| School: Benson | Graduation Year: 1988 |
Year Inducted: 2022
Sports Played: Basketball, Track and Field
High School Honors: 3 Basketball letters.
4 Track & Field letters. As a Sophomore, PIL Champion in 400m, 2nd in 200m and 4x100m relay; State Championship 4x100m relay. (First State girls’ title in any sport for Benson). As a Junior, PIL Championship in 4x100m and 4x400m relays. As a Senior, PIL Championship in the 4x400m relay and 2nd in State 4x400m relay.
Post High School Career
Post High School Career: University of Oregon, 1 year of Track. Trade school to become a licensed cosmetologist. Owned and operated several shops in clothing, hair salons, tattoos. Presently owner/operator of Hair Ballers and soon to open a black beauty supply network in the San Diego area.
Commentary:
My career in track started in my neighborhood, running barefooted against everyone and dusting them.): I suppose that’s how I realized my gift and love for track. I was honored to run against seniors & make varsity my freshman year and keep up with them. High School track was amazing and extremely fun, though I realized after high school how fun it was. My 1,2 buddy was Crystal Hanson, we came in next to each other all the time, and our relay was just about untouchable.
Mr. Gamble and Leon McKenzie, as well as Mr. Curtis, were very instrumental in my career. I know how I could have applied myself more than I did and was on just pure natural ability and just getting by on bare minimum. But we live & learn. After University of Oregon, I went on to Beauty School and have owned and operated a chain of Salons, clothing stores and a tattoo store.
Entrepreneurship is my thing now, though I did do hair in high school. I currently have a Salon & Beauty supply store & independent living facilities. My oldest daughter took after me and went on a full ride scholarship in track & field as well. And my oldest son went on and graduated and played football at Stanford. My youngest son just committed to Kansas. I have six children and half were athletic and half chose different paths. I am a grand-mother with three grand-children and my oldest grandson is a football player. Track and field is still my sport & I enjoy watching sprints during the Olympics. My mom and dad were also track stars at a young age, I guess I got it from them, honestly.