Snyder, TX - Western Texas College will be hosting a reunion celebration of the 1980 Men's Basketball NJCAA Championship on September 28th at the WTC Coliseum.
After 44 years, the 1980 Westerners men's basketball program will be receiving their much deserved recognition of their National Championship victory. A steak reunion dinner event will be held on Saturday, September 28th at the WTC Coliseum with tickets available to the public. "A Night with Nolan" will be bringing back every living member from the team including Head Coach Nolan Richardson. Richardson will be the keynote speaker at the reunion event to speak about his incredible basketball career.
Richardson began his basketball journey at Eastern Arizona Junior College where he played in the 1959-60 season. Born in El Paso, he spent most of early playing and coaching years in west Texas. In 1961, he competed for Texas Western, now known as University of Texas El Paso. Just four years after graduation, he joined Bowie High School in Texas for his first head coaching opportunity. He remained at the high school for a decade before coaching at the collegiate level. Ahead of the 1977 season, Head Coach Richardson took charge of the Western Texas College Men's Basketball program. In just three years, he posted a record of 101-13 and led the Westerners to the mountaintop. In the 1980 season, Richardson led the Westerners to a perfect 37-0 record and a title win in the National Junior College Championship. The Westerners defeated Jefferson State from Alabama 85-72 for the program's second national title.
The reunion will also welcome back Paul Pressey who helped the Westerners earn the 1980 National Championship for the program and went on to have a very successful professional career. His contributions in the 1980 National Junior College Championship title earned him the NJCAA National Tournament MVP award. The small forward finished his collegiate career at Tulsa where his number 25 would be retired. Pressey was selected in the First Round of the 1982 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks where he would earn NBA All-Defensive First team in back-to-back seasons, 1985-86. In 1986, he participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest and finished sixth. He continued his time with the San Antonio Spurs and concluded his 11-year playing career with the Golden State Warriors in the 1993 season. Pressey would go on to become an assistant coach for seven separate NBA teams throughout 24 years. Reunited with the San Antonio Spurs as an assistant coach, he would win the 1999 NBA Championship.
The rest of the 1980 squad will also be there to receive their championship rings and awards. Greg Stewart, Lionel Nichols and Phil Spradling have passed away but will be represented by family members. The nine members from the championship team attending will include:
Freddie Davis - Highland Park, MI
Bill Patterson - Harrisburg, PA
Oscar Alvarado - El Paso, TX
Joey Rosales - El Paso, TX
Franklin Bennet - Richmond, VA
Dwain Vantress - New Orleans, LA
David Brown - El Paso, TX
Paul Pressey - Richmond, VA
Jim Price - Gretna, LA
Four members from previous Westerners teams coached by Richardson will also be in attendance and recognized. This includes Dwight Williams from El Paso, Texas who competed on the 1978-79 team. Melvin Patridge and Joey Mendoza who also originate from El Paso and were members of the 1978-79 teams. As well as Adam Beadle who played on the 1977-78 team from Las Cruces, NM.
Western Texas College Athletics and Men's Basketball is incredibly excited to celebrate the 1980 National Championship. The men's basketball program is honored that Pressey and Coach Richardson accepted the invitation and will speak at the event. These basketball legends left an incredible impact and legacy on Western Texas College Athletics. To attend the event, purchase your tickets here: bit.ly/1980ReunionWTC.