Houston Independent School District has a legacy of producing some of the top athletes, not only in the state of Texas, but the entire sports world. For the third year in a row, the HISD Athletics Department hosted its annual Hall of Honor ceremony to recognize those who have paved the way for today’s rising student-athletes.
“I think it means a lot for our students today, for them to have the opportunity to know some of those former athletes who walked the same halls they walk and competed in the same sports programs they compete in today,” said HISD Athletics Director Andre’ Walker.
The ceremony was held Saturday, Aug. 12, inside Delmar Fieldhouse and welcomed hundreds of family members, friends, and sponsors excited to celebrate their athlete’s success.
“To see the smiles on them and their families faces, it really makes me feel proud to be able to put on something to show them how much they mean to our community and how much they’re appreciated by HISD,” said Walker.
Every year, HISD adds the names of 14 individuals and one team to the Athletic Hall of Honor at Delmar Fieldhouse to showcase their lasting impact on HISD and the sports industry.
Edward G. Robinson (Posthumously)
Robinson, a Houston native, graduated from Wheatley High School in 1968 and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Lamar University in 1972 before being drafted to the NFL by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973.
Keenan McCardell
McCardell graduated from Waltrip High School and went on to play football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He was drafted by the Washington Commanders in the 1991 NFL draft and went on to play 17 seasons in the NFL. McCardell has won two Super Bowl rings and currently serves as a wide receivers coach for the Minnesota Vikings.
Debra Edwards-Rogers
Edwards-Rogers graduated from Worthing High School and went on to compete in the 1972 Munich Olympic games and the 1976 Olympic games held in Montreal where she achieved a commendable fifth place finish in the 4×100 meter relay and competed in the 200-meter semifinals. A Grambling University graduate, Edwards-Rogers has served 41 years as a Physical Education teacher and coach in HISD.
Greg Kite
A graduate of James Madison High School and standout basketball player at Brigham Young University, Kite spent 12 years playing professional basketball in the NBA after being drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1983. He is a two-time national champion and currently works in the wealth management industry.
Luke Prestridge
Prestridge is an honors graduate of Sharpstown High School class of 1975. He attended Baylor University on a full-ride baseball scholarship before earning a football scholarship during the spring of 1976 as a Punter. He went to play professionally in the NFL for the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots. Today, he is still the only punter in NFL history with two 80-plus yard punts in consecutive games.
Sydney Colson
Prior to her collegiate career as a Texas A&M Aggie, Colson led the Westside High School girls’ basketball program, where she was ranked the 29th overall prospect nationally and the number eight ranked point guard for the class of 2007. In 2022, Colson became a WNBA champion afterhelping the Las Vegas Aces win their first national title in franchise history. Today, she continues to play for the Las Vegas Aces.
Courtney Sanders
A graduate of Westside High School, Sanders was the first HISD wrestler to win the UIL State Championship title. Today, he dabbles in stand-up comedy and spends time with his family.
Takyera Roberson
While attending Wheatley High School, Roberson competed in track and field and was the first athlete to win regionals, area, and state in the 400-meter race. Roberson helped her team set the school record for the 4×100 meter relay and indoor 4×400 meter relay. She currently lives in Austin, Texas, where she works for Oracle NetSuite.
Daye Shon Roberson
Before graduating from Wheatley High School in 2013, Roberson competed in the 2011, 2012, and 2013 UIL State track and field meets, where she was awarded five medals. During her four years at Oklahoma University, she became captain of the track and field team and earned an opportunity to compete in the 2016 Olympic trials in the 200- and 400-meter dash. Today, Roberson spends her time volunteering with underserved communities and training some of the up-and-coming track and field athletes in her community.
Arthur Prayther (Posthumously)
A broadcaster and writer, Prayther made a name for himself writing and providing commentary for HISD athletics. He worked tirelessly to shine lights into darkness and sing the praises of the unsung in our Houston communities.
Nicole Dressen Lackowski
A graduate of Lee High School (now Wisdom High School), Dressen-Lackowski set state and district records in 1990 during her junior year and earned the award for Outstanding Female State Swimmer the same year. Dressen-Lackowski went on to compete at Northwestern University, where she was named All American all four years she competed (1991-1995). Today, she enjoys spending quality time with her family.
Melinda Mones
From 1986 to 1990, Mones was a four-year starter for Bellaire High School’s volleyball and tennis teams, where she secured a third-place finish in state for doubles and clinched the 5A state singles tennis championship. Mones went on to earn a full athletic scholarship to play tennis at the University of Arkansas, where she completed from 1990 to 1994. Today, Mones serves as a principal in Katy ISD and was named the district’s 2022 secondary principal of the year.
Slater Martin
An alumnus of Jefferson Davis High School (now Northside High School), Martin helped lead his team to two state basketball championships in 1942 and 1943. After graduating from the University of Texas, where he set a scoring record in 1949 with 49 points in a game versus Texas Christian University, Martin went on to play and coach professionally for 11 seasons in the NBA. Today, his jersey number 15 is still retired by the University of Texas, making him only the second longhorn basketball player to have his number retired.
1985 Madison High School Boys’ Basketball Team
One of the most dominant basketball programs in the nation in 1985, Madison High School’s boys’ basketball was recognized by USA Today as the number three ranked team in the nation. With an undefeated record of 40-0, the team’s average margin of victory was 33 points. The team was invited to the State Capitol and recognized by the governor as the poster team for the inaugural House Bill 72 “No Pass, No Play”.