By MIKE MONTFORT

Bulldog Hall of Fame Class of 2023 inductee Bubba Thornton, who was selected Wednesday, Nov. 1, as one of nine members of The Texas Sports Hall of Fame's Class of 2024.

Announcement of the TSHOF Class of 2024 was made on Dave Campbell's Texas Football Today Show at noon.

The newest group of inductees includes two NFL football players (Jamaal Charles and Colt McCoy), two college football coaches (Jackie Sherrill and Mike Leach), two track and field coaches (Thornton and Barbara Jacket), an Olympic softball player (Christa Williams), a Negro League and Baseball Hall of Famer (Andy Cooper) and a former Texas State Representative (Judge Roy Hofheinz).

Thornton played wide receiver and defensive back at Navarro (1965-67) and TCU (1967-69) and starred as a kick returner with the AFL's Buffalo Bills.  He spent 31 years coaching track and field at TCU and at The University of Texas.  He coached athletes to a combined 35 NCAA event titles, more than 300 All-American honors and 161 conference championships.  Additionally, he coached the 1996 USA World Juniorc Championship Team, served as assistant for the 2000 US Men's Olympic Team and the head coach of the 2003 World Championship Team and the 2008 US Men's Olympic Team in Beihing.

The 63rd Annual Texas Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet presented by Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, will be held in the BASE at Extraco Events Center in Waco, Texas, on Saturday, April 13, 2024.