serving as a spotter for the old Dallas Tornado at Ownby Stadium on the SMU campus. He is 40 and lives in Dallas.
Dave Eldridge - David has been involved with soccer in the North Texas region for over thirty years. He was a founding father and Chairman of the Board of the Heart of Soccer Association in Waco, Texas, and was instrumental in Heart of Texas becoming a member of the North Texas State Soccer Association. Thereafter, he became Vice President of Development for North Texas Soccer and over the span of ten years recruited approximately forty soccer associations to become members of NTSSA. He served two terms (four years) as President of North Texas Soccer, and currently serves as Chairman of the Budget Committee for US Soccer, a position he has held for over ten years.
Billy Phillips - Phillips played professional soccer for 10 years, with the Dallas Tornado, Wichita Wings, San Jose Earthquakes, St. Louis Steamers, Dallas Americans, and the Dallas Sidekicks. He coached professionally for nine years with the Dallas Sidekicks, serving almost three years as their Head Coach. Phillips was named "MISL Coach of the Year" in 1989-90, and coached the Sidekicks to the most regular season win in team history. On the youth level, Billy has coached with Longhorns, Andromeda, and Sting, with two of his teams winning state championships during that time. He has been involved with summer soccer camp coaching for the past 27 years.
Roy Smithers - Roy Smithers has been a member of the US Soccer Federation Budget Committee since 2003 as well as Chairman of the South Texas Youth Soccer Rules Committee since 1998. He has served as Treasurer of US Youth Soccer National Board of Directors for eight years and currently is the Treasurer of U.S. Youth Soccer Region III. Smithers has been involved with youth soccer for nearly twenty years serving as President of the South Texas Youth Soccer Association from 1988-1994. In addition to soccer, Roy opened his own civil law practice in September 2001 based in Austin, Texas, as the Law Office of Roy O. Smithers, P.C.
John Sutter - John Sutter has served as President of North Texas Soccer since 2000 and has been a member of its' Executive Committee for the past fourteen years. John has been deeply involved in local soccer since 1985 when he and his wife, Lisa, began coaching their daughters in the Carrollton/Farmers Branch Soccer Association. In addition to soccer, John is a National Director and the Senior Vice President (Dallas Chapter) of the Navy League of the United States. Professionally, John is a licensed insurance agent and risk manager, and is the president of Unimark Insurance Agency, Inc. located in Addison, Texas.
Andy Swift - The former President and General Manager of the Dallas Burn from 2000-2004, Swift began his tenure with the Burn in February 1996. While General Manager of the Burn, he saw overall attendance as well as overall team revenue increase each year. Swift has been involved with soccer in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for over twenty-five years.
2005 Walk of Fame Inductees (automatic inclusion in Nomination Committee)
Bill Kinder - In 1973, Bill formed the Sting Soccer Club in response to the increasing interest in the women's game and went on to coach numerous Sting teams to regional and National Championships over several decades. His contributions significantly impacted women's soccer not only in North Texas, but throughout the United States.
Carla Overbeck - A native of Dallas, Carla was the captain and MVP of the 1999 US Women's National Team that captured a second World Cup title. She played in a record 63 consecutive international soccer games, more than any U.S. male or female player, and had 168 total appearances. She retired in 2000 as a leader of the most dominant team in the history of American team sports.
Kyle Rote, Jr. - While many were watching the NASL's international stars, Kyle Rote Jr. was proving that Americans could play the game too. In 1973, he was the league's scoring leader with 30 goals. In seven years (six with the Dallas Tornado and one with the Houston Hurricane), he scored 128 times. He was equally famous for his domination of the TV "Superstars" show, consistently topping athletes from other sports.
Gordon Jago - Gordon's life has been devoted to the game as a player, coach and administrator. He came to Dallas as Head Coach of the Dallas Sidekicks, leading the team to three indoor championships and also earning three Coach of the Year Honors. Thereafter, he became Commissioner of the WISL and Executive Director of the highly regarded Dallas Cup.
"Tatu" - Antonio Pecorari emigrated from Brazil and signed with the Dallas Sidekicks in 1984. Nearly two decades later, he retired from the indoor game after recording a phenomenal 736 goals, 672 assists, and 1,408 points in 557 games. He won the league MVP awards six times, and after retirement he went on to also earn a Coach of the Year award.
Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame Selection Committee
Lamar Hunt - Lamar Hunt has been one of America's leading sports entrepreneurs for more than four decades. Long known for his role in the development of football, Hunt's more recent contributions to professional soccer have also had a major impact on the sport in the United States. In 1999, he was awarded the National Soccer Hall of Fame Medal of Honor (only the second ever given) for his work and dedication to "The Beautiful Game". He also saw the U.S. Open Cup Tournament renamed in his honor to recognize his contributions to soccer in America. In the same year, Hunt again made pro soccer history by funding the construction of the first major-league stadium built specifically for soccer in the United States as the Columbus Crew opened their revolutionary facility. On August 6, 2005, Mr. Hunt and the Hunt Sports Group along with Collin County, the City of Frisco, and Frisco Independent School District opened the third soccer-specific stadium in the United States, Pizza Hut Park.
Michael Hitchcock - Michael Hitchcock was named President and General Manager of FC Dallas and Pizza Hut Park on October 25, 2005. One of the top team executives in Major League Soccer over the past eight years, his impact on the sales end has been felt at every step along the way, from his start at D.C. United, to his leadership at the Colorado Rapids and most recently as Vice President of Sales with the Los Angeles Galaxy. In that time, Hitchcock has won the MLS Sales Director of the Year Award a record four times.
David Addison - David Addison is President and Chief Executive Officer of Texans Credit Union. Headquartered in Richardson, Texas the $1.5 billion credit union serves the financial services needs of more than 150,000 members located primarily in the Dallas Metroplex. Prior to his current position, Addison served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Constitution State Corporate Credit Union located in Wallingford, Connecticut.
Brad Sham - Brad is back for his ninth season as the FC Dallas play-by-play voice for the team's television broadcasts. Sham's career began in soccer as a play-by-play announcer for the Dallas Tornado in the 1970's and he has since gone on to become one of the most respected broadcasters in Texas. He is in his 28th season in the radio booth for the Dallas Cowboys and was named Texas Sportscaster of the Year in February for the ninth time.
