Distinguished alumni, athletes and friends of Sul Ross State University will be inducted into the Hall of Honor during the 37th annual celebration on Saturday, March 29.
Ten inductees make up this year’s class, which are nominated and then chosen by the SRSU Alumni Association Board of Directors and representatives of the Department of Athletics and the College of Agriculture, Life and Physical Sciences (ALPS).
The event will be held at the Pete P. Gallego Center on the Alpine campus. It begins with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and the ceremony.
Tickets are $75 for adults and $25 for children under 12. Gold level sponsor tables include four tickets for $1,000 and Platinum level sponsor tables include eight tickets for $2,500. Purchases can be made online at www.sulross.edu/alumni.
Inductees include the following Distinguished Alumni:
Fredrick Carter, Class of 1979 and 1983
A U.S. Navy veteran, Fredrick Carter earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education in 1979 and a Master’s in Education in 1983 from Sul Ross State University. Committed to shaping young minds, he dedicated 38 years to education, inspiring generations of students.
Throughout his distinguished career, Carter served in a variety of impactful roles, including classroom teacher, Campus Athletic Coordinator, Head Football Coach, Student Newspaper Adviser and Athletic Director. Widely recognized for his outstanding contributions to education and his community, Carter received numerous awards throughout his career. In 1986, Carter was the first African-American head coach to win a Six-Man State Championship.
One of his most cherished honors was being named “Teacher of the Day” at East Montana Middle School in El Paso, an award made even more meaningful as it came from his students.
Born in Fort Worth, Carter is married to Priscilla A. Hernandez, a fellow Sul Ross graduate with a B.A. in Elementary Education. They have two daughters, Lauren and Nicole.
Dr. Malia Ann Perez, Class of 2002 and 2006
Dr. Malia Perez is a proud alumna of Sul Ross State University. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and Interdisciplinary Studies in 2002 followed by a Master of Education in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2006. In 2013, she attained her Doctorate in Educational and Teacher Leadership.
Dr. Perez has taught students across all grade levels, from Pre-K to dual credit courses, specializing in math, science and reading. She has served as a curriculum writer, instructional facilitator, data team leader and mentor at the campus, district and national levels. Recognized for her dedication, she has been named a three-time Teacher of the Year and was recently honored as an All-Star Educator by Reliant Energy and the Corpus Christi Hooks.
In 2024, Dr. Perez successfully secured and implemented grants to enhance school resources, including the IAL Library Grant from the U.S. Department of Education and the Region 2 Education Service Center, as well as the Laura Bush Foundation Literacy Grant, which provided $5,000 worth of books for the library. She currently works as the Librarian and Technology and Media Specialist at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Corpus Christi.
Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Perez has been happily married for 35 years and enjoys time with her two grown children and their spouses, and her two grandchildren.
Young Distinguished inductee:
Glenn Losoya, Class of 2014
Glenn Losoya, an Alpine native, earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Sul Ross State University in 2014. He was also involved in campus life through the Newman Club, Lobo Days Pack Leader program, Student Government Association, track and cross country.
Losoya’s career in Sports Media began as a Media Technology Specialist at Sul Ross. He taught himself to use livestream equipment and produced the first multi-camera streams for Sul Ross Athletics. Losoya directed and produced all livestreams for the 2016 and 2018 ASC Men’s Basketball Tournament and the 2018 ASC Baseball Tournament. The experience laid the groundwork for his future and resulted in the 2017-18 American Southwest Conference Sports Information Department of the Year award.
In 2019, Losoya continued to grow his expertise at Abilene Christian University as the Athletics Media Relations Video Coordinator. There, he broadened his skillset from livestream event coverage to creating dynamic video and photo content. At ACU, he also assisted with ESPN+ broadcasts for men’s and women’s basketball and football. He provided video coverage of the ACU men’s basketball team for the 2021 Southland Conference Championship, as well as the team’s historic upset victory over the University of Texas in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. His efforts were celebrated when he was named the 2021-22 Abilene Christian University Athletics Support Staff Member of the Year.
In August 2022, he joined the San Antonio Spurs Sports and Entertainment Office as a Creative Content Producer and has helped bring the Spurs story to life through engaging content. He contributes to a variety of projects, from capturing moments like the record-breaking attendance at the Spurs vs. Warriors game held at the Alamodome, to covering Victor Wembanyama’s 2023-24 Rookie of the Year Award Presentation and recently editing “CP3 & TP9: An Exclusive Sit-Down Interview with Chris Paul and Tony Parker.”
