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By PHIL HICKS
Sports Editor

WACO — Two of East Texas’ most talented running backs who went on to star on the collegiate level were honored Saturday by induction into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.

Conrad “Connie” Magouirk, a standout at London High School, and Joe Wylie, who dazzled opponents at Henderson High School, were part of the 2008 class of the THSF Hall of Fame.

Magouirk, now a banker in Baytown, represented the pre-1949 players, while Wylie, a CPA who resides in Tyler, represented the 1960s.

Other members of the class were: Johnny Treadwell of Stephen F. Austin High School in Austin (1950s); Johnny “Lam” Jones of Lampasas High School (1970s); Nati Valdez of Mission High School (1980s); Branndon Stewart of Stephenville High School (1990s); Art Briles of Stephenville High School (coaches); and sports writer Robert R. Cessna of the

Bryan-College Station Eagle

(special contributor to Texas High School football).

The inductees were introduced at a news conference Saturday afternoon at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, which has a wing for the prep stars. Later that night, a banquet was held in their honor at the Ferrell Center on the Baylor University campus.

Both Magouirk and Wylie said they were “overwhelmed” by the induction.

“I’m very honored to be recognized like this. What a wonderful experience,” said Magouirk, who was a

Sporting News

High School All-American in 1948.

Magouirk played at London High School from 1946-48. The school is now known as West Rusk High School and is in New London.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder played fullback and was known as “Big Connie” and “Madman Magouirk” for his bruising running style.

He led the 1948 London Wildcats to a 13-1 record, scoring 33 touchdowns and rushing for more than 2,000 yards. He then attended Texas A&M, where he lettered three years and was voted the team’s best blocking back.

Wylie was thrilled to be included as well.

“It is great to be included (in the Hall), but what is really special is to get to be with friends and family this weekend,” said Wylie, who is an accountant with Gollob, Morgan & Peddy in Tyler. “It’s like a reunion.”

Wylie played at Henderson from 1966-68 and was a two-time all-stater. He rushed for 5,804 career yards for the Lions. He had 2,812 total yards his senior season, with 1,840 yards rushing. He was also one of the best punt returners around.

Wylie played at Oklahoma from 1970-73 as a halfback in the wishbone formation alongside Greg Pruitt and behind quarterback Jack Mildren.

Wylie was later drafted by the Oakland Raiders and played for the Houston Oilers. He also played two years in the World Football League for the Portland Storm.

“One of my fun stats is I returned four punts for touchdowns one season and during two years of the league, no one else returned one for a touchdown,” he said.

Magouirk said he used to watch all the other inductees play, especially Wylie, “but he ran too fast for me to see him play,” he laughed.

The players signed footballs and hats for the hall as family and friends snapped photographs.

Notes:

John “Bubba” Kelley, a 2006 inductee who played for Mineola and now resides in Houston, attended the ceremony. … Steve Estes, former sports editor of the Tyler Morning Telegraph, was sighted at the Museum. … A bobble head of Arp’s Guy V. Lewis, the standout basketball coach at the University of Houston, greets visitors as they enter the Hall. He has his trademark red polka dot towel in his hand. … The Hall is located just off Interstate 35 on University Parks Drive, near the Baylor campus.