Four Hall of Honor Inductees Named for 2009
4/2/2009 1:00:00 AM | Athletics
Four former Sam Houston State student-athletes ? three football players and one from baseball ? will comprise the 2009 male inductees for the Hall of Honor.
The late James M. “Sonny” Hair, Billy Hayes, Ryan Klaus and Mike Nau have been selected by the Sam Houston Lettermen's Association as the latest to join the Hall of Honor.
Membership in the Bearkat Hall of Honor stands at 156 after induction ceremonies for four men and six women last December. This year's Hall of Honor dinner will be held on Saturday, December 5.
Hair was an All-America and All-Lone Star Conference end for the Bearkats from 1938 to 1940. The Gatesville product helped lead Sam Houston to three consecutive conference runner-up finishes and an overall record of 24 victories and only six losses. He was a starter for the 1939 team that defeated the Rice Owls 9-8 in Houston. Hair was a decorated bomber pilot and was killed in World War II in 1943.
Hayes is the Bearkats all-time leader in kick scoring with 258 points in his four years. He played on Gulf Star Conference championship teams in both 1985 and 1986 and was the kicker for Sam Houston teams that produced a 28-17 record from 1985 to 1988. The LaPorte native earned All-America, All-Gulf Star Conference and All-Southland Conference honors. He was successful on 117 of 119 point after attempts and 47 of 71 field goals in his career. His 54-yard field goal against Northwestern State in 1987 is the longest in SHSU football history.
Klaus is Sam Houston State's all-time leading in punting with a 42.1 yard average on 255 punts. The Bellville product was the punter for the Bearkats from 1995 to 1998, earning All-Southland Conference honors each of those seasons. His 44.8 yard average on 71 punts as a senior in 1998 stands as the single season record for Sam Houston State. His 64-yard punt against Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996 is the third longest punt in Kat annals.
Nau, a right-handed pitcher from Milwaukee, WS, led the Bearkat baseball team to two NCAA Division II regional berths, Sam Houston's first NCAA Division I regional appearance and three Gulf Star Conference baseball championships. From 1985 to 1988, Nau compiled a 26-5 career won-loss record on the mound to rank fifth in all-time victories for Sam Houston. Nau pitched 228 innings, striking out 136 batters and compiling a 3.07 earned run average during his career.
The Sam Houston Lettermen's Association initiated its Hall of Honor in 1971
“The annual Hall of Honor dinner has become a highlight of our athletic year and we hope Bearkat fans will join in recognizing this outstanding group of former student-athletes who have brought glory and attention to our program through their accomplishments,” SHSU director of athletics Bobby Williams said.
The women's inductees for the 2009 Hall of Honor will be announced later this spring.