Glenn resides happily in San Antonio with his wife, Melanie, of seven years. His parents, Darrell and Belen Losoya, live in Alpine.
Athletic inductees include:
Francis Jones, Class of 1989 and 1991
Francis Jones was a football player and track team member from 1985 to 1988. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting in 1989, followed by a Master of Education in 1991, both from Sul Ross State University.
With over 34 years of experience in teaching and coaching, Coach Jones has dedicated his career to shaping student-athletes into champions both on and off the field. He has coached numerous athletes to All-District, Area and All-State honors in football, track and cross country, with many continuing their athletic careers at colleges across the country, from Hawaii to Virginia. Several of his former players have even reached the NFL.
Coach Jones’ leadership has contributed to district championship football teams at Austin LBJ, McKinney, and Round Rock Cedar Ridge high schools. His excellence in coaching earned him the Distinguished Teacher Award from McKinney High School in 2013 and recognition as the Cen-Tex (Austin Area) Defensive Coordinator of the Year in 2015. Beyond athletics, he has served as a mentor to countless students, believing that every child deserves someone who cares about their future.
From 1997 to 1999, Coach Jones returned to Alpine, where he taught and coached at Sul Ross State University, serving as Defensive Coordinator and Head Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Coach. A member of the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) for over 30 years, he is also part of the prestigious 500-Point Club for Track and Field.
Caleb Thomasson, Class of 2018
Caleb Thomasson was a Lobo basketball player from 2015 to 2018, playing under the guidance of Coach Clif Carroll. He graduated from Sul Ross in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, motivated by his parents, both long-time educators, to pursue a career in teaching and coaching.
With seven years of experience in shaping young athletes, Thomasson is a dedicated educator and coach. For the past three years, he has served as the Head Girls’ Coach at Sweetwater High School, where he emphasizes teamwork, discipline and leadership.
Beyond his professional life, Thomasson is a devoted husband to his wife, Janci, and a proud father to their 3-year-old daughter, Ivy.
Shane Zimmerman, Class of 1999 and 2002
Shane Zimmerman has been an esteemed tennis coach and athlete whose dedication spans over two decades in the sport. He attended Sul Ross State University from 1997-99, where he completed his Bachelor of Science degree, and again from 2001-02 for his Master of Education degree. As a standout member of the collegiate tennis team, Zimmerman compiled an impressive playing record in both singles and doubles, winning the American Southwest Conference (ASC) singles championship in 1997. His skill and determination earned him a place on the ASC First Team All-Conference during each of the three years he competed for Sul Ross.
Upon graduation, Zimmerman pursued a successful coaching career that included nine years at the collegiate level and three years as a high school coach. As the head coach for the North Central Texas College women’s tennis team, he achieved remarkable success, leading his team to a fourth-place finish at the NJCAA National Championships in 2005 and a fifth-place finish in 2004. His coaching journey began as a graduate assistant at Tyler Junior College, where he played a pivotal role in guiding the women’s team to two NJCAA Women’s National Championships in 2000 and 2001. He also shared his expertise at Kenyon College in Ohio and at his alma mater, SRSU, from 2001-2002.
Throughout his coaching career, he has mentored 18 NJCAA All-Americans and one NCAA All- American. His dedication to developing young athletes was evident through his involvement in prestigious summer camps, including the Stanford University Nike Tennis Camp, the University of Texas Longhorn Tennis Camp, and the University of North Texas Nike Tennis Camp, along with hosting his own tennis camps at NCTC.
As a teaching professional he earned the USPTA Pro 1 designation and competed in USTA tournaments throughout Texas. He also held a physical fitness specialist certificate, underscoring his commitment to fitness and athlete development.
Since departing from collegiate coaching in 2008, Zimmerman has successfully created and sold four businesses. He is now a multi-million-dollar real estate producer for Fathom Realty in New Mexico, recognized as their top-selling realtor from 2021-23. Additionally, he owns and operates Z-Team Investments, managing several short-term rental properties in the Ruidoso area.
He currently resides in Ruidoso with his wife, Brittany, and their two children, Brooklyn and Blake.
Wade Zimmerman, Class of 2001 and 2002
Wade Zimmerman, a native of Devine, lettered for the Lobo Tennis team from 1998-2001. He has dedicated over two decades to coaching and developing tennis talent at the collegiate, club and high school levels.
