The Lamar University Cardinal Hall of Honor, which annually recognizes former student-athletes, coaches and administrators for outstanding contribution to the university through athletics, will induct six new members representing six sports at its annual induction banquet Saturday, February 2, 2008 at the University Reception Center on the Eighth Floor of the Mary and John Gray Library.
There will be a reception at 12 p.m. and the banquet program will start at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $25 and may be purchased at the banquet. Please make reservations by calling the Athletic Development Office at (409) 880-2319.
The 2007 induction class includes Luis Baraldi (Men’s Tennis, 1970-73); Tony Mack (Baseball, 1980-82); Maureen Madill (Women’s Golf, 1976-78); John Riegger (Men’s Golf, 1982-85); Jimmy Singletary (Men’s Golf, 1967-70); and Susan Smith (Women’s Basketball, 1969-73 & Softball, 1972).
Luis Baraldi (Men’s Tennis, 1970-73) – Baraldi was a four-year letterwinner on the men’s tennis team and helped the Cardinals win the 1973 Southland Conference Championship. He played No. 1 singles for all four years and posted a 45-20 career record. As a senior, Baraldi posted a 13-5 record, including a 7-4 mark in SLC play that culminated with the 1973 SLC singles championship. A native of Mexico City, Mexico, Baraldi was the Mexican Junior Champion in 1969. Baraldi is the CEO of Baral Group, Inc., which is a full service sports and entertainment company operating in Mexico and the United States. As a corporate video company, Baral produces television, video, web content, CD-Rom and DVD projects from clients in the U.S. and Latin America.
Tony Mack (Baseball, 1980-82) – Mack was a two-year letterwinner on the baseball team and helped Lamar win the 1981 Southland Conference Championship and advance to the NCAA Central Regional in Austin. The Cardinals set a school record with 54 wins that season. Mack posted an 8-4 record in 1981 with a team-best 2.39 earned run average. He tossed two shutouts including a 1-0 blanking of Texas-Arlington that clinched the SLC championship. He was named first-team All-SLC and received the Ted Lyons Award as the SLC’s top pitcher. He represented Lamar in the summer of 1981 on the U.S. All-Star team that toured Japan and Korea. A native of Lexington, Ky., Mack was even better in 1982, posting a 10-1 record with a sparkling 1.89 ERA. He tossed a one-hitter against defending NCAA champion Arizona State and tossed a no-hitter against McNeese State. He earned first-team all-SLC honors and won the Ted Lyons Award for a second straight year. He posted a career record of 18-5 with a 2.15 ERA. He ranks second all-time in school history in career winning percentage (.783) and third in ERA (2.15). Mack was drafted in the third round, 62nd overall, in the 1982 Major League Baseball Draft by the California Angels. He made it all the way to the big leagues with the Angels during the 1985 season.
Maureen Madill (Women’s Golf, 1976-78) – Madill was a two-year letterwinner for the Lady Cardinals golf team, helping Lamar win the Texas AIAW state championship in 1977 and 1978. Lamar went on to compete at the National AIAW championship in 1977 and 1978 where it finished 14th and 18th, respectively. A native of Great Britain, Madill enjoyed a stellar amateur career. She was the British Amateur Champion in 1979 and the British Amateur Stroke-Play Champion in 1980. She was a member of several British and Irish International Teams – Vagliano Trophy Team (1979, 1981, 1985), Curtis Cup (1980), Espirito Santo Team (1980) and Commonwealth Team (1979). Madill turned professional in 1986 and played mostly on the European Tour through 1998. She finished 12th on the European Order of Merit in 1989. Madill turned to coaching following her playing career and coached the Welsh National team from 1994-2001. She was also the Great Britain & Ireland National coach from 1998-02 and was captain of the 2002 Curtis Cup team. She is currently a golf commentator with BBC television and radio.
John Riegger (Men’s Golf, 1982-85) – Riegger was a four-year letterwinner on the Cardinals golf team, helping Lamar win Southland Conference Championships in 1982, 1983 and 1985. He also helped the Cardinals advance to the 1983 and 1985 NCAA Championships. A two-time All-SLC performer, Riegger was the 1985 SLC individual medalist. He posted a 54-hole score of 68-65-69—202, which still ranks as the conference’s lowest medalist score for 54 holes. His second round score of 65 still ranks as the second-best single-round score in league history. A native of Metropolis, Ill., Riegger helped Lamar tie for 18th place at the 1985 NCAA Championship in Haines City, Fla., by tying for 12th place. He earned honorable mention PING All-America honors. Riegger has enjoyed a successful career as a professional golfer. He won the LaSalle Bank Open on the Nationwide Tour and posted two other top 10 finishes during the 2007 season to rank among the top 15 on the money list. His best finish on the PGA Tour thus far was a tie for fifth at the 2006 John Deere Classic. He won two international tournaments, the 1997 Colombian Open and the 1988 Milan Open.
Jimmy Singletary (Men’s Golf, 1967-70) – Singletary was a four-year letterwinner on the Cardinals golf team and helped Lamar win four straight Southland Conference Championships (1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970). He also helped Lamar win back-to-back NCAA College Division National Championships in 1967 and 1968. Individually, he placed eighth at the 1968 NCAA College Division Championship, which was hosted by Lamar at Tyrrell Park. A Beaumont native, Singletary was the 1969 SLC individual medalist. Singletary remained in Beaumont and enjoyed a distinguished career with the Beaumont Police Department. Upon retiring after 30 years of service, Singletary joined the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office where he attained the rank of major and supervises the Narcotics Unit and the SWAT Team.
Susan Smith (Women’s Basketball, 1969-73 & Softball, 1972) – Smith lettered in both women’s basketball and softball teams during her four years at Lamar. She was a double-figure scorer on the Lady Cardinals basketball team that posted a 22-7 record in 1972-73. She helped the softball team finish second at the Texas AIAW state tournament in 1972. A native of High Island, Smith helped High Island HS win back-to-back state titles in 1968 and 1969. She earned all-state honors in 1967, 1968 and 1969. Smith was a member of the Hubbard Electric AAU team from 1974-83, where she helped the team win six straight state championships and finished third at the National AAU tournament in 1982. Smith enjoyed a highly successful prep basketball coaching career at Westfield HS. She was named district coach of the year nine times, Greater Houston coach of the year in 2001 and Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) coach of the year in 2004. Smith guided Westfield to the Class 5A state title in 2004. She compiled a 578-203 varsity record at Westfield and led her team to 11 district championships and post-season play in 19 of 24 seasons. Smith guided Westfield to four regional finals, including three regional championships, and three state semifinal appearances.
