Six Sul Ross State University graduates and three boosters and friends will be inducted into the Hall of Honor for Distinguished Alumni and Athletes during a ceremony on Saturday, March 25.
The ceremony will be held at the Espino Conference Center in the Morgan University Center on the campus in Alpine.
The evening will begin with a reception, which will be followed by dinner and the program.
Only 200 tickets for the Hollywood-themed event are available. Adults are $75 each; children under 12 are $50 each; a Gold Event Sponsor (four seats at the same table) is $1,000; and a Platinum Event Sponsor table (eight seats at the same table) is $2,500.
Visit www.sulross.edu/alumni/lobo-night/ for more information and to buy tickets.
ALUMNI INDUCTEES
Jerry A. Carvajal, Distinguished Alumni: Jerry A. Carvajal attended Sul Ross State University from 1973-1979 and received a B.S. in History and an M.A. in Political Science with an emphasis on Public Administration. He worked for the City of Alpine from 1979-1989 as the Director of Community Development and later the Assistant City Manager then as the City Manager from 1990-1997.
As the Director of Community Development, he prepared and administered over 15 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Non-Entitlement Grants and Texas Community Development Block Grants for housing rehabilitation, new housing construction, downtown revitalization, new city parks, existing park expansions and necessary improvements to water, sewer and street infrastructure.
Since 1997, Carvajal has worked as the Director of West Texas Services and Senior Project Manager for GrantWorks, Inc., based in Austin.
He was born in Del Rio and is married to Webbie Carvajal, who is the Finance Director for the Family Crisis Center of the Big Bend. They have two daughters, Rachel and Caitlin, and two grandchildren, Hayden and Diego.
Ernest Jones, Young Alumnus: Earnest Jones was born in New Orleans on June 15, 1990, the oldest of three children. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and he was separated from his family. A helicopter rescued and landed him at the Superdome. A week later, he was evacuated by a Greyhound bus from the Superdome and taken to an air force base in Oklahoma. Two days letter, he hitched a ride to Baton Rouge and stayed at a church shelter for a month. The youth pastor showed him a picture of his mother on the computer, who was located at Kelly Air Force Based in San Antonio. He was soon reunited with his mom, dad, brother and sister. In 2006, he attended Boerne High School and played football, earning a spot on the varsity team as a sophomore. He was in the first class to attend Samuel V. Champion High School and the first player to score touchdown for the school.
Despite the odds as a foster child, Jones graduated from Sul Ross State University in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies, the first in his family to achieve this accomplishment. During his time as an undergraduate, he was the Freshman Athlete of the Year and was crowned Homecoming King as a sophomore. He was involved with many organizations and took on leadership roles.
Jones became the President of the Black Student Association, a member of Student Support Services, an Upward Bound mentor and a resident assistant. He was the Student of the Year in Communication Studies, Man of the Year, and awarded the Ronald E. McNair Scholarship Award two years in a row, and received Top Poster Presentation awards back to back at the National Communication Conference at the University of California Berkeley.
In 2017, he graduated from SRSU with a master’s degree in Business Administration. He met his wife, Laura, while they were undergraduates together, and they have three sons, Easton (6), Ellis (4) and Evander who is 16 months.
Jones worked for over nine years in healthcare sales, including pharmaceutical and medical devices. Currently, he is an Immunoglobulin Care Specialist with Optum Infusion Pharmacy. He assists specialized physicians who prescribe immunoglobulin treatment to patients who are immunocompromised in the South Texas area by offering services to give patients access to their much-needed medications. He recently completed the Management Development Program.
In January 2021, he was appointed to the board of directors for Roy Mass Youth Alternatives, an organization who cared for him as an at-risk youth in Child Protective Services. He is excited to serve an organization that gave him the opportunity to break the cycle and give him the tools to achieve his dreams.
Carl Williams, Distinguished Alumni: Carl Williams was born in Marfa in 1934 and raised in Presidio, Alpine, Marfa and Fabens, where he graduated from high school and headed to Sul Ross College, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 1957.
He taught school in Socorro and then served in law enforcement as a Deputy Sheriff in El Paso County, a Texas Highway Patrolman in Van Horn and Alpine, and as the Sheriff of Brewster County. He is a founding member of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Education and the Brewster County Rescue Squad, a founder and lifetime member of the Big Bend Area Law Enforcement Officers Association, a founder, lifetime member and past president of the Texas Narcotic Officers Association, and assisted with the creation of the Sul Ross Security Department.
Williams was active in local civic organizations, including the Lions Club, Junior Chamber of Commerce and Boy Scouts of America. He was one of the first employees of Big Bend Telephone Company, a professional photographer and co-owner of MARC Photography.
