On Sept. 6, Texas A&M will induct the 2024 Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame class at the 46th annual Burgess Banquet. This class consists of 10 honorees. Eight were standouts in their sports, and two are being recognized as Hall of Honor and Lifetime Achievement recipients. Here is how the A&M Lettermen’s Association defines the latter categories:
“The Hall of Honor is reserved for individuals who have gone above and beyond in contributions and support of the athletic programs at Texas A&M. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes lettermen, who after graduation, have gone on to gain prominence through his or her efforts in industry, commerce, technology, athletics, the professions or other worthy endeavors.”
Below is the social media post of the announcement along with a list of each inductee and brief description excerpt of their accomplishments from the 12th Man website.
Hall of Honor – Kay Don – Athletics Administrator
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Kay Don was a pioneer of women’s athletics at Texas A&M. At the birth of Title IX in 1972, she helped begin the Women’s Sports Association (WSA) in Aggieland with the dream of sparking opportunity for women to compete in college athletics for the Maroon & White. As a faculty member in the Health and Physical Education department, Don had a budget of just $300 for the WSA to fund the nine newly created programs in that first year (softball, volleyball, bowling, badminton, tennis, track and field, cross country, gymnastics and swimming). Basketball was added a year later; Don coached that program for no additional compensation while a faculty member.
Lifetime Achievement Award – Duke Butler III – 1970 Men’s Golf
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Duke Butler III was a standout on the Aggie men’s golf team for three years (1968-70) and was a member of the 1969 team that won the Southwest Conference Championship.
After his time in Aggieland, he joined the PGA Tour where he played in nearly 30 events from 1975-77. At the age of 29 in 1978, Butler III became the youngest tournament director of a tour event, overseeing the Houston Open, one of the oldest tournaments on the PGA Tour. He was also the Executive Director of the Houston Golf Association from 1978-1991. The Bryan, Texas, native was inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in 1986.
Laurie Corbelli – Volleyball
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A 25-year head coach for the Aggies, Laurie Corbelli is synonymous with Texas A&M volleyball.
Corbelli served as the Aggies’ skipper from 1993-2017, amassing 519 wins, the most in school history.
Corbelli was inducted into the American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2019. She served as a collegiate head coach for 32 years with prior stints at San Francisco and Santa Clara to register a 619-358 career record, including 519-252 at Texas A&M.
Brenda Goldsmith Hocott – 1978 Women’s Golf
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Brenda Goldsmith Hocott was a trailblazer for women’s athletics at Texas A&M where she enjoyed an illustrious four-year career with the Aggie women’s golf program.
In 1973, Goldsmith Hocott was the No. 1 junior golfer in the United States and became the first female student-athlete awarded an athletic scholarship at Texas A&M. In her first season in the Maroon & White, she finished 10th at nationals and fifth her sophomore year to become the first woman to ever compete at a national championship for the Aggies.
Seth McKinney – 2001 Football
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A two-time All-American center, Seth McKinney was a dominant force on the offensive line during his time in Aggieland.McKinney started 50 consecutive games, the second-longest stretch in school history, during his career from 1998-2001. At the time, he was just the fifth NCAA Division I-A center to start all four years.
Amy Berend Hidalgo – 2008 Soccer
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Amy Berend Hidalgo spent four seasons as a game-changing midfielder during a span in which the Aggies claimed six Big 12 titles.
With Hidalgo roving the middle of the pitch, Texas A&M won all four Big 12 regular season crowns from 2004-07. The Maroon & White also won Big 12 Tournament championships in 2004 and 2006. She was recognized on the 2004 Big 12 All-Newcomer team, as well as being named All-Big 12 first team as a junior and senior. Her performances at the 2004 and 2007 Big 12 Championships earned her all-tournament team status.
Ross Stripling – 2012 Baseball
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Ross Stripling crafted a spectacular four-year career in Aggieland as part of one of the most feared pitching staffs in the nation. The two-time All-American was the NCAA wins leader in a 2011 run to the College World Series. He helped Ol’ Sarge’s charges win back-to-back Big 12 Tournament titles in 2010 and ’11 as well as the league regular-season crown in 2011.
Breeja Larson – 2014 Women’s Swimming and Diving
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Breeja Larson is an Olympic gold medalist who achieved overwhelming success during her four-year swimming career at Texas A&M.
Larson earned Olympic gold with Team USA in the 400-medley relay at the 2012 London Games, swimming the breaststroke leg in prelims. She finished sixth in the 100 breast at the London Games.
During her A&M career, Larson owned school records in the 100 breast, 200 breast, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay. She still holds the Aggie record in the 100 breast at 57:23.
Cammile Adams – 2014 Women’s Swimming and Diving
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Cammile Adams is a two-time U.S. Olympian who enjoyed a stellar four-year swimming career in Aggieland.
A 10-time All-American, Adams won a pair of individual NCAA championships and earned six conference titles, including two 200 fly crowns in both the Big 12 and the SEC.
Adams was inducted into the Texas Swimming & Diving Hall of Fame in October 2021.
Alex Caruso – 2016 Men’s Basketball
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One of the greatest playmakers in Texas A&M men’s basketball history, Alex Caruso led the Aggies to one of the winningest four-year spans in school history, including a school-record 28 victories, the 2016 SEC regular-season championship and a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2015-16.
Throughout his time at Texas A&M, the two-time All-SEC selection etched his name in the record books. He became the only player in SEC history to accumulate over 1,000 points, 600 assists, 250 steals, and 500 rebounds. His versatility and consistency earned him two All-SEC team selections.