COLLEGE STATION, Texas— Six Texas A&M athletic greats, one dedicated couple and a legendary businessman were inducted into the Texas A&M Letterman's Association Hall of Fame and Hall of Honor at the 34th annual Burgess Banquet held Friday, Sept. 16 in the Zone Club at Kyle Field.
Aggie football great Chet Brooks, All-American Katy Doyle from track and field, softball standout player and coach Gay McNutt, legendary basketball player Ronnie Peret, Aggie and longtime NFL offensive lineman Cody Risien and stellar baseball All-American Brian Thomas were the 2011 Hall of Fame inductees. Dr. Christine Townsend and Dr. Joe Townsend '67 were inducted into the Hall of Honor for their longtime support and contributions to Aggie athletics. A brand new award was unveiled as the Letterman's Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Ed Kruse '49, a letterman from men's swimming, who along with his family founded, and still runs Blue Bell Creameries in Brenham.
Brooks, who came to Texas A&M from Carter High School in Dallas, was a four-year (1984-87) letterman in football and he is credited with coming up with the nickname for the Aggie defense, the "Wrecking Crew". An All-SWC and All-American safety, Brooks helped guide the Aggie football team to three straight Southwest Conference Championships (1985-87) and three Cotton Bowl appearances. He was drafted in the 1988 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers and was part of two Super Bowl champion teams and was named to the All-Madden team in 1989 and was recently inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame (2009).
Doyle was the 2004 NCAA Champion in the women's javelin and earned All-America honors in 1999, 2000 and 2004. A four-year letter winner in track and field, Doyle graduated in 2003 and went on to earn his master's degree in kinesiology. A three-time Big 12 Conference champion, Doyle still holds the school record in the javelin, as well as the four of the top five marks in school history.
McNutt, a four-year (1982-85) letter winner in softball, helped the Aggies win the 1982 AIAW National Championship as well as the 1983 NCAA National crown and the 1984 squad played for the national title as well. McNutt earned All-America honors in 1985 as a catcher and was the Texas A&M team captain in both 1984 and 1985. She was named to the All-Tournament squad at catcher in both the 1983 and 1984 College World Series. Much like having a coach on the diamond, McNutt has gone into coaching and is currently the head coach at Stephen F. Austin where she earned Southland Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2010.
Peret is a three-year (1967-69) basketball letterman and was named the Southwest Conference Player of the Year in 1969 and is one of only six Aggie basketball players to earn Conference Player of the Year honors. A two-time All-SWC selection, he was the team's leading rebounder all three years and was top scorer in 1967 and 1968. He was selected as the team captain in 1969, helping the Aggies win the 1969 SWC Championship and the team advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1969.
Risien, a three-year (1976-78) football letterman along the offensive line earned All-America honors in 1978 and was a two-time All-SWC selection. He was a team captain in 1978 and was named to the Texas A&M 1970's All-Decade team. He helped the Aggies to three bowl games including the Sun Bowl Championship following the 1976 season. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns and played many years for the club and was recently voted into the Browns Hall of Fame. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie team in 1979 and went on to be named to Pro Bowl in 1986 and 1987
Thomas, a four-year (1990-93) letterman in baseball helped guide the Aggie baseball team to the 1993 College World Series as he earned MVP honors for the baseball team as well as earning All-America honors in 1993. He led the team in hits, average, runs scored, doubles, triples, homeruns, RBI, total bases as well as walks. The school record holder in triples and walks, Thomas was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 1993 Major League Baseball draft.        Â
Joe Townsend '67, and his wife Dr. Christine Townsend, have both supported Aggie athletics for many years. Better known as "Dr. Joe", an Associate Vice President for Students, a distinguished professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences he taught at least 1,000 students per semester for 25 years. He was honored four times by the Association of Former Students for his work with students and administration and was honored with the John Koldus Award for Student Development. Dr. Chris Townsend has served as a professor in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications at Texas A&M. She has served as the department head, undergraduate coordinator and undergraduate advisor. Better known as "Dr. Chris", she chaired over 100 graduate student committees and has presented over 400 invited leadership education seminars and programs throughout the United States. The couple has retired from Texas A&M, but their impact continues on the Texas A&M campus thanks to their service throughout the years.
Kruse, who was born in Brenham in 1928, began working for his father, E.F. Kruse, at the Blue Bell Creameries in 1941. A member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, Kruse lettered on the men's swimming team in 1948-49 and graduated from Texas A&M in 1949 with a B.S. degree in dairy manufacturing. At Blue Bell, Kruse has served as manager, secretary/treasurer, Chairman, President and General Manager, and in 1986, as Chief Executive Officer. He continues to serve as Chairman of the Board. Kruse is married to the former Evelyn Tiaden, and they have had four children, all of whom are Aggies, and numerous grandchildren. Kruse is already a Distinguished Alumnus by the Association of Former Students (2005), as well as being inducted in the Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor and he was named to the Texas Business Hall of Fame in 1993. He and his family have continued to give back to Texas A&M University in many areas including the Bush School for Public Affairs, the Corps of Cadets as well as athletics. Most recently, the renovation of Olsen Field will be known as Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
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2011 Inductees into the Texas A&M University Athletic Hall of Fame
Aggie football great Chet Brooks, All-American Katy Doyle from track and field, softball standout player and coach Gay McNutt, legendary basketball player Ronnie Peret, Aggie and longtime NFL offensive lineman Cody Risien and stellar baseball All-American Brian Thomas were the 2011 Hall of Fame inductees. Dr. Christine Townsend and Dr. Joe Townsend '67 were inducted into the Hall of Honor for their longtime support and contributions to Aggie athletics. A brand new award was unveiled as the Letterman's Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Ed Kruse '49, a letterman from men's swimming, who along with his family founded, and still runs Blue Bell Creameries in Brenham.
