On January 31, 2026, St. Thomas welcomed a group of esteemed Eagle athletes into the school’s legendary Sports Hall of Fame. The banquet, well-attended by honorees, family, and friends, celebrated the inductees’ athletic excellence and Basilian character, both on and off the field. These alumni are representatives of the grit, strength, and sportsmanship that come from a life lived in goodness, discipline, and knowledge. Congratulations to the newest members of the Sports Hall of Fame. Eagle Fight Never Dies!

1968 St. Thomas Football

State Championship Team – Local Legends

Few teams in Houston high school football history embodied excellence like the 1968 St. Thomas Eagles. Coming off a narrow title-game loss the previous season, ‘68 squad returned determined and widely regarded as the team to beat in Texas Catholic Interscholastic League Class AAA. Under legendary head coach Joe McDonald, St. Thomas delivered on every expectation that season, finishing 11-1 and claiming the state championship with a 29-6 victory over Dallas Jesuit.

The 1968 team was built on experience and balance. With 27 returning lettermen from their 10–2 season the year before, the Eagles entered the season as the league’s top-ranked team. Defensive depth and physicality became the hallmark of the championship run, anchored by standout lineman-linebacker Gary Martin, one of the finest players in the state at that time. Martin earned All-American recognition, as did tackle-end Greg Hall, while quarterback-halfback Robert Murski continued his ascent as one of St. Thomas’ most versatile leaders.

Throughout the season, the Eagles showcased their dominance against elite competition, suffering only a single loss to a powerful Conroe squad. By the time the postseason arrived, St. Thomas was disciplined and battle-tested. In the state final, the Eagles overwhelmed Dallas Jesuit, reaffirming their place atop Catholic football. From 1964 through 1973, St. Thomas football captured eight state championships in a remarkable 10-year span.

The 1968 roster was rich with talent. Key contributors included linebacker Mark Yokubaites, tackle Mark Jankowski, backs Ricky Portugal and Andy Ferguson, guard Warren Layne, and defenders Bernard Licarione, Ricky Azios, and Ben Garza. Together, they formed a cohesive unit that reflected Coach McDonald’s fine-tuned, physical style of play.

The 1968 championship marked a defining chapter in one of the most dominant eras of St. Thomas football. More than a title, it represented the resilience and excellence that became synonymous with the school and secured the 1968 team’s lasting place in the St. Thomas Sports Hall of Fame.

Bill Dushane

Founder, St. Thomas Wrestling Program – National Wrestling Hall of Fame Coach

For more than four decades, Bill Dushane has dedicated his career to building champions on the wrestling mat, and in character and community. His legacy began at St. Thomas High School, where he founded the school’s wrestling program in 1985, laying the foundation for generations of Eagle wrestlers who would go on to uphold the school’s tradition of high-achieving athleticism.

After launching the program at St. Thomas, Dushane continued to grow the sport at the high school level across the country, coaching at Notre Dame Prep in Michigan before moving to Katy, Texas, to start yet another program from the ground up at Cinco Ranch High School, when it opened in 1999. Under his leadership, Cinco made history as the only Texas high school to claim both a boys’ wrestling state championship (2007) and a girls’ wrestling state championship (2016).  

Across his storied career, Dushane has earned more than 600 career wins as a head coach. His influence on Texas wrestling has been recognized statewide and nationally: he was inducted into the Texas High School Hall of Honor in 1998, received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award from the Texas Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006, and was elected to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1985.

Through every milestone, Coach Dushane has remained true to the values he championed at St. Thomas: hard work, discipline, and faith in the process. His legacy continues to inspire the next generation of wrestlers to strive for excellence, on and off the mat.

David Smith ’67

Three-Sport Athlete – State Champion – Faithful Servant Leader

A gifted multi-sport athlete and dedicated Man of St. Thomas, David Smith ’67 made his mark at St. Thomas High School through excellence, leadership, and perseverance.

In track and field, Smith was a four-year letterman, scoring points in the State Championship Meet in all four years. He learned new events nearly every season, placing fourth in the high jump as a freshman in 1964, adding the high hurdles by his sophomore and junior years, and anchoring the 4×400 relay team to a state championship victory in 1967. Smith regularly medaled at district and regional meets, finishing as the second overall point scorer in both the 1967 District and State Championships.

Smith also starred in football as a four-year starter at end, helping the Eagles to a combined 32–10–2 record, and served as the starting center in basketball, where he was known as “The Enforcer,” a tough and loyal teammate.

Smith earned a full football scholarship to the University of Texas at El Paso, where he was a starter on both the offensive and defensive lines.

Off the field, Smith lived a life of deep faith, service, and devotion to family. He raised four children, including Brad Smith ’03, a St. Thomas All-City athlete who went on to play at Texas Christian University and in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals, and Ike Smith, who earned full football scholarships to the University of Mississippi and Tyler College. David joins Brad this year in the St. Thomas Hall of Fame, a father-son duo representing the highest caliber of athletic achievement together. 

With his beloved wife of 38 years, Helen, David lived out a profound example of love and care. In her final years, he served as her constant caregiver and spiritual partner, embodying the very essence of faith in action. David Smith is a true Man of St. Thomas.

David Jones ’16

Four-Sport Athlete – TAPPS Male Athlete of the Year – Collegiate Player and High School Coach

David Jones ’16 was a four-sport standout during his time at St. Thomas, who embodied the school’s tradition of excellence both as a student-athlete, and later as a coach.

A four-year letterman in football, Jones earned First Team All-State and First Team All-District honors three consecutive years (2013–2015) and was named the Houston Touchdown Club Ironman of the Year in 2015 for his outstanding play on both sides of the football.

