LAWTON, Okla. – The Cameron Athletic Department announced their 2017 Cameron Athletics Hall of Fame Class on Tuesday night at their Student-Athlete/Gold Club Mixer. Also honored at the event were the winners of the team GPA awards, the famous PickAxe and last year's letter winners.
This year's Cameron Athletics Hall of Fame Class includes five members of Aggie teams from the 1930s, 40s, 50s, and 60s, including a coach, a boxer, a football player, a basketball player and a two-sport athlete.
The first inductee was Francis Peay. Peay played football at Cameron from 1963-1964. A 6'5" 250 lb. offensive tackle, Peay was able to play under Hall of Fame head coaches Leroy Montgomery and Charlie Dean. While at Cameron, Peay was believed to be the best lineman to ever wear the black and gold. After going to the University of Missouri, where he was an All-American, Peay was drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He played eight years in the NFL, spending time with the Giants, the Green Pay Backers and the Kansas City Chiefs. Peay went on to coach at Northwestern University from 1986-91.
The second honoree was Bob Pollan. Pollan played basketball at CU from 1958-60. Pollan played for Hall of Fame coach Ted Owens. Pollan was a big part of the 1959 and 1960 Aggie Basketball teams. In 1959 he helped lead his team to a sixth place finish at the National Tournament. As a sophomore in 1960, Pollan averaged 14.6 points per game and was named a Junior College All-American. In the National Tournament, he averaged 81 points in four games and helped lead his team to a third place finish. Following his stint at Cameron, Pollan played at the University of Houston and then returned home to coach at Eisenhower High School in Lawton, Okla.
The third inductee was Jess Thompson. Thompson played football at Cameron, but was most notable for his time as a football and boxing coach. He had three stints at CU throughout the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. Thompson was the head coach of the No.1 nationally ranked and undefeated 1940 football team, and he also led the 1946 team to a win in the Papoose bowl. Thompson also coached the Cameron boxing team to multiple boxing championships. Through his career, he coached at the high school, college and professional levels. Professionally, he coached the Calgary Stampede of the Canadian Football League and was a scout and the Director of Player Personnel for the New York Jets and the Houston Oilers of the NFL.
CU's fourth honoree, Eddie Washburn, was coached by Jess Thompson and was an Aggie Boxer from 1948-49. Washburn was believed to be the finest Welterweight to ever wear the black and gold. He was a two time State Golden Gloves Champion, and in 1946 and 1948 at the National Tournament; he lost to the eventual winner of the National Golden Gloves both times. Washburn accumulated a 54-6 amateur record and a 14-0-2 record as a professional.
The fifth and final inductee into the 2017 Cameron Athletics Hall of Fame was Homer Watkins. Watkins played both basketball and baseball at CU from 1957-58 under Hall of Fame head coach Ted Owens. At 6'7", Watkins was the leading center and leading scorer of the undefeated and No. 1 nationally ranked basketball team. He averaged 16.5 points and helped guide his team to a 27-2 record. Following basketball season, Watkins joined the Aggie Baseball team and became the ace of the pitching staff. He was a key contributor in their run to win the 1958 National Championship. Watkins had the honor of being the first African American Student-Athlete at Cameron.
The five inductees will be honored at an induction ceremony and during half-time of the women's basketball game during Cameron's homecoming week, Feb. 13-18.
Also honored at the event were the men's and women's tennis teams. The men's tennis team earned the best male team GPA from last year, while the women earned both the best female team GPA and the most improved team GPA. Women's Tennis also won the Golden PickAxe Award, which goes to the most successful team on the court, the classroom, in the community and on campus.
Additionally, the Aggies student-athletes that lettered last academic year received the letter-jackets, which were awarded to them by a member of the Gold Club.