Brooks, who came to Texas A&M from Carter High School in Dallas, was a four-year (1984-87) letterman in football and he is credited with coming up with the nickname for the Aggie defense, the "Wrecking Crew". An All-SWC and All-American safety, Brooks helped guide the Aggie football team to three straight Southwest Conference Championships (1985-87) and three Cotton Bowl appearances. He was drafted in the 1988 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers and was part of two Super Bowl champion teams and was named to the All-Madden team in 1989 and was recently inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame (2009).
Doyle was the 2004 NCAA Champion in the women's javelin and earned All-America honors in 1999, 2000 and 2004. A four-year letter winner in track and field, Doyle graduated in 2003 and went on to earn his master's degree in kinesiology. A three-time Big 12 Conference champion, Doyle still holds the school record in the javelin, as well as the four of the top five marks in school history.
McNutt, a four-year (1982-85) letter winner in softball, helped the Aggies win the 1982 AIAW National Championship as well as the 1983 NCAA National crown and the 1984 squad played for the national title as well. McNutt earned All-America honors in 1985 as a catcher and was the Texas A&M team captain in both 1984 and 1985. She was named to the All-Tournament squad at catcher in both the 1983 and 1984 College World Series. Much like having a coach on the diamond, McNutt has gone into coaching and is currently the head coach at Stephen F. Austin where she earned Southland Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2010.
Peret is a three-year (1967-69) basketball letterman and was named the Southwest Conference Player of the Year in 1969 and is one of only six Aggie basketball players to earn Conference Player of the Year honors. A two-time All-SWC selection, he was the team's leading rebounder all three years and was top scorer in 1967 and 1968. He was selected as the team captain in 1969, helping the Aggies win the 1969 SWC Championship and the team advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1969.
Risien, a three-year (1976-78) football letterman along the offensive line earned All-America honors in 1978 and was a two-time All-SWC selection. He was a team captain in 1978 and was named to the Texas A&M 1970's All-Decade team. He helped the Aggies to three bowl games including the Sun Bowl Championship following the 1976 season. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns and played many years for the club and was recently voted into the Browns Hall of Fame. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie team in 1979 and went on to be named to Pro Bowl in 1986 and 1987
Thomas, a four-year (1990-93) letterman in baseball helped guide the Aggie baseball team to the 1993 College World Series as he earned MVP honors for the baseball team as well as earning All-America honors in 1993. He led the team in hits, average, runs scored, doubles, triples, homeruns, RBI, total bases as well as walks. The school record holder in triples and walks, Thomas was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 1993 Major League Baseball draft.        Â
Joe Townsend '67, and his wife Dr. Christine Townsend, have both supported Aggie athletics for many years. Better known as "Dr. Joe", an Associate Vice President for Students, a distinguished professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences he taught at least 1,000 students per semester for 25 years. He was honored four times by the Association of Former Students for his work with students and administration and was honored with the John Koldus Award for Student Development. Dr. Chris Townsend has served as a professor in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications at Texas A&M. She has served as the department head, undergraduate coordinator and undergraduate advisor. Better known as "Dr. Chris", she chaired over 100 graduate student committees and has presented over 400 invited leadership education seminars and programs throughout the United States. The couple has retired from Texas A&M, but their impact continues on the Texas A&M campus thanks to their service throughout the years.
Kruse, who was born in Brenham in 1928, began working for his father, E.F. Kruse, at the Blue Bell Creameries in 1941. A member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, Kruse lettered on the men's swimming team in 1948-49 and graduated from Texas A&M in 1949 with a B.S. degree in dairy manufacturing. At Blue Bell, Kruse has served as manager, secretary/treasurer, Chairman, President and General Manager, and in 1986, as Chief Executive Officer. He continues to serve as Chairman of the Board. Kruse is married to the former Evelyn Tiaden, and they have had four children, all of whom are Aggies, and numerous grandchildren. Kruse is already a Distinguished Alumnus by the Association of Former Students (2005), as well as being inducted in the Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor and he was named to the Texas Business Hall of Fame in 1993. He and his family have continued to give back to Texas A&M University in many areas including the Bush School for Public Affairs, the Corps of Cadets as well as athletics. Most recently, the renovation of Olsen Field will be known as Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
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2011 Inductees into the Texas A&M University Athletic Hall of Fame
- Chet Brooks '88, Football
- Katy Doyle '03, Track and Field
- Gay McNutt '85, Softball/Coach
- Ronnie Peret '69, Basketball
- Cody Risien '79, Football
- Brian Thomas '93, Baseball
- Dr. Chris & Dr. Joe Townsend, Hall of Honor
- Ed Kruse '49, Swimming and Diving, Lettermen's Lifetime Achievement Award