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Hall
of Fame 2004
The
UNT Athletic Hall of Fame inductees for 2004 are:
 Bill 'Chick' Adams ('48)
Bill Adams' four-year track and field career at North Texas was highlighted by the 1946 Lone Star Conference Meet, where he was the high-point scorer and led the Eagles to the conference championship. A letterman from 1945 to 1948, he picked up a number of first-place finishes at high-profile meets such as the Texas Relays, Border Olympics and Drake Relays. He was named the team captain as a freshman in 1945 and led the Eagles to the Texas Relays championship the same year. Over his collegiate career, Adams picked up 55 first-place finishes for individual and relay events combined. He went on to coach at Bonham High School before working at a publishing company until retirement.
 Ira DeFoor ('48, '49 M.S.)
Ira DeFoor was the starting guard for the football team in 1941 and lettered in track and field from 1939 to 1941. In addition to serving as an instructor and assistant professor at the university, DeFoor was the athletic department's equipment manager from 1948 to 1965, director of summer health education workshops from 1953 to 1984 and director of men's activity physical education classes from 1953 to 1969 (the first person to serve in the capacity). He was responsible for all high school football games and track meets scheduled at Fouts Field from 1951 to 1968. Following his playing career at North Texas, he put in 49 months of service with the Army from 1942 to 1946.
 Andy Everest
Andy Everest served as assistant head football coach under Hayden Fry from 1973 to 1978 and as athletic director from 1979 to 1981. As athletic director he supervised a fund-raising campaign that totaled $220,000 for athletics in 1980 and coordinated a statewide campaign for construction of a new athletics facility. A member of the American Football Assistant Coaches Hall of Fame, he was also an assistant coach at Southern Methodist University, Stanford, Foothill College and the University of Utah; head coach at the University of California at Santa Barbara; and an assistant with the NFL's New Orleans Saints, the San Antonio Force arena football team and three clubs in the Italian professional league.
 Byron Gross ('90, '92 M.S.)
A four-year letterman from 1987 to 1990, linebacker Byron Gross reached NCAA Division I-AA All-America status his senior season and piled up 387 career tackles that placed him second all-time behind Burks Washington. Gross was named All-Southland Conference four times and Academic All-Southland Conference twice while leading the Eagles in tackles three of his four seasons, including a career-best 122 as a senior. He started every game of his career, a span of 46 consecutive games, and played a key role in the Eagles' success from 1987 to 1990 — North Texas finished the 1987 and 1988 seasons ranked 16th and 12th in the NCAA I-AA national rankings. The annual football award given to the team's most outstanding linebacker is named after Gross.
 Burks Washington
Burks Washington recorded a school-record 390 tackles as a linebacker during his four-year career that stretched from 1975 to 1978. His 160 tackles in the 1977 season also still stand as the school record. During Washington's time with the program, he was a defensive standout on teams that compiled a combined record of 33-11 under head coach Hayden Fry. The 1977 team, anchored defensively by Washington, is one of two at North Texas to win 10 games in a season. Washington was a 1978 preseason All-America candidate.
 Royce Womble ('52, '66 M.S.)
Royce Womble, a running back for the Eagles from 1949 to 1951, was a big part of the 1950 team named co-champion of the Gulf Coast Conference, rushing for 502 yards and five touchdowns on 78 carries. He was drafted by the NFL's Baltimore Colts and went on to play five seasons with Baltimore and one with the San Diego Chargers. He was named the Colts' Rookie of the Year and was also the Chargers' offensive captain during his final season as a professional. Womble also lettered in track and field and served two years in the Navy after graduation. He went on to a successful business career as the owner of Arlington Sporting Goods.
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