On the basketball court, Jones was equally dominant, earning First Team All-State and All-District honors in 2015 and 2016 and led the Eagles to the State Final Four during his senior year. He also contributed to St. Thomas athletics in track and field, where he earned All-District, All-Region, and All-State honors as part of the 4x100m and 4x200m relay teams, and in baseball, where he lettered his senior year.

For his all-around excellence, Jones was named the 2016 TAPPS Male Athlete of the Year, one of the highest individual honors in Texas private school athletics. He was the second St. Thomas athlete to ever receive this honor.

Jones continued his success at Cornell University, where he was a three-year letterman and earned All-Ivy League honors in every season, including Second Team All-Ivy in 2018 and 2019, and Honorable Mention All-Ivy recognition as both a defender and kick returner.

After graduation, Jones returned home to serve as a secondary coach for the St. Thomas football program (2020–2024), helping lead the Eagles to a TAPPS State Runner-Up finish in 2023.

From his days as a student-athlete to his time on the sidelines, David Jones has remained a shining example of St. Thomas goodness, discipline, and knowledge.

Hue Menzies ’82

All-District – All-State – State Champion (1981)

From the playing fields of St. Thomas High School to the international soccer stage, Hue Menzies ’82 has dedicated his life to leadership, development, and enacting the Basilian charism.

A standout defender and member of the 1981 state champion Eagles soccer team, Menzies learned and exhibited the values of perseverance, teamwork, and faith at St. Thomas that have since guided his career. After graduation, he played collegiately at Hardin–Simmons University, earning four varsity letters before playing professionally for the Orlando Lions and Houston Dynamos.

Menzies’ influence on the game deepened as a coach and mentor. He began his coaching career at Abilene High School, later joining the University of Texas women’s soccer program and working with the U.S. Olympic Development Program and the U.S. Women’s U-19 National Team. His passion for nurturing young talent led him to co-found two elite youth programs, Lonestar Soccer Club in Austin and Florida Kraze Krush near Orlando, where he has helped place more than 400 athletes in college programs.

In 2015, Menzies took on a groundbreaking role as head coach and technical director of the Jamaica Women’s National Team, partnering with Cedella Marley and the Bob Marley Foundation to rebuild the program. Under his leadership, the Reggae Girlz made history in 2018 as the first Caribbean nation ever to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, earning Menzies the CONCACAF Coach of the Year award. He later became the first Black head coach in the National Women’s Soccer League with New York/New Jersey Gotham FC and was inducted into the Black Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2024.

Through every chapter of his remarkable journey, Hue Menzies ’82 continues to represent St. Thomas with pride — living proof that the lessons learned on Eagle Field can reach all the way to the world stage.

Jeb Moseley ’85

Two-Time State Champion – All-State Football – UTEP Scholar-Athlete 

A cornerstone of St. Thomas football in the early 1980s, Jeb Moseley ’85 helped lead the Eagles to back-to-back TCIL State Championships in 1983 and 1984.

Moseley was a three-year varsity letterman and earned First Team All-State honors in 1983 and 1984. Known for his strength, versatility, and football intelligence, he played multiple positions on both sides of the ball, including defensive end, tackle, and even fullback, anchoring one of the most dominant defenses in Houston high school football. Off the football field, he excelled in track and field, setting school records in the shot put and discus that stood for years.

After graduating from St. Thomas, Moseley continued his athletic career at the University of Texas at El Paso on a Division I football scholarship, where he became a key starter at defensive tackle and nose guard. His standout performances during the 1987 and 1988 seasons, including a game-changing sack and forced fumble against San Diego State, helped UTEP earn bowl eligibility and drew attention from NFL scouts before a knee injury ended his playing career.

Moseley went on to earn his degree in Criminal Justice and Police Science in 1990 and began a distinguished career in federal law enforcement. Over the past three decades, he has served as a respected leader in the U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, where he now serves as Deputy Patrol Agent in Charge at the Weslaco Station.

Married to his wife Paula for 29 years and the proud father of three, Jeb Moseley ’85 continues to live out the St. Thomas ideals of goodness, discipline, and knowledge in his lifelong commitment to protecting and serving others.

John Carrigan ’74

Three-Time State Champion Quarterback – Head Football Coach – Athletic Director

John Carrigan’s faith, perseverance, and leadership have left an indelible mark on the school’s athletic history.

As a student-athlete, Carrigan embodied the very best of St. Thomas. A three-sport competitor in football, baseball, and track, he was a natural leader. As the Eagles’ quarterback and team captain, Carrigan guided St. Thomas to three consecutive state championships (1971, 1972, 1973), commanding the field with poise, discipline, and determination.

His achievements are made even more remarkable by his personal battle with cancer during high school. Diagnosed at age 16 with aggressive testicular cancer, and later, lymphoma, doctors doubted he would live to see 20. Through faith and courage, Carrigan not only survived but returned to lead his team to victory. His journey of resilience would become a steadfast inspiration to those around him.

Carrigan’s gratitude to MD Anderson Cancer Center, which helped save his life, inspired him to create the Cancer Bowl, an intramural football fundraiser that supported cancer research, while a student at Texas State University.

In 1978, Carrigan returned to St. Thomas to teach and coach. He went on to serve as Athletic Director from 1987–2006, expanding St. Thomas athletics to include soccer, lacrosse, rugby, and cheerleading, and successfully guiding the school’s transition from the TCIL to TAPPS. As Head Football Coach (1993–1999), he led the Eagles to a 1996 State Championship, defeating Dallas Jesuit 34–31.

Through every triumph and trial, John Carrigan ’74 has lived the Basilian charism, standing as a deeply respected and beloved figure in St. Thomas history.