Bradshaw, Mulkey, Malone, Roaf, Weatherspoon, Dean honored with statues at La. Tech
RUSTON — Terry Bradshaw brought the house down with his theatrical story-telling ability, Karl Malone and Teresa Weatherspoon moved the attendees to tears by shedding a few of their own, LSU coach Kim Mulkey wore LSU purple and gold to the party and Willie Roaf was almost forgotten in the star-studded alignment.
That’s just a snippet of what happened Wednesday night when six of the greatest athletes in Louisiana Tech were brought to town for multiple statue unveilings of the Super Six in recognition of a new area outside Joe Aillet Stadium’s north end zone honoring Sarah and A.L. Williams with a Champions Plaza.
Bronze statues of the above five Hall of Famers, plus the late, great pass rusher Fred Dean, were courtesy of a donation by philanthropic gift provider Chris Richardson. Several hundred Tech fans were treated to a Q&A with each former athlete inside the Thomas Assembly Center before moving outside for the statue unveilings.
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Linda Sanders made her way to Ruston from Monroe hoping to meet her longtime idol, Terry Bradshaw, who she claims trumps Brad Pit. She unashamedly displayed her handmade poster that read, “I have waited 53 years to meet TB (Bradshaw).” And it happened for her just moments after Bradshaw spent a few minutes with Tech football coach Sunny Cumbie.
“This is the best day of my life,” Sanders told Bradshaw as he planted a kiss on her head.
Bradshaw’s best story was about throwing the javelin at the district championship in Shreveport when he went up against “a hot shot javelin thrower” who was “obnoxious.”
“I got up there and beat that guy. And that was the happiest moment of my life,” said Bradshaw who would eventually set a national javelin record of more than 244 feet. “I once threw it 280 feet but they refused to mark it.”
A multiple NBA All-Star, Malone became emotional talking about his mom, wife, Kate, his seven children and 12 grandchildren. He said he played with two of the best point guards ever in Shreveport native Wayne Smith at Tech and John Stockton with the Jazz.
“To all the Hall of Famers, I’m honored to be among you,” Malone said as he wiped his cheek. “I wake up every day to make a difference. I wake up to make my ancestors proud. We’re at a time when everyone wanta take. We don’t take anything, we earn it. I’ll fight for my family, and I feel the same way about the people who have touched my life in Ruston. There are people in this town who have loved me unconditionally and I will continue to pay it forward to the best of my ability.”
Mulkey said she wasn’t sure she was worthy but was honored to have her statue residing on the Tech campus. Although she was wearing LSU colors, she donned the Tech letterjacket that each honoree received.
“One day in 1984 coach (Leon) Barmore came to this court in a very good mood,” Mulkey said. “We all laughed that Rachel must’ve treated him good. He was so happy, but you know what he was happy about? He was celebrating that I’d made my first ‘B’ at Louisiana Tech.”
Easily the biggest of the honorees, Roaf was initially overlooked by emcee Malcolm Butler when the group was introduced. Butler spent the remainder of the night apologizing to the All-Pro who was fitted with a size 44 letter jacket.
“It was the biggest they had,” Tech athletic director Eric Wood said.
Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Six La. Tech Hall of Famers honored with statues in special ceremony
