Texas Tech unveiled Thursday its 2016 Hall of Fame class which features several of the most recognizable names in school history such as Josh Bard, Jia Perkins, Wes Welker, Ted Watts and Jonathan Johnson. In addition, Texas Tech will also induct former football administrative assistant Jennie Bailey into its Hall of Honor.
 
The Hall of Fame/Hall of Honor ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4, inside the Overton Hotel & Conference Center ballroom. The inductees will also be honored the following day when the Red Raiders host Texas at Jones AT&T Stadium.
 
“We’re excited to announce this year’s class,” said Rodney Allison, director of the Texas Tech Double T Varsity Club. “This is a great opportunity for Texas Tech fans and the city of Lubbock to embrace and honor these outstanding individuals for their accomplishments wearing the scarlet and black. We look forward to honoring this year’s class on Nov. 4.”
 
Double T Varsity Club members can purchase Hall of Fame Ceremony tickets for $30 each. Tickets for the general public are priced at $50 per person while individual tables of eight are $500 each.
 
To purchase tickets or for questions, please contact the Double T Varsity Club at dtvc@ttu.edu or 806-834-8903.
 
JOSH BARD – BASEBALL (1997-99, Catcher)
Josh Bard became possibly the top catcher in Texas Tech history during his three-year career from 1997-99. He helped lead the Red Raiders through one of their most successful periods in school history as Tech claimed the inaugural Big 12 regular-season title in 1997 before winning the league’s tournament crown a year later. The Red Raiders advanced to an NCAA Regional in all three seasons with Bard behind the plate where he was the 1997 Big 12 Freshman of the Year as well as a two-time All-Big 12 first team honoree. In addition, Bard is one of just two players in school history to be named a first team All-American twice in a career as he earned the honor following both the 1998 and 1999 seasons. Bard remains a fixture in the Tech career record book where he is still tied for the all-time lead in doubles (73) and also ranks second for hits (­­268), home runs (43), RBI (232) and total bases (478). Bard was drafted in the third round of the 1999 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Colorado Rockies, marking the highest a Red Raider catcher has ever been selected. He played 10 seasons in the Major Leagues with stops with the Indians (2002-05), Red Sox (2006), Padres (2006-08), Nationals (2009) and Mariners (2010-11) before ending his career as part of the Dodgers organization. He currently serves as the Dodgers’ bullpen coach after spending three years in the club’s front office.
 
JONATHAN JOHNSON – TRACK & FIELD (2002-05, 800 meters)
Jonathan Johnson ran for Texas Tech track & field from 2002-05 and established himself as one of the greatest male track athletes in Red Raider history. The Abilene native was a nine-time All-American and racked up 16 all-conference awards, including four Big 12 outdoor titles in the 800 meters. In 2004, he became the first male NCAA champion in school history, storming around the track to a time of 1:46.39. In a race full of professional athletes at the Olympic Trials, the collegian Johnson outpaced the field and crossed the finish line with his guns up in first at 1:44.77, which was not only a personal & school record, but was also the No. 1 time by an American in 2004. Johnson was the first Olympian from Texas Tech track & field, and placed eighth in the semifinals of the 800m at the Athens games.
 
JIA PERKINS – WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (2000-04, Guard)
Jia Perkins finished her decorated Lady Raider career ranked fourth in scoring (1,768), second in steals (305) and seventh in assists (376) in Texas Tech history. After being named the team’s Most Valuable Player and an All-Big 12 honorable mention selection as a freshman, Perkins scored 15.9 points per game and averaged 2.6 steals as a junior on her way to being named an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press. She also collected first team All-Big 12 and All-Big 12 Tournament Team honors. Perkins helped lead the 2002-03 Lady Raiders all the way to the Elite Eight, just missing out on a trip to the Final Four. Over her 13-year WNBA career, Perkins has averaged 11.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 steals while playing for Charlotte, Chicago, San Antonio and now Minnesota after being a third-round pick of Charlotte in 2004.
 
TED WATTS – FOOTBALL (1978-80, Safety)
Ted Watts was a two-time All-Southwest Conference first-team honoree during his time leading the Red Raider secondary from 1978-80. Known for his speed and hard-hitting ability from the safety position, Watts combined for 149 tackles and 19 pass breakups over his final two seasons. His final season in 1980 resulted in first team All-America honors, making him just the second Red Raider defensive back in school history to garner the accolade at the time. Watts, who was the Pete Cawthon Memorial Team MVP in 1980, went on to be selected in the first round of the 1981 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders, beginning a six-year professional career that included stints with the New York Giants and San Diego Chargers.
 
WES WELKER – FOOTBALL (2000-03, Wide Receiver)
Wes Welker is one of the most synonymous names associated with the Air Raid era at Texas Tech. The Oklahoma native rewrote the Tech record book during his four-year career where he totaled 3,069 receiving yards, a mark that ranks third all-time in program history. Welker is also among the Tech all-time leaders in receptions (259) and touchdown receptions (21). In addition to his role with the high-scoring Red Raider offense, Welker made his mark as one of the top punt returners in NCAA history. To this day, Welker remains the NCAA all-time leader in career punt return yards (1,761) while his eight punts returned for a touchdown are tied with Oklahoma’s Antonio Perkins for the most in FBS history. Following his Red Raider career, Welker went on to a highly-successful 12 year career in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and St. Louis Rams. Welker recorded 9,924 receiving yards during his pro career after posting five seasons with at least 1,000 yards through the air. He also averaged an impressive 9.8 yards per punt return before retiring from the NFL following the 2015 season.
 
JENNIE BAILEY – FOOTBALL
Jennie Bailey, or “Mrs. Bailey” as football student-athletes referred to her for nearly three decades, will be inducted into the Texas Tech Hall of Honor for her 28-plus years of service and dedication to the Red Raider football program. Bailey handled many of the behind-the-scenes aspects of the football program, assisting with recruiting letters and setting up prospective student-athlete visits to campus among other duties. She was best known, though, for her role as “Momma Bailey.” Few student-athletes passed through the football offices without stopping each day to see Mrs. Bailey. While there, the topic of football rarely came up. Instead, she was more worried about how life was – how were his parents or what he had done for fun lately. Bailey passed away after a battle with cancer in June 2015. Her courage and spirit in her fight to defeat cancer inspired many and led Texas Tech to establish the Jennie Bailey “Be Brave” Lifetime Scholarship Endowment in September 2015.
 
(COURTESY: Texas Tech Sports Information Department)