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The Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony was held Friday, April 21, 2006, as part of Homecoming weekend. Click here for photos.
2006 Texas Woman’s University Athletics Hall of Fame DVD Order Form
Paulette Burrhus
Burrhus was an outstanding student-athlete in seven different sports at TWU. For her achievements in track & field, swimming, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, badminton and softball, she received the All-Around Athlete Award in 1969.
She was a member of TWU’s first Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) National Championship track & field team in 1969. Burrhus didn’t participate in track in high school but competed in numerous events at TWU. She battled in the hurdles, high jump, long jump, relays (4x100, 4x400, 4x200-meter and medley), javelin, 400-meters and 200-meters. As a captain, she medaled in all the events.
“I loved being part of the 1969 National Championship team. It was a team effort,” Burrhus said. “I didn’t run track in high school so competing for Dr. (Bert) Lyle was all new to me.”
Burrhus also co-captained the basketball team at TWU through the evolution of the game from half-court to rover to five-player. After winning a high school state championship in half-court, Burrhus was the rover and able to play offense and defense at TWU. Her former basketball coach, Jo Kuhn, said, “Paulette was the most gifted natural athlete I ever coached.”
Burrhus earned a bachelor’s degree in health, physical education and recreation in 1969. She completed her master’s degree at TWU in 1974 in physical education with an emphasis in exercise physiology.
After teaching and coaching throughout her career, Burrhus changed gears in 2000. She earned her computer literacy certificate and was named the director of technology in the Vidor Independent School District. She retired in 2003 and resides in Beaumont, Texas.
Sylvia Longoria Rodriguez
Rodriguez was a member of the track & field and cross country teams from 1968-72. She specialized in the 400-meter run and was a part of two AIAW National Championship teams in 1969 and 1971.
A four-time AIAW champion in the 400-meters, she also captured the district and regional championships all four years. She also ran the 4X100, 4x400-meter and medley relays. Rodriguez was named co-captain in 1971 and 1972.
“I am very excited and happy to be selected to the Hall of Fame. I really treasure this honor,” Rodriguez said. “TWU was one of best times of my life and Coach Lyle made it so.”
After earning her bachelor’s degree is in health, physical education and recreation, Rodriguez worked as a legal secretary. In 1974, she began teaching English at Hannah High School. After stints at Pace and Porter High Schools, Rodriguez currently resides in Brownsville, Texas. She teaches Spanish and coaches cross country, softball and track at Lopez High School.
Rodriguez is also active in officiating and the Brownsville summer recreation program, city track and TAAF district and state meets. She officiates and does clinic instruction for the Brownsville Independent School District and University Interscholastic League.
Catherine Sellers
Sellers competed in track & field, cross country and softball at TWU. She ran the anchor leg of the 4x400-meter relay on the 1973 AIAW National Championship team.
An outfielder and pinch runner, she was one of the original Pioneer softball players on TWU’s first team in 1971.
A two-time All-American in track, she also earned academic honors including Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, Mortar Board, Phi Alpha Theta (history honor) and Dean’s Honor Roll.
“This is an amazing class to go in with. I have had wonderful relationships will all these women,” Sellers said. “They have all touched my life in a positive manner.”
After graduation with a degree in health, physical education and recreation, Sellers received her master’s degree in education from the University of Houston. She has been involved with track & field since 1975. After coaching in the Pasadena Independent School District, she was named head coach of cross country and track & field at Stephen F. Austin State University. Sellers then took an assistant coach position at Ohio State University.
In 2005, she was named manager of development programs at USA Track & Field National Headquarters. Currently, she is the manager of coaching for the United States Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Sandra Souza
Souza was selected as the top 400-meter hurdler in college and also ran the 4x400-meter relay during her career at TWU. She anchored the sprint relays to many thrilling victories.
After being injured in 1976, she was selected to participate in the Pacific Games in 1977 for the United States team. Souza was presented the first President’s Award as TWU’s most outstanding student-athlete in 1978. She also earned the Women’s College Track & Field magazine award for the Most Fit Athlete in Track Events.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.
“I would say that Sandra was born to run. That was the most important thing in her life,” Winifred Souza, her mother, said. “It’s been 25 years since we lost Sandra. I know that Dr. Lyle loved her very much. She was a very positive person and a daughter and student that any parent or school would be proud to have.”
Souza served as an assistant to the athletic director at TWU after graduation. She is a posthumous inductee into the TWU Athletics Hall of Fame. She passed away on November 18, 1981. She is survived by her mother, two brothers, Joel and Steven, and a sister, Jean.
Dr. Ruth “Betsy” Tandy
Dr. Tandy has served TWU in many capacities and is a longtime supporter of Pioneer Athletics. From 1968-71, she coached the TWU tennis and bowling teams. Dr. Tandy was also the supervisor for student teachers in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department until 1980. She continued at TWU as the chair of Health Education until 1984. Dr. Tandy then started teaching in the health department until her retirement in 1995. In her time at TWU, she served on numerous University, interdepartmental and departmental committees.
Dr. Tandy began her career at Bridgewater College in Virginia after earning her bachelor’s degree from Kentucky in 1949, and her master’s degree from Indiana in 1950. At Bridgewater, she led the tennis, field hockey and basketball teams.
She earned her doctorate from Ohio State University in 1966. She stayed in Columbus, Ohio, to teach physical education before arriving in the Lone Star State.
“I officiated for many years. After playing half-court with just one bounce the game moved to no contact. Eventually physical contact was allowed,” Dr. Tandy said.
Dr. Tandy was also active in officiating. In addition to calling the games, she was an assignor and a coordinator. She coordinated officials for all sports at TWU in the ‘70s and for the state tournament in 1972. She was also on the national rules committee for basketball. During her tenure, more physical play was allowed in the game.
The TWU Athletics Hall of Fame is especially dear to Dr. Tandy. In the fall of 1992, she co-founded the hall with the establishment of the Hall of Fame Endowed Fund that underwrites and supports the program. She has also served on the Hall of Fame Committee.
Dr. Tandy currently resides in Denton.
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