Distinguished graduates and athletes will be honored by Sul Ross State University at the 36th Annual Hall of Honor celebration on Saturday, March 23.
Nine 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 Granada Theatre in Alpine and begins with a cocktail hour at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the ceremony.
Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.sulross.edu/alumni/lobo-night.
Inductees include the following Distinguished Alumni:
Lori Cobos, Class of 1998 and 2000
An Alpine native, Cobos received a Bachelor of Business Administration in General Business with Magna Cum Laude honors and a Master of Arts in Public Administration from Sul Ross State University. While attending Sul Ross, she was inducted into the Pi Sigma Alpha and Alpha Chi Honor Societies and was a recipient of the Presidential Endowment Scholarship. After graduating from Sul Ross, she served on the Sul Ross State University Alumni Board. Cobos received a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas Tech University, where she was a member of the Texas Tech Law Review. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas and has served as chair of the Public Utility Law Section.
Among many professional accomplishments, Lori Cobos has been appointed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott to three statewide positions, most recently on June 17, 2021, as Commissioner on the Public Utility Commission of Texas. Prior to that, she was the first Latina to serve as the Chief Executive and Public Counsel for the Office of Public Utility Counsel. Cobos also served on the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) Board of Directors.
She has served in senior-level positions at the PUC and counsel at the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). In the private sector, Cobos has served as a director of government and regulatory affairs for a power generation company and has served as principal owner of her own legal and consulting firm, where she represented clients in the Texas electric power industry.
Tiki Davis, Class of 2003 and 2005
Davis came to Sul Ross as a Lobo football player in 1999 and earned his bachelor’s degree in 2003, followed by a master’s degree in 2005. He was the Homecoming King in 2000.
Transitioning from the football field to the silver screen, he found himself in the iconic movie “Friday Night Lights” as a principal actor, marking the beginning of his diverse career path. He then excelled as one of the top oil and gas engineers in the Permian Basin, eventually founding TDC Frac Solutions and Equipment.
Branching out into real estate and entrepreneurship, Davis’ ventures expanded to include property flipping and the establishment of TD Construction, specializing in building homes for communities in need. With a passion for culinary arts, he ventured into the restaurant industry, acquiring several barbecue establishments, before ultimately finding his true calling.
Seven years ago, Davis embarked on his most rewarding venture yet – inspiring and empowering others through keynote speeches and leaving a profound impact on individuals of all ages and backgrounds.
In Odessa, he was named Man of the Year in 2013 and Business Person of the Year in 2018. Davis delivered the keynote address for spring commencement at SRSU in May 2023. His legacy reached its pinnacle in 2024 when he was bestowed with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the President of the United States and with the conferral of an honorary Doctorate in Humanities.
Athletic inductees include:
Billy Carthel (posthumous), Class of 1968
Carthel played Lobo baseball from 1964-68, when he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communications. He was an All-American in 1967 and was drafted by the Cleveland Indians and the Los Angeles Dodgers but decided to remain at SRSU during his senior year. He was then drafted by the New York Mets and played AAA Minor League baseball for most of the next seven years of his professional career.
Marian Bennett, Class of 1976
Bennett played two years of volleyball and basketball at Howard College before transferring to SRSU as a volleyball player, when the team was competing in the Amateur Athletic Union as there were no NCAA women’s sports at the time. No individual or conference honors or stats were kept, though the Lobos competed in the National Championship in both Bennett’s junior and senior years.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education in 1976, Bennett coached and taught in public schools for nearly 40 years. She was inducted into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame after coaching for 32 years, 900 career wins and 15 District championships. She was named Coach of the Year four times, finishing her career in New Mexico after seven years. She is one of the winningest high school volleyball coaches in Texas history.
Joe Sanchez, Class of 1977 and 1978
Sanchez was a four-year starter at middle linebacker for the Lobos from 1974-1977. He led the team in tackles each of those years and was named to the Lone Star All-Conference team and the TIAA All-Conference team.
He coached and taught and Sul Ross State for five years, including the 1982 Conference Championship team. He was also a recruiter, bringing in numerous student-athletes from the Rio Grande Valley.
Sanchez received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 1977 and 1978, respectively, and then went on to teach, coach and serve as an Athletic Director in public school districts for over 30 years. His father, Joe R. Sanchez, was the first Hispanic football player at SRSU and played on the undefeated Tangerine Bowl team. His four younger brothers all followed him to Sul Ross to play for the Lobos.
Boosters
Robert Polanco, Class of 1970 and 1975
Elidia Polanco, Class of 1975 and 1983
The Polancos were honored in 2022 as “remarkable Texans of Hispanic descent who have achieved their dreams” on the “Living the Dream” mural at SRSU in 2022. Throughout the years, they have prepared and served meals for athletes during holidays breaks and are consistent boosters at all athletic events.
Mr. Polanco graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1970 and a Master of Education degree in 1974. In October 1970, he was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army where he proudly served from 1970 to 1972. His military service earned him the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement. He is a member of several service-oriented organizations, both community and faith-based. He has also previously held the position of Grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus organization. For the past 20 years, Robert has taught driver’s education courses through Sul Ross and in 2012 received a “Good Scout” award bestowed by the Buffalo Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Mrs. Polanco is an Alpine native. She attended Southwest Beauty College in El Paso and then enrolled at Sul Ross Lobo as the first in her family to attend college. She with a bachelor’s degree in 1975 and with a master’s degree in Education in 1980. She is currently the director of the Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church Bereavement Ministry and other ministries. In 2014, Elidia was the recipient of the Benjamin Berkley Citizen of the Year award from the Alpine Chamber of Commerce.
They have been married for 55 years and both of their children earned degrees from Sul Ross.
Inductees from ALPS include:
Ted Yadon (posthumous), Class of 1975
Elizabeth Yadon, Class of 1976 and 1991
Ted and Elizabeth Yadon, who both started college at Sul Ross State in 1971, are being honored for their years of dedicated service to agricultural programs and the rodeo team.
Mr. Yadon graduated with a B.S. in Range Animal Science (RAS) in 1975 and began working in the program at SRSU that same year. He retired in 2012 after 37 years.
Mrs. Yadon received her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science in 1976 and then worked part-time as a secretary and teacher’s assistant in the RAS department while she earned her master’s degree in 1991.
The two began ranched on the E.E. Townsend Ranch in Pecos County in 1989 and also ran cattle on the Daugherty Ranch and later the Cartwright Ranch in Brewster County, where Mrs. Yadon is still working today.
For more information, email Alumni Director Kathy Moreno at [email protected] or Coordinator Jasmine Vargas at [email protected], or call 432-837-8443.
