Pearson, Casillas head to hall
Ex-Dallas Cowboys join quartet of legends in 2008 class
Pearson, Casillas head to hall

Basketball great Marques Haynes had made three wishes, and all of them came true Wednesday at the state capitol.

It happened when the 2008 Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame class was introduced in the capitol's Blue Room.

Two former state football stars, Oklahoma noseguard Tony Casillas and Tulsa wide receiver Drew Pearson, were added to the previously announced quartet of baseball pitcher Eddie Fisher, wrestling legend Jack Van Bebber and basketball coaches Bob Bass and Zip Gayles.

"Marques has been a member of our hall of fame for quite some time,” said Lynne Draper of the Jim Thorpe Association, "and over the years he has campaigned to get certain people in the hall of fame. Marques this year has hit a trifecta, because he campaigned for Drew Pearson, Bob Bass and Zip Gayles.”

The six 2008 inductees will bring the total of Oklahoma Sports Hall of Famers to 116. The list includes Pearson and his former father in law, Haynes.

"The first thing he said when I told him was, "It's about time,'” Pearson said. "He gave me a big hug. We were at my grandson's flag football game this past Sunday.

"Just to be considered in the same hall of fame as somebody like Marques is so special to me. Because I know what he is an athlete, but he would make this hall of fame as a person even if he didn't play any sports. He's been a great motivator to me, to lead my life the way he's led his life.”

When Haynes was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 1993, he was presented by Pearson, the former Dallas Cowboys great.

And when this year's banquet is held Aug. 18 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, guess who will be presenting Pearson?

"There's no question that the guy who's got to present me that evening is Marques Haynes,” Pearson said. "I still think of him as my father in law. I know how to say ex-wife. I paid for that right. I don't know how to say ex-father in law.”

Casillas, a two-time All-American at OU, and Fisher, one of baseball's best relief pitchers for 15 years, also attended Wednesday's press conference.

"Being recognized as one of the greatest athletes in Oklahoma is something I never envisioned,” said Casillas, a Tulsa native. "It's very humbling to be mentioned in the same breath with these individuals.”

Fisher, who also went to OU, grew up in Altus.

"I want everyone to know what an honor it is to be put in the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, because there are some pretty heavy hitters in there,” Fisher said. "They're really legends, like Bud Wilkinson. I went to school when Bud was there, and every month I'd have to go to his office to get my $15 laundry money for the month. He would question me whether I earned it. But just to be included with people like him is amazing. I just hope that I've lived up to the honor.”

Pearson, a three-time all-pro receiver, might have had the best line of the day: "I think the reason I'm going to be inducted into this hall of fame is because of my accomplishments as a Dallas Cowboy, because at Tulsa I made all-nothing. It seemed every time we played a game when I was at Tulsa that it was somebody's homecoming.”

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