Basketball star Terrell to be enshrined with five others tonight in SMU Athletic Hall of Fame

By Corbett Smith

Ira Terrell called himself a “Mustang for life” — a Roosevelt Mustang as a star high school player, and one of the greatest basketball players ever seen at SMU.

It’s fitting then that Terrell — the 1976 Southwest Conference Player of the Year — will be enshrined into the SMU Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday night, his name placed alongside such luminaries as Doak Walker, Eric Dickerson and Payne Stewart. The induction ceremony and dinner will start at 7 p.m. Friday at the Hilton Anatole.

“I certainly don’t take this honor lightly,” Terrell said. “It’s important to me, and I’m really looking forward to Friday night. I’m elated that I’m able to share it with my friends and family.”

Terrell is one of six former SMU athletes to be honored. Other inductees are coaches E.O. “Doc” Hayes and George McMillion, women’s basketball player Karlin Kennedy Harris, defensive tackle Louie Kelcher and tennis player Richey Reneberg.

The fourth men’s basketball player inducted, Terrell joins Jim Krebs (inducted in 2009), Jon Koncak (2010) and Gene Phillips (2011) in the Hall of Fame.

After missing his junior season when he was suspended by the NCAA for accepting $50 on two occasions, Terrell won the conference’s top honor as a senior, averaging 22.6 points and 13.4 rebounds. He and Koncak are the only SMU players to finish their careers with more than 1,000 points and rebounds. Terrell averaged double digits in points and rebounds in each of his three seasons at SMU.

“Just being part of a select group of athletes, a tremendous group, it’s special,” Terrell said.