ODESSA, Texas – Odessa College is set to celebrate its athletic heritage this Friday, Oct. 30, by inducting six notable figures into the inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame class during the 2026 OC Honors Hall of Fame & Scholarship Gala.

Inductees representing basketball and rodeo

The honorees span women’s basketball, men’s basketball and the college’s storied rodeo program. They are:

• Doreatha Conwell Waitman – Women’s basketball. A two‑time NJCAA All‑American and the 1986 Kodak/WBCA National Player of the Year, Conwell‑Waitman helped the Lady Wranglers achieve a perfect 38‑0 season and capture the 1986 NJCAA National Championship.
• Coach Ken Hefner – Women’s basketball. Hefner guided the Lady Wranglers to two NJCAA national titles, the first in the unbeaten 1986 season and another in 1991, while also securing eight conference crowns.
• Larry Johnson – Men’s basketball. Johnson earned two NJCAA Player of the Year honors at Odessa College before winning the 1990 NCAA national championship with UNLV and being selected No. 1 overall in the 1991 NBA draft. He later played for the Charlotte Hornets and New York Knicks.
• Coach Dennis Helms – Men’s basketball. With 724 career victories across NJCAA programs, Helms led the Wranglers to multiple conference and regional championships and mentored players who advanced to major colleges and the NBA. He was inducted into the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2013.
• Ty Murray – Rodeo. Murray is a nine‑time professional rodeo world champion, boasting seven all‑around titles and two bull‑riding world championships, and he began his rodeo career at Odessa College.
• Coach Jim Watkins – Rodeo. Watkins directed the college’s rodeo program from 1984 to 2009, coaching future professionals such as Murray, Jim Sharp and Jerome Davis.

Event details and community impact

Tickets for the gala are $350 and can be purchased through the official Odessa College ticket page. The evening will feature a dinner, the induction ceremony, stories from the honorees, and both silent and live auctions. Platinum and diamond sponsors receive an exclusive MVP Cocktail Meet and Greet with the inductees beginning at 6 p.m.; the main gala and ceremony start at 7 p.m. for all attendees.

The event is a cornerstone fundraiser for the Odessa College Foundation. Proceeds from ticket sales, sponsorships and auction contributions directly support scholarships for current and future students. Sponsors for this year’s gala include Kent Kwik, DeArco Inc. and the Odessa Marriott Hotel & Conference Center.

How to get involved

Community members, alumni, former student‑athletes and supporters are encouraged to purchase tickets and consider sponsorship opportunities. For ticket information, sponsorship inquiries or additional event details, contact the Odessa College Foundation at [email protected] or call 432‑335‑6648.

Original reporting: CBS7 / First Alert 7 KOSA (Gray) — read the source article.