A proud alumnus of Sul Ross State University, he earned ASC honors each year and was named to the Tennis Academic All-Conference Team. Following his playing career, he served as a graduate assistant tennis coach from 2001-02.
Zimmerman holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science (2001) and a Master of Education (2002), along with a Doctoral Degree in Supervision, Curriculum and Instruction (2009) from Texas A&M University-Commerce. He is a certified USPTA Elite Professional and a physical fitness specialist, further solidifying his expertise in athlete development.
His coaching career has included roles at the collegiate and high school levels, with notable achievements like serving as Associate Head Tennis Coach at the University of North Texas, where the team won the Sun Belt Conference Championship in 2013, and as Assistant Tennis Coach at Kenyon College, helping secure a North Coast Athletic Conference Championship in 2003. At the high school level, he has coached 11 players to the 6A UIL State Tennis Tournament.
Zimmerman currently leads the tennis program at Flower Mound High School, where he continues to inspire and mentor young athletes. He resides in Argyle with his wife, Katherine, and their five children, Jeremy, Wyatt, Henry, Mari-Elizabeth and Luke.
Josie Sanchez Contreras, Class of 1997
Josefina Sanchez Contreras was born in Durango, Mexico, where hard work – whether in business or farming – was essential for survival. As a teenager, her family journeyed to the U.S. to provide her with greater educational opportunities.
A proud 1992 graduate of Socorro High School, Contreras found basketball to be more than just a sport. Her passion for the game grew, leading her to play for the Sul Ross State University Women’s Basketball Team from 1992-97. She began coaching as a graduate assistant at Sul Ross and later built a powerhouse program at San Elizario High School, leading the team to 14 straight playoff appearances, six district titles and seven bi-district championships. Beyond wins, her greatest pride is mentoring athletes, including her three daughters, all college scholarship recipients.
A devoted mother and leader, her legacy reflects perseverance, passion, and a deep commitment to the game and her players.
ANRS and Rodeo inductees include:
Sally Oglesby, Class of 1979
Sally Bailey Oglesby attended Sul Ross State University from 1977-79, when she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Level Speech.
She was a member of the Rodeo Club and the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, the Goat Tying Director, a member of the cheer squad, and participated in SRSU intramural basketball. She also worked as a student on the infirmary staff.
Oglesby has been a member of the ANRS and Rodeo Exes Association since 2002.
After graduation, she married Mike Oglesby, a Lobo football player and 1973 graduate, and moved to Pecos to begin teaching and coaching. In 1987, they decided to move to the family ranch in Crockett County, where they continue to raise Dorper sheep and Spanish goats.
From 2012-14, Oglesby was selected for the Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership (TALL) program, one of 28 chosen from 469 applicants. She later received her Texas Real Estate License and retired from teaching after 21 years.
She has two children, Quay Oglesby and his wife, Stormi, and Taylor Craighead, and her husband Caul, and five grandchildren.
Wade Smith (posthumous), Class of 1979
Born and raised in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, Charles Wade Smith grew up in Edinburg, where he graduated from high school in 1973. His passion for rodeo and love of the great outdoors led him to Sul Ross State University, where he found his second home and forged lifelong friendships that he cherished deeply. Known for his magnetic personality and extraordinary storytelling, Smith had a way of turning every encounter into a lasting connection.
Smith graduated from Sul Ross in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in Range Animal Science, reflecting his deep appreciation for the land and its heritage. His connection to the people and spirit of West Texas remained unwavering, and he always considered Sul Ross and “The Pine” his forever home. He had a successful career in the oil field industry, where his hard work and dedication earned him the respect of colleagues and friends alike. Despite a demanding career, Smith always found time to
enjoy his passions. An avid golfer, he spent countless hours on the greens, sharing laughs and stories with friends while perfecting his swing. He especially enjoyed participating in the golf tournament held during the Annual Reunion of the ANRS & Rodeo Exes alumni, where he won and placed on several occasions.
Smith’s love for life extended beyond the rodeo arena and golf course to music, where his passion for country and Tejano music shone brightly. Whether DJ’ing at the Stetson Club or singing for a crowd, Smith’s music brought joy to everyone around him. Above all, his favorite pastime was spending cherished moments with his two children, Kristen and Colton, whom he loved deeply. His larger-than-life presence, humor and generosity left an indelible mark on everyone fortunate enough to know him.
For more information, email Alumni Director Kathy Moreno at kathy.moreno@sulross.edu or Coordinator Jasmine Vargas at jasmine.vargas@sulross.edu, or call 432-837-8443.