EIGHT INDUCTED INTO The emotion in the room at this year’s Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony ranged from tears to laughter and jokes, as eight legendary Missouri Valley College athletes were honored. Athletic Hall of Fame Bonnie (Johnson) Burgess
Bonnie made her impact on the basketball court as one of the most dominating players in program history. She was the ’06-’07 Newcomer of the Year and earned first team all-conference finishing her first season averaging 16 points per game. Her second season saw that increase to 19.2 points per game and NAIA all-American status. She still holds the program record for most field goals in a game with 14 and most rebounds in a game with 21. Bonnie now works in finance as an investment banker. Mark helped keep the winning tradition of Missouri Valley College football alive in the 1990s. He was a key figure on the 1994 conference championship team that earned a berth in the NAIA Championship Series. He was a team captain, defensive MVP, a first team all-conference in 1994. He graduated with honors, and became an award-winning high school coach in Texas. He has been coaching for nearly 30 years and helped two teams finish as Texas 5A runners-up. BJ Little was a standout football player in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He made an instant impact as a freshman on the 1989 conference championship team and was freshman of the year. In 1992 he was first team all-conference and was the team MVP and defensive player of the year. He was also an NAIA all-American. Following college, he was drafted in 1994 by the Saskatchewan Rough Riders of the CFL. BJ made history in Arizona when he was elected the first African American magistrate and justice of the peace. He also spent 25 years coaching high school football.
Mark Soto
BJ Little Jr.
Randy 'Bear' Hamilton
Randy ‘Bear’ Hamilton was an imposing Missouri Valley College football player in the ‘70’s and ‘80s. He was one of a select few freshmen to earn a letter on the 1978 team that won the Heart championship and advance to the NAIA Championship Series semifinal. He is one of the most decorated players in history, ending his career as an NAIA all-American. He has worked professionally as a corporate recruiter, and has been a volunteer in the Houston area.
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