Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame
Pizza Hut Park has opened the public nomination process for the next class of inductees to the Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame - a stretch of soccer history at Pizza Hut Park that recognizes members of the soccer community who have been instrumental in helping build the sport in Texas.
Nominations for this year’s candidates are opened until July 4. Honorees may include former players, coaches, administrators and other contributors to the sport. The official nomination form for the Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame can be found by clicking here.
After July 4, a Nomination Committee will review all 2007 nominees, together with finalists from 2005 and 2006, and narrow the list of candidates to five finalists.
Finally, a four-person Selection Committee will then vote to enshrine the two inductees for Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame, Class of 2007. The official enshrinement ceremony for the Class of 2007 will take place on Saturday, October 20, prior to FC Dallas’ final regular season home game against Kansas City Wizards.
NOMINEE CRITERIA
A coach, player, soccer administrator or other soccer contributor who has made extraordinary contributions to soccer in Texas which have significantly enhanced and grown the sport.
Eligibility
Male and female nominees will be considered. All eligible candidates will be considered whether living or deceased. No person on the Nominating or Selection Committees may be considered for Enshrinement.
1. Coach: A coach does not have to be retired to be eligible.
2. Player: A player must be fully retired for at least two years from professional soccer before being eligible for Enshrinement. He/She may then be considered for Enshrinement in the third year of retirement.
3. Contributors/Administrators: A person is eligible for Enshrinement as a contributor or administrator at any time for significant contributions to the game of soccer. What constitutes “significant contributions” shall be determined by the Nominating and/or Selection Committees.
The Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame is situated just north of the Pizza Hut Park stadium and runs directly through the center of the youth soccer fields located immediately south of Technology Drive. This stretch of soccer history spans approximately 1,400 linear feet. Various commemorative markers are located within this area, with plaques on each recognizing members of the soccer community who have been instrumental in helping build the sport in Texas. Formal nomination applications were accepted from the general public in April and May of 2005 via the internet, fax and mail. Thereafter, the Nomination Committee and then the Selection Committee reviewed and voted on all the nominees and selected the six inductees.
The 2005 inaugural class included:
Gordon Jago
Carla Overbeck
Bill Kinder
Kyle Rote, Jr.
Tatu
Lamar Hunt
The 2006 class included:
Ron Newman
Jeff Agoos
The 2007 class included:
Kenny Cooper Sr.
Schellas Hyndman
Additionally, four more markers were installed in 2005 recognizing key events in Texas soccer history. The historical monuments included the acknowledgment of the following events:
The 1987 Dallas Sidekicks MISL Championship
The 1997 Dallas Burn US Open Cup Championship
The August 6, 2005 Opening of Pizza Hut Park
The Tornado capture 1971 NASL Championship
This unique landmark is not only a tribute to those who have dedicated much of their lives to the sport of soccer, but is also a point of historic interest for all fans visiting the facility.