2013 class enters Rice Athletic Hall of Fame

Special to Rice News
Charles Cochrum, Rice Athletics

A talented class of athletes who left their marks on Rice history through team and individual achievements were inducted into the Rice Athletic Hall of Fame Friday.

The 2013 Hall of Fame inductees were:

— Alice Falaiye ’03, the top long jumper in Rice women’s track and field history.

— Ryan Harlan ’04, one of the most versatile athletes in Rice men’s track and field history

— Cristy McKinney, a former head coach of women’s basketball and Rice’s all-time coaching wins leader.

— Jack Turpin ’51, one the state’s premier junior tennis players before coming to Rice in 1949; at Rice he won the SWC Doubles title and National Junior Indoor Doubles Championship as well as earning All American honors in 1950.

— Stahle Vincent ’72, one of the first African-Americans to sign football scholarships at Rice and the first African-American to play quarterback in the Southwest Conference.

— 2003 National Champion Rice baseball team, the first full team to be inducted into the Rice Hall of Fame.

The newly minted class was also honored Saturday at halftime during the Owls’ football game against UTEP at Rice Stadium.

Along with the induction of the newest members of the Hall of Fame, the R Association honored O.J. Brigance ’92, T. Jay Collins ’68 and David Gibbs ’71 with the Distinguished R Award. Mel ’61 and Susie ’62 Glasscock and Alan Shelby were also presented with the Honorary R Award.

Each of the inductees captivated the audience in different ways with their speeches, including Brigance, who connected with the crowd via a video chat from his home in Maryland.