NBC broadcaster Todd Christensen, New York Giant Center Bart Oates and PGA golfer Keith Clearwater are among the five inductees into this year's BYU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Rounding out the five are former baseball All-American Ron Hill and women's tennis All-American Traci Tanner MacDonald.The five will be inducted in ceremonies at BYU on Thursday at the BYU Cougar Room in the Football Stadium. BYU Athletic Director Glen Tuckett will emcee the event and BYU Baseball Coach Gary Pullins will be the featured speaker.
Christensen, who is now a color analyst for NBC sports, particularly NFL football, was an All-Pro selection at tight end for the Oakland Raiders. He played for BYU from 1974-77 as a fullback. He is from Eugene, Oregon, but now resides in Utah Valley.
Oates currently competes for the New York Giants and has also been an All-Pro selection in his eight-year career. He is from Albany, Ga., but now resides in River Vale, N.J., where he also practices as an attorney for the firm of Ribis, Graham & Curtin. Oates played for BYU from 1977-82.
Clearwater, from Sacramento, Calif., now resides in Orem and has been a seven-year member of the PGA tour. He helped lead BYU to its NCAA Championship in 1981, was a two-time All-American the next season and was MasterCard Rookie of the Year in the PGA in 1987. He currently ranks among the top 25 money winner's on this year's PGA Tour.
Hill, from Portland, Ore., now resides in Vancouver, Wash., where he is a director of footwear marketing for Nike Shoes. He played for BYU from 1973-75 and set several BYU stolen base records.
Tanner MacDonald, from Las Vegas, Nev., now resides in Provo and was a four-time All-American at BYU. She was inducted into the Utah Summer Games Hall of Fame in 1988.
There are 109 members enshrined in the BYU Athletic Hall of Fame, which was founded by the BYU Cougar Club in 1975 as part of BYU's Centennial Celebration.