The Rotary Club of Dayton gathered at the Dayton Community Center for a special program honoring athletes whose accomplishments span generations, from the 1920s to today. Guest speakers Larry Wadzeck and Suzanne Hicks highlighted stories of Bronco greats who went on to earn recognition at the state, national, and even international levels.
Remembering the early trailblazers
Bob “Dayton’s Dashing” Doyle Coe set the standard for future Broncos as a star running back and track athlete in the late 1920s and early 1930s. At Sam Houston State University, he became the school’s first Little All-American and was later inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame. Newspapers of the era celebrated him as “Dayton’s Dashing Doyle Coe,” and his name remains an important part of the community’s sports legacy.
Multi-sport standouts
Several other Broncos carried their talent to the collegiate level, earning All-American honors and induction into university halls of fame:
- Ricky Eggleston (Class of 1995): A three-sport athlete who became a celebrated tight end at Sam Houston State, where he earned All-American honors and a spot on the All-Texas College Football Team.
- Chris Louiver: A dominant left tackle at Sam Houston who never allowed a sack during his three years as a starter. He earned All-American honors and received the prestigious Jim Langer Award as the nation’s top small-college offensive lineman.
- Henry Dugat: A top-ranked basketball player who became a Baylor Hall of Fame inductee and went on to a long professional career overseas. His former coach, Geoff McCracken, described him as “one of the most talented athletes that I coached. As amazing as he was an athlete, he was also one of the most humble and quiet young men.”
Champions beyond Dayton
The program also spotlighted athletes who made their mark far beyond their hometown:
- Gene “Lil Gene” Tennison: A versatile Bronco lineman who became an All-Conference player at Northwestern State and was later named one of the school’s Top 100 Football Players of All Time. He also competed in track at the University of Houston while beginning his master’s degree.
- Coach Joe Robison (Class of 1957): Remembered as the “Father of Air Force Baseball,” Robison served as head coach at the U.S. Air Force Academy, later became a scout for the New York Yankees, and earned induction into both the Colorado Coaches Hall of Fame and the Major League Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame.
- Kay Don (Class of 1962): A standout in volleyball, basketball, cheerleading, and academics, she went on to break barriers in collegiate athletic administration. At Texas A&M and UC–Irvine, she built nationally competitive women’s athletic programs and became a pioneer for women in sports leadership.
Team honors
Wadzeck also recognized athletes who excelled as part of championship teams, including Jeff Edwards and Eric King, members of the 1986 Tarleton State University football team inducted into their Hall of Fame, and Allen Smith (Class of 1941), who played for Tulsa’s 1945 Orange Bowl championship team and entered their Hall of Fame with his teammates.
Upcoming Dayton Athletic Hall of Fame inductions
The Dayton Athletic Hall of Fame will hold its annual induction ceremony this Saturday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. at the Dayton High School Performing Arts Center. This event is open to the public.
This year’s inductees include:
Michael Asbill, Brian Clark, David Godfrey, Jolee Kennard, Lloyd Ligons, Kharylake Martin, Chance McCormack, Kristen Reno, Mike Ripkowski, Andrew Walker, Ryan Williams, and Jeremy Winters.
The unbeaten 1978 Girls’ Track Team will also be recognized for its district championship season, which sent numerous athletes to regional and state competitions under Coach Louie Johnson.
In addition, the board will honor two sets of boosters:
- Eddie and Dorothy Goulder, longtime and active supporters of Dayton athletics.
- Wendell Neal, a former Bronco who went on to a distinguished career in collegiate sports before his recent retirement.
A community legacy
As Wadzeck reflected, many of Dayton’s Hall of Fame athletes shared the same qualities: humility, determination, and quiet drive.
“They didn’t brag about it,” he said. “They just went out and did it.”
The Rotary meeting concluded with announcements about next week’s business session, the club’s ongoing raffle fundraiser, and the recitation of the Rotary 4-Way Test.