UW names 2009 Hall of Fame class

Two outstanding football players, an eight-time conference champion in track and field, an exceptional two-sport athlete, the 1961 National Champion rodeo team, a star basketball point guard and two accomplished individuals who have meant a great deal to Wyoming athletics comprise the latest class of the University of Wyoming Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame, Selection Committee Chairman Ken Cook announced on Saturday.

The dinner and induction ceremony for the Hall of Fame's 17th class will be held on Sept. 4 at the UW Convention Center Hilton Garden Inn.

The inductees are Jesseca Cross (basketball and track, 1994-98), Sean Fleming (football, 1988-91), Quincy Howe (track, 1999-2002), Gene Huey (football, 1966-68), Mike Jackson (basketball, 1980-83), Al Simpson and Pete Simpson (special achievement) and the 1961 National Champion Rodeo Team.

"As is the case every year, we are extremely proud of this class," Cook said. "This group certainly left its mark on the University and the state of Wyoming. We are looking forward to the banquet in September."

A total of 103 individuals and nine teams have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception in 1993. It's plaque display is located on the second floor of the Rochelle Athletics Center.

The Hall of Fame Committee met in January to make its final selections for this year's class. The inductees must fit into one of five categories: student-athlete, coach, team, athletics staff members or special achievement. Special achievement includes individuals who have contributed to the ideal of sports at the University. Each nominee must receive at least 75 percent of the committee's vote to be eligible for induction.

Members of the committee are Cook (chairman), Ron Flack, Stig Hallingbye, Dave Madia, Margie McDonald, Kevin McKinney, Molly Moore, Brian Morgen, Lisa Skiles Parady, Bruce Pivic, Mike Schutte and Dave Walsh.
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Jesseca Cross
Hometown: Powell
Wyoming Sport: Basketball, Track & Field
Years: 1993-98
A multi-talented athlete, Cross starred in basketball for the Cowgirls from 1993-97. As a four-year letterwinner, Cross was first team all-conference in 1995-96 and second team all-conference in 1996-97. She was a three-time academic all-WAC selection and a three-time WAC Scholar-Athlete, and was honored as Wyoming's NCAA Woman of the Year in 1996-97. A terrific all-around player, Cross is still listed in the Wyoming record books as 14th all-time in scoring, 11th in assists, 11th in rebounds, 18th in steals, and 7th in three-point field goals made. Following her basketball playing days, Cross embarked on a stellar career as a thrower for UW's track and field team. She earned All-America honors three times, once in the indoor 20 lb. weight throw (1996), and in the indoor and outdoor shotput (1998). She still holds the UW records in the indoor and outdoor shot put, while ranking 3rd in the discus, 6th in the hammer throw, and 8th in the indoor 20 lb. weight throw. In 1998, Cross was honored as a National Strength & Conditioning All-American. Cross competed in the 2000 Olympic Games in both the shot put and the hammer, becoming the first female athlete ever to compete in both of those events at the same Games.

Sean Fleming
Hometown: Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Sport: Football
Years: 1988-91
The greatest scorer in UW football history, Fleming holds virtually every UW place-kicking record. During his four-year career, Fleming scored a total of 324 points, including 153 extra points and 57 field goals. He also set the single-season scoring record for a kicker with 110 points (17 field goals, 59 extra points) in 1988, as well as the single-game scoring record with 20 points (six field goals and two extra points vs. Arkansas State in 1990). Fleming is also Wyoming's career leader in field goals made (57) and extra points made (153), as well as the record for consecutive extra points made in a season with 59 straight in 1988. Fleming led the team in scoring in 1988, 1989, and 1990. Also the team's punter from 1989-91, Fleming averaged 42.3 yards per punt in 1989, 39.3 yards per punt in 1990, and 39.7 yards per punt in 1991. He holds the UW record for longest punt with a 90 yard boot against Louisville in 1990. In just his fourth collegiate game, Fleming kicked the game-tying and game-winning field goals in a 48-45 comeback victory over Air Force in Colorado Springs in 1988. Wyoming won one conference championship and went to two bowl games during Fleming's career. After leaving UW, Fleming had a stellar career in the Canadian Football League playing sixteen seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos. He was a four-time CFL West Division All-Star, two-time CFL All-Star, and three-time Eskimos nominee for Most Outstanding Canadian. He played in five Grey Cup championships, winning three, and was named the 81st Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian. Also the Eskimos' all-time leading scorer, Fleming holds virtually every Edmonton place-kicking and punting record as well.

Quincy Hayden Howe
Hometown: Parrylands, Guapo, Trinidad
Sport: Track & Field
Years: 1998-2002
A native of Trinidad and Tobago, Howe came to Wyoming in 1998 and proceeded to rewrite the record books. A two-time NCAA All-American in the triple jump, Howe also was an eight-time conference champion in that event -- winning all eight conference championships in which he competed. He still holds the UW and Mountain West Conference records in both the indoor and outdoor triple jump with marks of 54' 9 14" and 54' 4 3/4". In 2002, he competed in the NACAC Games placing third and in the Commonwealth Games placing ninth, representing his native country of Trinidad and Tobago. He was also a Pan-Am Games team selection in 2003, and was named to the prestigious MWC 10th Anniversary Indoor Track & Field Team in the fall of 2008. Howe received his bachelor's degree in bioelectrical engineering from UW in 2003 and is pursuing a master's degree in biomechanics. Howe is currently in his 6th year as an assistant track coach at Wyoming.

