Arkadelphia, Ark. - The athletic department at Ouachita Baptist University will honor and induct four former student-athletes and one former coach on Friday evening, October 23. The inductees are Jack Mills, Victor Almaral Palafox, Tommy Patterson, Olga Palafox Tommey and Coach Frank Taylor. The banquet will begin at 5:30pm at the Walker Conference Center on Ouachita's campus. Rex Nelson, the voice of the Tiger football, will serve as the emcee for the ceremony. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the door for $25.

Victor Almaral Palafox


In 1975, the men's tennis program and Ouachita broke onto the scene. One of the reasons was because of Victor Almaral Palafox. Victor enrolled as a freshman in the fall of 1975. Hailing from Guadalajara, Mexico, one may wonder how Victor found his way to Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Jay Freeman, Sr. (Ouachita Hall of Fame; Class of 2007), a businessman and tennis professional from Little Rock knew Victor's uncle, Gus Palafox, another tennis professional. Gus sent a letter to Victor in July of 1975 and informed him he had just the place for him to play collegiate tennis. Over the next four years, Victor lead the Tigers to three AIC Championships. Victor was the AIC singles champion for four consecutive years posting an undefeated record in AIC competition. He was also the AIC doubles champion for four consecutive years while teaming up with his cousin, Olga Palafox Tommey for the first two of those years. Victor was named to the All-AIC Tennis Team four consecutive years. He also earned NAIA Honorable Mention accolades. After college, Victor competed for a short time on the European Tennis Tour. Following the tour, he relocated to Hot Springs where he served as the tennis pro at Hot Springs Country Club until 2008. He and his wife, Lori, have two grown children and three grandchildren. The couple own an income tax business in Hot Springs.



Jack Mills (awarded posthumously)


Jack Mills enrolled at Ouachita in the fall of 1962. Originally from Savannah, Illinois and playing high school football there, Jack's parents moved to Hot Springs in late 1961. Looking for a place to continue his football career, Jack visited Ouachita the spring of 1962. It is well remembered that Jack shared his high school scrapbook as he visited with Head Coach Rab Rodgers. The story goes that Coach Rodgers then pulled out his scrapbook. From that point, Rodgers offered Jack a scholarship and the rest is history. Jack proceeded to enjoy a stellar college career compiling pass receiving statistics that was unheard of during that era of college football. As a Tiger, he caught 106 passes for 1325 yards and 13 touchdowns. He received All-AIC Honorable Mention in 1963 and was First Team ALL-AIC in 1964 and 1965. Former Ouachita teammate, Johnny Jackson, describes Jack as "A great receiver in the day when most teams were running offensive formations without wide receivers. He lined up as a tight-end". Jack's football career did not end at the college level. The Continental Football League was in existence from 1965-1969 and served as a farm system for the National Football League. Jack played for both the Orlando Panthers and the Texarkana Titans. Jack is survived by his wife Meredith, daughters Lexi and Peyton and son Cliff.



Olga Plafox Tommey


Olga graduated from Mt. Saint Mary's High School in Little Rock. She was born in Cuba and lived in Mexico City early in her life. Her father, Gus, was a tennis professional who worked in Mexico City, Chicago, and Louisville, Kentucky. Gus and businessman and tennis pro, Jay Freeman, formed a friendship and Jay enticed Gus and his family to move to Little Rock to continue his career as tennis pro. This move to Little Rock, along with the relationship with Jay Freeman and his connection to Ouachita, created unique and challenging opportunities for Olga as she enrolled as a student in 1975. She joined the Tiger tennis team as the first female international tennis player at Ouachita. Olga was so talented that the coaching staff selected her to compete on the men's tennis team. Playing singles and partnering with her cousin, Victor Almaral Palafox, in doubles competition, Olga helped lead the team to three of the next four AIC Tennis Championships. In the doubles category, she and Victor were the AIC Doubles Champions in 1978 and 1979. She and her husband, Dale, live in El Dorado where she works for Delek Logistics. The couple has one daughter, Maria.




Tommy Patterson (awarded posthumously)


Tommy Patterson graduated from Camden Lincoln High School in 1966 and entered Ouachita during the fall of that year where he joined the men's basketball team under the leadership of Coach Bill Vining. Tommy was 6'6" and 220 pounds with an ideal physique for the game of basketball. He was a man amongst boys. Tommy started many games as a freshman power forward even though he had the size and height to play inside. He was an outstanding outside shooter according to Coach Vining. After his freshman year, Tommy joined the United States Army serving three years, including one year of duty in Vietnam. Returning to Ouachita in the fall of 1970, Tommy picked right up where he had left off three years earlier. The next two years, Tommy helped lead the Tigers to a second place AIC finish in 1971 and an AIC Championship in 1972. Being named to the All-AIC Basketball Team both years, Tommy averaged 24 points per game and 14 rebounds during his junior year. He was also named to the NAIA District 17 Team and received Second Team NAIA All-American honors. Even though Patterson had another year of eligibility remaining at Ouachita, he was drafted by the Baltimore Bullets as the 25^th pick in the 1972 NBA draft. Tommy will be represented by his daughter Kelana Patterson Meadows at the induction ceremony.



Coach Frank Taylor


Serving Ouachita as registrar since 1970, Frank Taylor's career would take a turn in the spring of 1975. With a vacancy in the golf program's head coach position, Taylor went to athletic director Bill Vining inquiring about the job. Vining's reply was the job was his but no additional pay! Taylor happily assumed the duties of head golf coach and continued to serve as Ouachita's registrar. For the next eight years Coach Taylor would transform the golf program into championship caliber teams. He led the Tiger golf team to several AIC Championships and four NAIA National Golf Championships. Growing up in Arkadelphia, Taylor attended Ouachita graduated in 1959. His final 2 years as a student, he helped coach the women's basketball team, formerly called the Ouachita Tigerettes. After leaving Ouachita in 1982, Taylor completed his doctorate then relocated his family to Carrollton, Texas where he served as the principal and administrator at Newman Smith High School. He and his wife Eddie Lou are retired and live in Northwest Arkansas. Although Frank is retired, he teaches three classes at Crowder Community College and also serves as a delivery driver for Cornerstone Drugs in Bentonville. They have three children, Lisa Schmitz, Tricia Newman and Rob Taylor.