Panola College Announces First Induction Class to the New Panola College Athletic Hall of Fame

Since 1948, Panola's success in athletic competition has been a great source of pride.   Excellence and good sportsmanship has become one of our proudest traditions.  Panola has produced outstanding athletes over the years, and countless alumni and friends have played a major role in the many successes of the athletic program.  On Saturday, January 26, 2002 Panola College will host the initial Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony to honor six of the most successful athletes and coaches that have graced the playing field and courts of Panola College.

 This year's distinguished list of inductees include baseball coach Bill Griffin, Fillies' basketball coach Mary Ann Ottwell, football player Wendell Swan, Pony basketball player Gregory Procell, Fillies' basketball player Rosie Walker Kellum, and Pony baseball player Doug Ault.  This truly elite list of inductees has set standards of play and coaching that have been equaled by few. 

 The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Banquet will be at noon on Saturday, January 26, 2002, in the Panola College Ballroom.  All friends and family of the inductees and Panola College are invited to attend.  Banquet tickets will be $25 in advance or $30 at the door.  For reservations and advance ticket sales call the Panola College ticket office at 903-693-2000.  For more information about the Panola College Athletic Hall of Fame call Panola College Athletic Director Don Clinton at 903-693-2062.

Inductee Biography 

Bill Griffin - Coached Baseball at Panola from 1956-1981, and Athletic Director for1966-1981.  He also coached Men Basketball for two seasons.

·        Panola Record - 637 wins/260 losses    Career Record - 1111 wins/446 losses

Ranks 4th in NJCAA in all-time wins

·        1969 NJCAA National Champions

·        1979 NJCAA Runner-up

·        1963 and 1970 NJCAA College World Series Participant

·        17 All-Americans at Panola College

·        19 Conference Championships

·        1969 NJCAA Coach of the Year

·        1976 Coach of the United States Baseball Team (which was the beginning of trying to get baseball as an Olympic sport)

·        19 times won "Coach of the Year" honors for the conference

·        Numerous players signed with Universities and played professional baseball

·        1983 Inductee to the NJCAA Hall of Fame

·        Member of the American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame

·        After Panola, He Coached at Panola he coached eleven years at Howard College and won several conference championships and the NJCAA National Championship in 1991.  The only coach in the history of the NJCAA to win two National Titles at two different schools. He retired from coaching in 1994 after coaching the 3 previous season and starting the program at Northeast Texas Community College

·        Coach Griffin is married to Melba LaGrone Griffin of Carthage and is now living in Mt.Pleasant, TX.

#81 Wendell Swan - Played football for the Ponies in 1948-1949.

·        1948 and 1949 All Texas Team

·        Member of the 1948 and 1949 Conference Champions

·        Selected to the 1949 Junior College All-Star Team

·        1948 and 1949 All-Conference

·        1949 NJCAA All-American

·        1949 led the conference in receiving yards

·        Member of the 1949 State Champions

·        Member of the 1949 Gas Bowl Champions

·        After Panola, Mr. Swan signed a scholarship to play football at North Texas State University.  At North Texas he was a two-time All-Conference selection and in 1951 was selected as Honorable Mention NCAA All-American.  In 1951 he ranked 3rd in the country in receiving.

He signed to play professionally with the Washington Redskins, however, an injury during spring training ended his football career.

 #31 Doug Ault - played baseball in 1969 and 1970 for the Ponies.

·        1969 Co-Most Valuable Player in the Conference

·        1969 and 1970 1st Team All-Conference

·        1969 and 1970 NJCAA All-American

·        Member of the 1969 and 1970 Conference Champions

·        Member of the 1969 and 1970 NJCAA Regional Champions

·        Member of the 1969 NJCAA National Champions

·        1969 Most Valuable Player of the NJCAA World Series

·        1970 Conference Most valuable Player

·        After Panola Doug Ault went on to star at Texas Tech University where he was drafted and signed to play professionally with the Toronto Blue Jays.  He was the starting first baseman for the Blue Jays in their first ever Major League game.  Plus, he hit homeruns in his first 2 at bats, which he is the only major leaguer to ever do so.  After playing professional for several years he coached several years in the minor leagues for several different teams.

Mary Ann Ottwell - coached Women's Basketball 1975-1978.

·        First women's basketball coach for the Panola program.

·        1975, 1976, 1978 Conference Champions

·        1975, 1976, 1978 Conference Coach of the Year

·        1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 Regional Champions

·        1975 5th Place at the NJCAA National Tournament

·        1976 3rd Place at the NJCAA National Tournament

·        1977 and 1978 NJCAA National Champions

·        1977 and 1978 NJCAA Coach of the Year

·        1977-78 President of The National Association of Women's Basketball Coaches

·        4 NJCAA All-Americans in 4 years

·        After Panola, Ms. Ottwell coached at Stephen F. Austin State University and LeTourneau University.  She is now Asst. Athletic Director at LeTourneau University

Rosie Walker Kellum - played women's basketball 1977-78.

·        1977 and 1978 1st Team All Conference

·        1977 and 1978 Most Valuable Player in the Conference

·        1977 and 1978 1st Team NJCAA All-American

·        Member of the 1977 Conference Champions

·        Member of the 1977 Regional Champions

·        Member of the 1977 and 1978 NJCAA National Champions

·        1978 NJCAA National Tournament Most Valuable Player

·        2000 Inductee into the National Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

·        2001 Inductee into the Stephen F. Austin State University Hall of Fame

·        Still holds a school and an NJCAA Record for scoring in one game with 60 points.

·        After Panola, Rosie was a 2 time NCAA All-American at Stephen F. Austin State University, was selected to the 1980 United States Olympic Team, and in 1981 was the Most Valuable Player in the old WBPL and led the Nebraska Wranglers to the Championship.  Rosie is now coaching basketball at Center, TX.

Gregory Procell - played men's basketball in 1971-72.

·        1971 and 1972 All Conference

·        1971 and 1972 All Region Team

·        1971 and 1972 1st Team selection to the Texas Sports Writers All Jr. College Basketball Team

·        1971 and 1972 NJCAA All American

·        1971 led the NJCAA in scoring

·        1971 led the conference in scoring average per game with 33.8 points

·        1972 3rd in NJCAA in scoring

·        Held the Panola College record in points in one game with 57 points from 1971-2001.  Record was broke this year by Panola's Omar Thomas with 70 points.

·        Mr. Procell still holds a Louisiana High School State Record with 100 points in one game.   He also holds National High School Records with 3442 points scored in one season and 6302 points scored in 4 years.

·        After Panola, He signed a scholarship to play for Northwestern State University where he was a two-time All Conference player.