Hall of Fame Inductees Honored at High Schools

Posted Date: 06/02/2020

May 21, 2014 – High schools in Amarillo ISD induct two former students or community members with close ties to the school into their Hall of Fame each year. Hall of Fame committees are comprised of faculty, administration, community members who are graduates of the school, class officers and student council leaders. The committee accepts nominations for inductees during the school year and announces their names at a program held either in the fall or spring semester.

“Students connect with the inductees based on their high school experiences and their chosen career paths,” said Kisaundra Harris, Tascosa Hall of Fame committee chair and science teacher.  “This year we inducted two athletes who shared their powerful stories during the ceremony.  Several students were both awe struck and inspired by the former Rebels who were able to carry their high school athletic success into their chosen profession.”

Amarillo High

• Dr. Richard “Wick” Alexander, Class of 1954
  • Alexander has supported the AHS Alumni Association for many years because of the quality experience he received during his time as a student. Encouraging high school teachers and coaches led him toward a degree from Texas Tech University and a career in orthodontics. Alexander is well known across the globe for his lectures and books which are teaching new generations of orthodontists. When not traveling the world teaching orthodontic practices, Alexander is working alongside one of his children at their practice in Arlington, Texas.
• Joseph Foran, Class of 1970
  • Foran participated in a variety of clubs and played football and baseball as a student at Amarillo High. Maintaining academic excellence throughout college, Foran holds a bachelor’s in accounting from the University of Kentucky and a law degree from SMU. His drive for success propelled him into founding two oil and gas companies, Matador Petroleum Company and Matador Resources Company, which have enabled him to support scholarships for students, military causes, and faith organizations.

Caprock

• Michael Lozano, Class of 1972
  • Lozano excelled in athletics as a high school student at Caprock, named all-district and all-south plains quarterback in 1971. He went on to play wing back and defensive back at West Texas State University where he graduated with a bachelor’s in education. Lozano made a career of teaching and coaching high school football and track at Odessa Ector, Levelland, Caprock and Randall. In the spring of 2005, he became the head football coach for Boys Ranch High School.
• Mercy Murguia, Class of 1997
  • Murguia was an active member of student organizations during her time at Caprock, graduating in the top 2 percent and named “Queen of Caprock.” Upon graduation, she went on to receive her associate’s in applied science from Amarillo College, a BBA in management and MBA in management and finance from West Texas A&M University. Murguia has served on the Amarillo YMCA Board of Driectors, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Los Barrios de Amarillo, Texas Leadership Women Board of Directors, and Texas Association of Counties Leadership Council. Today she is Potter County Commissioner for Precinct 2, managing budget and finance for the county.

Palo Duro

• Linda Schlinkman Fuller, Class of 1965
  • Linda Fuller enjoyed such activities as cheerleading, journalism and National Honor Society during her time at Palo Duro. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Texas Tech University and a master’s of business administration from SMU. Holding a seat on the Texas Tech Association National Board of Directors, Linda Fuller has spent much of her energy creating scholarship programs and recruiting students to attend her alma mater. She and husband Terry have provided endowed scholarship funding for Palo Duro graduates to attend Texas Tech through the “Go Tech” program.
• Terry Fuller, Class of 1973
  • Terry fuller participated in a variety of clubs and won medals in the City Championship and Amarillo Relays in golf as a student at Palo Duro. Participating in Sigma Chi Fraternity and the Saddle Tramps throughout college, he holds a bachelor’s in petroleum engineering from Texas Tech University. His love for the world of oil and gas brought him to Alaska for a while, but now he and his wife are again in Texas with their company Phoenix PetroCorp, Inc. Terry enjoys supporting his alma mater and making ways for other young people to have the opportunity to achieve.

Tascosa

• John Patterson, Class of 1983
  • Patterson is a former state champion in the 400 meters and four-time collegiate All-American at the University of Texas. While at University of Texas, Patterson competed in both indoor and outdoor track. He lettered all four years and became captain during his senior year. He qualified for the 1984 Olympic trials. Setting records both in school and nationally, Patterson was part of dramatic sprint relay teams which competed against the best runners across the nation. Today, Patterson serves as a University of Texas and USATF track and field official, and is AAU National Track Meet starter.
• Brandon Slay, Class of 1993
  • Slay is a former three-time state champion, four-time All-Ivy League and two-time All-American reaching the NCAA Finals twice in wrestling. He competed in the 200 Olympics held in Sydney, Australia where he became the first Texan to win gold in wrestling. In 2009, Slay became the head wrestling coach at the Olympic Training Center and was part of the 2012 Olympic coaching staff when Team USA finished second in the world, winning two gold medals and one bronze. Slay holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and entrepreneurial management from University of Pennsylvania, and a certificate of graduate studies from Dallas Theological Seminary.