Nov. 28, 2002
This is another "B" Line column, a periodic collection of news items of particular interest to members of the Baylor "B" Association. Contribute news about you or your teammates via e-mail to Lee Harrington (leenelaine@281.com), Dutch Schroeder (Dutch_Schroeder@baylor.edu), Reba Cooper (Reba_Cooper@baylor.edu), Kyle Penney,(Kyle_Penney@baylor.edu) or Jack Loftis (Jack.Loftis@chron.com). The mailing address is Baylor "B" Association, P. O. Box 8120, Waco, TX 76714
TENNIS, ANYONE? - When Baylor football letterman Jim Mavity gave up coaching in the early 1970s to become a Houston homebuilder, little did he suspect that he would return to his old profession 16 years later and again become one of the state's most successful coaches - this time in tennis. Katy Taylor High School, under Mativy's tutorage, this year captured its third Class 5A team tennis championship, also having won in 1997 and 1998. Mavity was an outstanding high school lineman in Tennessee before coming to Baylor on scholarship in the mid-1950s. A knee injury in his freshman year limited his service as a player for the Bears, but he did assist in coaching freshmen while he was attending graduate school. After coaching Dallas area teams for 11 years Mavity joined Perry Homes Inc. in Houston, where he became the organization's senior vice president before returning to teaching and coaching in 1987. While out of coaching Mavity took up tennis and found he liked the sport and was good at it. Thus, he became Katy Taylor's tennis coach and in 1997 he was named Class 5A Tennis Coach of the Year . . .
TENNESSEE HONOR - Now retired as a full-time teacher-coach, Mavity will continue to coach the Katy Taylor tennis teams, as well as teaching one world history course. Last year Mavity returned to his native Cleveland, Tenn., to be inducted into the Bradley County Hall of Fame. And not to be overlooked are two very personal achievements by the Mavity family. His daughter Julie won the Class 5A doubles championship for Katy Taylor in 1992, the same year that Dad was a member of the national championship tennis team for age-50-and-over participants . . . While winning its 2002 championship, Katy Taylor defeated Corpus Christi Carroll in three sets. Nothing to it, according an article in The Houston Chronicle. "The whole year we've won a great majority of our three-set matches," said Mavity. "It's like overtime in football or extra innings in baseball. It's the key to winning a championship." . . .
DOWN, BUT NOT OUT - Jim Pate, another football letterman during the mid-1950s, is recovering at home in Dallas after an emergency appendectomy on Nov. 27. And, yes, his traditional Baylor holiday luncheon is still scheduled for Dec. 7 (10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.) at the Park City Club in Dallas. Prior to surgery Pate was still looking for a name to join the list of former luncheon speakers, a Baylor Who's Who that includes BU president Robert Sloan, former Gov. Mark White, athletic director Tom Stanton, former football coach Dave Roberts, track coach Clyde Hart, former women's basketball coach Sonja Hogg, former State Sen. David Sibley and baseball coach Steve Smith. In his invitation to the annual event - always a gathering of former BU athletes, non-athletes and friends of Baylor in general - Pate stressed that the luncheon will not be used to discuss any Baylor issues, but simply will be an opportunity see friends and renew fellowships. The first December gathering six years ago drew 42 attendees and the last one pulled in 225. Anyone wanting to wish Pate a speedy recovery or get more information about his luncheon may call 972-994-0996 or send an e-mail message to kan-haul@kanhaul.com . . .
JACK LOFTIS
CO-CHAIRMAN
COMMUNICARIONS COMMITTEE