He is a Retired Colonel of the Texas State Guard, a graduate of the Army Institute for Professional Development Basic Military Police Officer Course, and a member of many organizations, including the Sheriffs Association of Texas, the Texas National Guard Association and the NRA.
Williams and his wife, Alice, who also attended SRSU, have two children and attend the Methodist church.
Patti Miles, Slingin’ Sammy Baugh Outstanding Service Award: Patti Miles enrolled in Sul Ross State University in 1970 to seek a degree in Business Administration. She graduated from business school in Houston in 1973 and began a 35-year career in Business Administration, real estate marketing and development, and event planning in the Houston area.
Miles married her husband, Mike, in 1989 and they raised their three children in the Katy area. She began working in 1992 in administration for Katy ISD, creating and implementing the first parent/officer coordinated security system for the district, which remains in place today. Her time in real estate marketing and development began in 2000 with a California-based developer. In 2006, an effort to bring together SRSU sorority sisters from the early 1970’s led to Miles’ coordination of three reunion events between 2006-2010, and the return of over 250 Baby Boomer graduates, leading Mike Flynt to finish out his football career at SRSU in 2007. Miles was appointed secretary of the SRSU Alumni Board from 2009-2015. While on the Board, she helped facilitate the commission and placement on campus of a bronze statue of Lawrence Sullivan Ross. In addition, she commissioned an outdoor bench in honor of Flynt and the 2007 Lobo football team, one in honor of the 1964-1974 Baby Boomers, and a “Ride for the Brand” memorial bench honoring Don Sugarek and his love for and commitment to Sul Ross State.
Miles retired from real estate and marketing in 2016 to become her mother’s caregiver. In addition to caregiving, she and Mike enjoy spending time with their children and six grandchildren.
ATHLETIC INDUCTEES
Scott Kubosh, Class of 1999: Kubosh majored in Business Administration. He transferred to Sul Ross from St. Edward’s University and lettered for the Lobo baseball team from 1997-1999, earning Second Team NAIA All-American at shortstop in 1999. Kubosh holds the NAIA national record for doubles, hitting 22 in 34 games) and is three-time All-Conference.
In 1997, he was named to the American Southwest Conference team at third base and Batted .385 with five homeruns and 35 runs scored.
In 1998, he was an ASC All-Conference shortstop and pitcher with a 5-1 record and a 3.08 ERA while batting .260.
In 1999, he was the ASC Player of the Year at shortstop and pitcher with a .441 batting average with 50 runs scored, 135 assists and a 8-1 record with a 4.35 ERA.
Kubosh signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization where he spent three years in the minor leagues. He currently owns Kubosh Real Estate Appraisal in Katy and is married with four children.
Dominique Carson, Class of 2012: Carson lettered in football for the Lobos from 2008-2009 and 2011-2012.
In 2012, he was an NCAA Division III All-American at running back, the ASC Offensive Player of the Year, ASC First Team All-Conference, and tied the NCAA record for eight touchdowns in a game. Carson broke eight school records and still holds the records for single-game rushing (319), single-season rushing (1,321), career scoring leader (47 touchdowns/264 points), season scoring (28 touchdowns and 170 points) and game scoring (eight touchdowns and 48 points).
Carson received an invite to rookie camp with the former St. Louis Rams and played five years of arena football. He was named Rookie of the Year within the Champions Professional Indoor Football League with the Dodge City Law and spent two seasons as a volunteer coach with the Lobo football team. He has two children and works as a personal trainer.
Linda Ojeda, Class of 2005: Ojeda lettered in basketball (2002) and softball (2002-2005) for the Lobos.
She was a four-year starter in softball, ASC All-West Division catcher (2002) and third baseman (2003-2005), the Sul Ross Defensive Player of the Year (2002) and the Sul Ross Most Valuable Player (2005).
Ojeda coached in the Van Horn and Marfa school districts and was named the first female athletic director in the Big Bend area in 2017. She coached several district championship teams in Marfa and served on the Texas Girls Coaches Association All-State selection committee for softball and volleyball … Member of the Texas Council of Women School Executives … Currently serves as the athletic director for the Marfa Independent School District.
JJ and Travis Tucker, Outstanding Boosters: JJ worked in Student Affairs and was the cheerleading sponsor for 16 years (1984-2000). She then moved on to work at the campus bookstore before completing over 20 years of service at Sul Ross. Travis worked on the renovation of Kokernot Field when baseball was reinstated. He helped maintain the infield and outfield while also leveling the playing field for proper drainage. Travis completed the walking/jogging path at Kokernot Municipal Park and assisted with other university construction projects. The Tuckers were members of the athletic department’s Century Club for many years and are strong supporters of Sul Ross and its athletic program.