school district,” Wadzeck said in his welcoming address. “You are truly outstanding individuals. We thank you for everything you have done, not only as students, but as young men and women in your community.”

The Inductees

Tim Bentley

Tim Bentley, who now lives in Austin and co-owns a construction company, is a 1986 graduate and three-sport letterman (basketball, football and track) for Dayton High School.

After graduation, Bentley was appointed to the Air Force Academy (AFA) where he continued to pursue sports and was a two-year letterman in football. He played in the 1987 Freedom Bowl in Anaheim, Calif., but left the sport in 1988 after suffering a concussion. However, the concussion did not prevent Bentley from joining the AFA Rugby Team, which went on to win the 1989 and 1990 National Collegiate Rugby Championships.

Also a standout academically, Bentley earned a spot on the Dean’s List for all eight semesters at the AFA. In 1990, he graduated with a degree in civil engineering and was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant. He served seven years of active duty during Desert Storm.

In 1995, he completed a masters degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

Wadzeck shared a story related to him by Bentley, who reportedly was told by Jim Wacker, who was then the head football coach of TCU, that he was too small to play in the Southwest Conference and would not receive a scholarship. Two years after that admonition, the AFA team beat the TCU team by 40 points with Bentley making 10 tackles and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.

Brenda Johnson Lindsey

Brenda Johnson Lindsey lettered in tennis and volleyball at Dayton High School. The 1973 graduate won first place in Junior Division Singles in tennis. In volleyball, she earned first team All-District honors for two years and was team captain in 1973 when the Broncos were District champions.

After graduation, she went to become a cheerleader for Lee College in Baytown.

Johnson Lindsey coached volleyball for 10 years, winning multiple district championships. She also is a volleyball official, officiating playoffs, regional tournaments and the state tournament.

Mandy Miller Haltom

Mandy Miller Haltom lettered in track and cross country at Dayton High School before she graduated in 1994. In cross country, she was a two-time District champion, a four-time regional qualifier and a state qualifier.

Miller Haltom was named District Most Valuable Runner two times in cross country. She also earned district championships in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter runs, and was a regional qualifier two years in both events.

She earned a cross country/track scholarship to McNeese State University.

George Redmon

George Redmon lettered in basketball, football and track at Dayton High School before his graduation in 1983. He was a district champion in the 800-meter run. As a senior, he finished third in state in the 800-meter run.

He also earned All-District and All-Area honors in football. He ran track and played football for Stephen F. Austin University.

Redmon placed third at the conference track meet in the 800-meter dash. In football, he earned Special Team Player of the Year.

Gene Roberts

A two-sport letterman in football and track, the late Gene Roberts graduated from Dayton High School in 1983. In football, Roberts earned All-District honors his junior and senior years.

He was a member of winning track relay teams and won district and regional championships in the 400-meter dash. In 1982, he was the state 400-meter dash champion.

Leon Rahn

The late Leon Rahn was an outstanding athlete at Dayton High School until his graduation in 1934. He was a three-year letterman in football and was a member of Dayton’s first district and regional champion football team. He earned All-District honors twice.

He also was an outstanding baseball player. After graduation, he attended Texas A&M where he played college football and was a member of the 1939 A&M National Championship Team.

After college, he went to distinguish himself in military service, serving in World War II, Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Gordon Dillard

A 1962 graduate of Colbert High School, the late Gordon Dillard excelled in all sports, especially football. He was chosen to be one of the players in the prestigious East-West All-Star game.

After graduation, he worked in politics and government, being instrumental in getting a number of Civil Rights laws enacted.

Edward Anderson

Edward Anderson, a 1958 graduate of Dayton High School, lettered in track. He excelled in the mile run where he was a three-time district champion, a two-time regional champion and a three-time state qualifier. He held the mile run record at four different relays for several years.

For a number of years, he worked for Dayton State Bank.

Wadzeck called Anderson a “much loved and respected member of the Dayton community.”

Richard and Anna Holbrook

Richard and Anna Holbrook, known as Little Richard and Little Anna because of their short stature, were the owners of the Little Folks Cafe on Main Street in Dayton for a number of years.

Outside of running a successful business, they were proud supporters of the Dayton football team. They never missed a game and were always cheering for the Broncos.

1949 Bronco Football

The 1949 Bronco football team was undefeated with a record of 9-0-1. They were tied with three-time district champs from Tomball High School. As was the standard at the time, only district champions could advance in the playoffs.

Dayton and Tomball were put up to a coin toss to decide who would advance. Tomball won and that allowed them to continue on in the playoffs while Dayton ended their undefeated season.

1955 Colbert Women’s Basketball Team

The undefeated Colbert Women’s Basketball Team in 1955 was under Coach Lois Pruitt. The team won numerous tournaments, including those against much larger school districts.

At the time, a playoff system had not been established for women’s sports, so the team simply ended their season undefeated.

1958 Mile Relay

The 1958 Bronco Mile Relay Team was made up of members Buddy Holbrook, Roy Alfred Seaberg, Leard Conner, Larry Neuman and Bryan Sterling. The team was district and regional champs and missed winning the state championship by being edged out by a team they had previously beaten.

Following the induction ceremony, guests were treated to a light repast at Nottingham Alternative Education Center (formerly Nottingham Elementary).

Note: Biographical information was provided by Emcee Larry Wadzeck.

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