Clarkson named to LSC Hall of Honor

Clarkson named to LSC Hall of Honor

Former Wildcat standout one of three chosen for LSC hall

Former ACU all-America basketball player Jennifer Clarkson leads the 2002 class, which also includes Sid Blanks, a pioneering football player for Texas A&I University; and Jo Kuhn, a former athletic director and softball coach at Texas Woman's University

A committee of athletic administrators chose from nominees submitted to the league office. Voters were asked to choose those who brought pride and honor to the conference through their contributions as an athlete, or who have demonstrated a long-term commitment to the betterment of the conference as a coach or administrator.

Clarkson -- now Clarkson-Frazier after her marriage to former ACU men's basketball player Justin Frazier -- was considered by many one of the toughest, most competitive players in the history of ACU's women's basketball program. She was the undisputed leader of the 1996 Wildcat team that finished third in the nation with a 31-2 record.

Clarkson finished her career as the second-leading scorer (2,463 points) and rebounder (1,144 rebounds) in school history while making more than 62% of her shots from the field. She is the fifth all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division II history, and she is one of only two ACU student-athletes to have their jersey retired (former NFL all-pro running back Wilbert Montgomery is the other). Her number 25 jersey was retired following her final regular-season home appearance in February 1996.

Clarkson, a 1996 ACU graduate, was twice selected as the NCAA Division II Player-of-the-Year (1994-95 and 1995-96) and was winner of the Honda Award given to the College Female Athlete of the Year in 1996. In addition, she was a four-time all-conference choice (1993-1996), two-time LSC MVP (1995 and 1996) and a GTE Academic all-America (1995-96).

She led the Wildcats in scoring in all four of her seasons, and led the club in rebounding her first three seasons. Her average of 20.9 points per game is third in ACU history, and her average of 9.7 rebounds per game is second in school history.

A four-time team MVP, Clarkson was a three-time team captain who led the Wildcats to a combined 93-27 mark, two conference titles and one South Central region championship. She also played a large role in ACU's 49-game home court winning streak that stretched from Jan. 23, 1995, through Nov. 28, 1998.

Clarkson is the fifth former Wildcat standout to be selected for the LSC Hall of Honor, joining Montgomery (elected in 1996); former world-record holder in the pole vault, Billy Olson (1997); three-time all-America women's basketball player, Claudia Schleyer (1997); and former head football coach and director of athletics, Wally Bullington (1999).

Clarkson coached most recently at Richardson Lake Highlands High School before retiring to raise a family with her husband in McKinney.

Blanks became the first black football player in the LSC and the first at an integrated college in Texas when he played at Texas A&I in 1960.

Selected as a team caption as a senior, Blanks led the Javelinas in rushing and scoring during 1960, 1961 and 1963. He set several conference and school records, finishing with 2,044 rushing yards and 186 points. He was twice named to all-America teams and was a a first-team all-conference back three straight seasons.

Blanks played professionally for the Houston Oilers, Boston Patriots and Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Javelina Sports Hall of Fame in 1981. Blanks is now a successful businessman in the Houston area where he resides.

Kuhn established herself as an ardent promoter and devoted supporter of women's athletics in her 30 years as a coach, administrator and teacher.

Kuhn was appointed TWU's director of athletics in 1982 after helping coach the school's softball team to the 1979 AIAW World Series national title.

Kuhn took over a program that has been reduced to a marginal, no-scholarship program with virtually no financial or university support. She succeeded in lobbying for and gaining admission into the Lone Star Conference. In 1988, TWU was admitted by a unanimous vote, making it the only women's institution in a co-educational athletic conference at that time.

Kuhn, who resigned as director of athletics in 1992 so that she could return to teaching, has been instrumental in the development of the Pioneer Scholarship Campaign which has raised more than $900,000 in athletic scholarships for TWU student-athletes since 1984.