Jim Forbes selected to Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame
Jim Forbes, who was an El Paso sports icon for decades, has earned a spot in the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame.
The announcement was made Thursday. Forbes, who died in January at the age of 69, will be inducted with seven others on May 20, 2023, as part of the annual Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Clinic.
Forbes graduated from Bel Air High School, played for the United States basketball team in the 1972 Olympics, played at UTEP and was a successful high school basketball coach. He guided the Riverside and Andress boys basketball teams to the state tournament.
As a TABC board member, he was a great ambassador for the coaches and players in the El Paso area and around the state. His high school jersey No. 50 is retired at Bel Air. Both Andress’ and Riverside’s gyms are named in his honor.
"Coach Forbes deserves this honor, he touched so many lives," said current Andress coach Eugene Costello, who was Forbes' assistant coach for many years. "Coaches from all over Texas will share stories of how he reached out to them and supported them in some way."
Other inductees
Chuck Darden coached for 44 years at Shallowater High School, with 41 as the head coach. He won 1,052 games during his career, which included 35 playoff appearances, 23 district championships, 18 regional tournaments, seven state tournaments.
Larry Davis was a three-year starter at Lufkin High School where he played for Hall of Fame Coach Jessie Walker. As a sophomore, Davis helped the Panthers to the 4A state championship in 1979 by averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds per game and was named to the all-state tournament team. A three-time all-state selection, Davis averaged more than 18 points and 11 rebounds per game during his career.
Keith Edmonson played at Douglas MacArthur High School in San Antonio where he scored 2,389 points and pulled down 1,197 rebounds from 1975-78.
Larry Goad coached for 43 years, with head coaching stints for four years at Henrietta High School and 30 years at Desoto High School. His teams won 766 games, which included 19 playoff appearances, 11 district championships, and advanced to eight regional finals.
Larry Spruiell played at Pottsboro High School, Megarel High School, (consolidated now with Olney), and Petrolia High School. As a freshman, he averaged 14.5 points per game, 24.5 as a sophomore and 27.3 as a senior.
Trenia Tillis-Hoard was a four-year starter at Grapeland High School for Hall of Fame Coach Don Tullos. She led the Sandiettes to back-to-back state tournament appearances in 1987-88 and 1988-89, winning the championship in 1989. Tillis-Hoard averaged 25 points and 16 rebounds per game as a freshman, 29 points and 18 rebounds as a sophomore, 35 points and 15 rebounds as a junior, and 27 points and 12 rebounds as a senior.
Nancy Walling spent 30 years in coaching, with 25 of those being a head coach at Belton High School and Pflugerville High School. She won 647 games during that span, which included 18 playoff appearances, 13 district championships, four regional tournaments, and four state tournament appearances.
More: Photos of Jim Forbes https://www.elpasotimes.com/picture-gallery/news/2022/01/21/coach-jim-forbes-el-paso-times-andress/6607315001/
Felix F. Chavez may be reached at 915-546-6167; fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Jim Forbes earns spot in Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame
