The backstory
According to the district, the new Hall of Honor was created to recognize these individuals and teams as well as the support systems behind them.
The news release states that in order to recognize the people who leave a positive mark on district athletic programs, the following categories exist for consideration of potential honorees:
- Individuals who have represented a Northwest ISD high school in an athletic program.
- A full athletic team of a Northwest ISD high school during a specified competition season.
- Individuals who have coached athletics for a Northwest ISD school.
- Individuals other than student-athletes or coaches who have made a significant contribution to enhance athletic programs.
According to the news release, the Hall of Honor selection committee chose members of the program’s Class of 2023 based on established guidelines for each category.
- Brittany Barnhill, who led her Northwest High School softball teams to the UIL state tournament in 2005 and 2006
- Marty Green, who passed for 5,730 yards during his football career at Northwest
- Dustin May, who earned numerous accolades throughout his high school baseball career and was drafted as a pitcher by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016
- Teresa Smith, who coached volleyball at Northwest High School and was a runner-up in 1993
- Howard Putter, the Byron Nelson boys soccer team coach who started the program in 2011 and retired in 2021
- Gary Prescott, a former head football coach at Northwest that later served as the district's director of athletics
- The 1972 Northwest boys basketball team that was 33-2
- The 2013 Byron Nelson girls golf team that won the UIL Class 4A title
- Val and Kandy Franklin are entering as contributors for their work on the NISD Long-Range Planning Committee that helped with construction of Byron Nelson High school and NISD Stadium.
According to the news release, inductees associated with Byron Nelson High School will be recognized at the school’s Oct. 13 varsity football game, while inductees associated with Northwest High School will be recognized at the school’s Oct. 20 varsity football game. All honorees will be recognized at a banquet Jan. 20.
Following these events, Hall of Honor members will be recognized on displays in Northwest ISD Stadium.