KANSAS CITY, Mo. Former University of Houston football head coach Bill Yeoman recently was named one of three inductees into the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Hall of Champions.
After bringing FCA to the city of Houston, Yeoman has continued to find ways to minister through sports and FCA for nearly 50 years.
As the 25-year head football coach at the University of Houston (1962-86), Yeoman became the first representative from UH to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001. He also broke barriers by leading the university to become the first Southwest Conference member to integrate its football team.
Today, Yeoman continues to work for the university as a development officer in the athletic department.
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the world s largest sports ministry, which relies heavily on the work of volunteers, elects several of those individuals into its Hall of Champions each year. Three people who made a tremendous impact on the ministry recently were announced as the Class of 2011.
In addition to Yeoman, the Class of 2011 includes: Kyle Rote, Jr., former U.S. national soccer player and National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee; and Deb Patterson, Kansas State University s head women s basketball coach;
FCA s Hall of Champions was established in 1991 to honor individuals who have demonstrated a consistent commitment to Jesus Christ through the ministry of FCA. They are consideredvolunteer All Stars who have given above and beyond the call of duty and have upheld the Four Core Values of FCA: Integrity, Serving, Teamwork and Excellence.
The recipients are determined each year by an FCA Selection Committee following a nomination process that includes staff, volunteers, athletes and the organization s Board of Trustees.
Each member of the 2011 Class has had an influential impact on FCA as a Huddle leader, volunteer orspeaker. They join a prestigious list of 72 other inductees into the FCA Hall of Champions, taking their place among the great individuals who have used the FCA platform to make a dramatic impact on lives.
Each inductee will be honored with a plaque bearing a sculpture of their likeness that will remain in the Hall of Champions in FCA s National Support Center in Kansas City. A replica will be presented to the honoree at an appropriate special event sometime this year.
Commenting on the selections, FCA President and CEO Les Steckel said, These three amazing individuals have all received numerous accolades for their impact on the world of sports. FCA is also pleased to honor them for those accomplishments plustheir many years of support for the mission of FCA and consistent stand forChristian values and character.