Gene Huey
Hometown: Uniontown, Penn.
Sport: Football
Years: 1966-68
Huey starred as a split end and defensive back during the 1966, 1967 and 1968 seasons, setting a number of records and leading the Cowboys to a pair of bowl appearances. Huey, who captained the Cowboys in 1968, played on three Western Athletic Conference championship teams. In 1966, the Pokes finished 10-1 with a 28-20 victory over Florida State in the Sun Bowl. In 1967, the Cowboys finished their regular season 10-0 amd took heavily-favored Louisiana State to the limit before falling 20-13 in the Sugar Bowl. And, in 1968, Huey led Wyoming to a 7-3 mark and its third straight WAC title. Along the way, Huey set 13 UW pass receiving records. Huey is still tied for fifth all-time in UW career touchdown receptions with fourteen. In 1967, he finished 14th in the nation in receiving with 53 receptions for 868 yards and five touchdowns. In 1968, he had 43 receptions for 626 yards and nine touchdowns, while also recording 25 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups on defense, and earned "Lineman of the Week" honors in Sports Illustrated for his outstanding play in the Cowboys' 48-3 win over Utah State. Huey led the team in receptions and receiving yards in 1967 and 1968. Huey went on to play in the All-American Bowl and the East-West Shrine Game and played two seasons in the NFL with the St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings, and San Diego Chargers. Huey earned his bachelor's degree in physical education at UW in 1971. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for his alma mater in 1972, and coached at New Mexico, Nebraska, Arizona State, and Ohio State before joining the Indianapolis Colts in 1992 as running backs coach.

Mike Jackson
Hometown: Aurora, Colo.
Sport: Basketball
Years: 1980-83
An outstanding all-around player, Jackson started at point guard for the Cowboys as a freshman. He led the team in assists in 1981, 1982 and 1983, and was named second-team all-conference in 1982 and first-team all-conference in 1983. With Jackson running the point and playing outstanding defense, the Cowboys won 80 games, two conference championships, and twice went to the NCAA Tournament. He was elected team tri-captain and voted team MVP for the 1982-83 season. Jackson is 5th all-time in career assists, holds the second-best assist average for a season with 5.2 in 1982-83, and has the second-best mark for assists in a game with 14 against Colorado in 1982. Although a knee injury suffered with five games remaining in his senior year cut short his Cowboy career, he was still drafted by the Kansas City Kings in the fourth round of the 1983 NBA Draft.

Senator Alan K. Simpson
Hometown: Cody,
Special Achievement
Al Simpson lettered in football and basketball at the University of Wyoming in 1952 and 1953. Upon his graduation in 1954, he served in the U. S. Army for two years. He returned to UW in 1956 and earned his law degree in 1958. He practiced law in Cody for eighteen years and was very active in local and state politics. He was elected to the Wyoming House of Representatives in 1964 and served for 13 years. In 1978, Simpson was elected to the U. S. Senate and served three terms, including 10 years as Assistant Majority Leader. After retiring from the Senate, Simpson was a visiting lecturer and Director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government for two years. He then returned to the University of Wyoming as a visiting lecturer in the Political Science department. Simpson remains a partner in a law firm in Cody and continues to serve on numerous corporate and non-profit boards and travels the country giving speeches on a variety of subjects. His book, Right in the Old Gazoo: A Lifetime of Scrapping with the Press, chronicles his personal experiences and views of the Fourth Estate. He continues to be a vocal and passionate supporter of the University of Wyoming and its athletics department, including serving as emcee at several of the Hall of Fame banquets.

Peter K. Simpson
Hometown: Cody
Special Achievement
Peter Simpson lettered in basketball and earned his bachelor's degree in history at UW in 1953. Since then he has been a tireless contributor to the University of Wyoming. After serving four years in the U. S. Navy and several years in private business, Simpson returned to UW for his master's degree in History. He then moved to the University of Oregon to earn his Ph.D., also in History. In the early 1970s, Simpson returned to Wyoming and began a career as an administrator. He served as an assistant to the President at Casper College, then became Dean of Instruction at Sheridan College. While in Sheridan, he was elected to and served two terms in the State Legislature. In 1984, Simpson became UW Vice President for Development and Executive Director of the UW Foundation. He resigned from that post to run for Governor in 1986, and returned to UW as vice president for development and alumni affairs and later vice president for institutional advancement. After retiring in 1997, Simpson taught at UW as an adjunct professor of history and was the Milward Simpson Distinguished Visiting Professor in 1999 and 2000. An energetic and highly visible supporter of UW Athletics, Simpson has served as an emcee at several of the Hall of Fame banquets.

1961 National Champion Rodeo Team
Team Members: Leon Cook, Jerry Kaufman, Jim Moore, Frank Shepperson, Al Smith and Fred Wilson.
The only national champion men's rodeo team in UW history, the 1961 Cowboys were all Wyoming natives. In the regional championships, Moore finished fifth in bareback riding, Wilson was first in bareback riding and second in saddle bronc riding, Shepperson was fifth in saddle bronc riding, Kaufmann was third in ribbon roping, Smith finished sixth in ribbon roping Cook was fourth in steer wrestling and fourth in saddle bronc riding. As a team, the Cowboys ranked in the top two at the Regional Championships and earned a slot in the 1961 College National Finals Rodeo. At the CNFR in Sacramento, Calif., Moore finished third in bareback riding, Wilson was fourth in saddle bronc riding, Shepperson competed in five events, Smith was second in calf roping and fourth in ribbon roping, and Cook placed in the steer wrestling, earning enough points to give Wyoming the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) team title. Wilson went on to win the NIRA bareback riding championship in 1962, and Shepperson won the NIRA steer wrestling championship in 1964. All except for Cook went on to rodeo professionally. Shepperson won the PRCA World Champion Steer Wrestler in 1975. Kaufman won the Cheyenne Frontier Days steer roping championship in 1971. Moore served as the PRCA Steer Roping Director in 1977-78. All the members of the team still live in Wyoming at least part of the year, and all have been leaders in the Wyoming ranching and livestock industry.