2017 TSHoF Speeches – Rita Crockett and Dave Elmendorf

Rita Crockett is a San Antonio native and is considered one of the best all-around volleyball players in history. She played collegiately for the University of Houston and was selected to the 1980 and 1984 U.S. Olympic teams. Rita was a key member of the silver-winning ‘84 team. Outside of the U.S. program, Rita played professional volleyball in Japan, Italy and Switzerland. Rita returned to the United States to play in the new Major League Volleyball league from 1986-87, earning the league’s MVP in 1987.

A native of Houston, Texas, Dave Elmendorf was a star football running back and baseball player. He was a 1971 graduate of Texas A&M and was a 1970 All-American selection in football as a safety, kick returner and tailback, and was a two-time All-American center fielder on the baseball team. Dave was named All-Southwest Conference in 1969 and 1970. In 1971, he was drafted to play baseball by the New York Yankees but chose to play football for the Los Angeles Rams. He was drafted in the 3rd round of the 1971 NFL Draft, earning all-rookie honors his first season. In his nine NFL seasons started all 130 games, intercepting 27 passes and recovering 10 fumbles