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Honor Bound: Haggard, Patterson, Pier join prestigious Plano ISD group
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
Spring is when the Plano ISD sends a new set of graduates out into the world.
It is, however, also the time the city welcomes some of those graduates back by inducting its finest athletic contributors into the PISD Hall of Honor.
The ninth annual event took place last Sunday from the Sockwell Center as the PISD invited Owen Haggard, Tina Luft Patterson and C.M. Pier into their most prestigious athletic organization.
Haggard was the eldest of the trio inducted last Sunday, but he may have also been the most versatile.
A 1962 graduate of Plano Senior, Haggard picked up four letters in basketball and three letters in football, baseball and track. The 1961-62 school year was a notable one for Haggard as he was named all-state for football and served as president of Plano's first National Honor Society the same year Dr. H. Wayne Hendrick took over as PISD Superintendent.
That year included one of Haggard's favorite football memories.
"Rockwall was one of our biggest opponents and we ran a fake punt against them," he said. "The blocking back received the ball and put it between my legs. After hesitating for two counts, I took off. No one knew I had the ball. It was like chaos; I ran right by players and they never knew I had the ball."
That season was the Wildcats' best in more than two decades.
"Our senior year we were undefeated until losing to Jacksboro (20-12) in the regional playoffs," Haggard said. "That was (head coach) Tom Gray's third year at Plano. We had not done well the few years before he came to Plano. Coach Gray, with our team, started the winning tradition that Plano still enjoys today."
In his post-athletic pursuits, Haggard spent six years as a pilot in the U.S. Navy, achieving the rank of lieutenant.
Pier was another multi-sport athlete at Plano, gaining letters in football, basketball, track and wrestling.
Pier was the district's Defensive Player of the year and an all-state selection in 1977, the same year Clark Field opened, but he has far more memories about the Wildcats' Class 4A State Championship run that season than individual accolades.
"Playing Sherman to a 14-14 tie where all the people from Sherman claim we did not get to win on penetrations," Pier said. "Having to come from 14 points behind at the half to beat Greenville; we lose that one and we would be out of the playoffs."
Not only did Plano make the playoffs, it won its fourth state title and only one at 4A.
"I remember the second half comeback against Highland Park to win, 29-28," Pier said. "In the semifinal game against Odessa Permian we had three blocked kicks and held on to win, 3-0. And of course, the state game (a 13-10 win over Port Neches-Grove); getting the victory there was amazing."
Pier would go on to coach track at Denison from 1985-92, winning seven district titles and having 10 state champions along the way, before moving to the Bryan ISD. Pier became the first head football coach at James Earl Rudder High School, a position he still holds down as the Rangers head coach and athletic director.
Patterson didn't play a variety of varsity sports like Haggard or Pier, but when it came to her sport of choice (soccer), she was the best the PISD had seen up to that point. Patterson was Plano's first NSCAA McDonald's High School All-American.
Playing when students could only compete on varsity for two seasons, Patterson was all-district and Team MVP in 1981 before going on to be named the district's MVP and an All-American in 1982.
The Lady Wildcats reached .500 for the first time during that period.
"I don't remember any specific games," Patterson said, "but I do have fond memories of the mentorship (head coach) Diane Davey provided as well as the relationships I formed and friends I made."
Patterson went on to play soccer at Texas A&M and North Carolina before taking over as head coach at Incarnate Word in 1993. Entering her 20th season at the helm, Patterson has amassed a 239-93-29 record while winning six conference titles and seven combined Coach of the Year honors in the Heart of Texas and Heartland Conferences.
Patterson wasn't the only Lady Wildcats' representative honored last Sunday as the 1988 girls soccer team was recognized. That squad won the second state title in program history by defeating Klein Oak, 2-1 in overtime, in the finals.
Also recognized were James "Dudie" Thomas and Arthur "Jack" Williams.
"Those two were outstanding supporters of Plano ISD and Plano ISD athletics," said Chris Feris, PISD assistant athletic director. "They were instrumental in developing youth programs for future Plano ISD student-athletes and their support of the Plano ISD programs was unprecedented. They were the backbone of community support and involvement during Plano's growth from a one high school town to today."
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