The Howard Payne University athletic department announced Wednesday that Lowell Bishop, James Hall and Dr. Larry Nickell have been named as the 2025 Athletics Hall of Fame inductees. Tickets are now available for purchase for the 2025 HPU Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet to be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025 in the Brownwood Events Center.

Lowell Bishop was a four-year track letterman, bronze medalist in the mile at the NAIA national meet in 1963 and a member of Lone Star Conference Championship track teams in 1962 and 1963. After graduating from Bangs High School, where he set a state record in the 880-yard dash in 1959, Bishop turned down Division I scholarship offers to attend Howard Payne to run for the legendary Coach Cap Shelton. As a freshman, Bishop made the Howard Payne two-mile relay that was invited to run at the Coliseum Relays in Los Angeles. In his four years, he participated in many prestigious meets, including the Kansas and Drake Relays. He was on the cross-country team that placed third in the NAIA in 1962. Also in 1962, Bishop was part of the two-mile relay team with Glenn Petty, Frank Santiago and Jack Petty that was undefeated in indoor meets. In 1962, Bishop ran a 4:12.0 mile, the qualifying time for NCAA Division I and the AAU National. It was also the second fastest mile run by an HPU miler through 1963. After graduating from HPU, Bishop coached track at Gatesville, Monahans, Bangs, Abilene and Marathon. Monahans won a state title in 1973 and regional championships in 1973 and 1975 under his leadership. His teams also won 13 track and cross-country district titles in Monahans and Bangs.

James Hall, from Fort Worth Trimble Tech, played for the Yellow Jackets in 1976-77 and 1977-78 after transferring from Cooke County Junior College to play for HPU Coach Bob Derryberry. Despite playing only two seasons, the 6-4 forward was one of HPU’s most impactful basketball players. In the 1977-1978 season, he was a consensus first team All-American, Lone Star Conference Most Valuable Player in a unanimous coaches’ vote, first team NAIA District 4 and named to the LSC All-Tournament Team. He averaged 27.3 points and 9 rebounds that season. Hall finished 17th on the all-time HPU scoring list with 1,324 points. He is in the Top 10 in HPU history in field goals made with 561, tied for the most field goals made in a season with 346 in 1977-78 and third in HPU history with 815 points in one season. One of his most memorable feats was a steal of an inbounds pass and layup with one second remaining to defeat Sam Houston State 67-66 in the final LSC regular season game in 1978.

Dr. Larry Nickell joined Howard Payne University in 1991 as director of intercollegiate athletics and associate professor and chair of the department of exercise science. Howard Payne teams during his tenure won 30 conference championships – with every team winning at least one conference championship. The men’s basketball team reached the NAIA National Tournament and the football team hosted its first-ever NAIA football playoff game. Nickell also was named NAIA District 8 Administrator of the Year in 1993. The number of student athletes grew by 50%, from 300 to 450 during his time at the school. He oversaw HPU’s move from NAIA to NCAA Division III. He raised funds to build a new baseball field and a new field house with locker rooms, offices, a weight room and athletic training room entry. He also taught biomechanics, physiology and leadership and grew the department of exercise science to the second largest on campus. Nickell earned a doctorate from the University of Arkansas, D.D.S from Baylor College of Dentistry and a B.A. and M.A. from Austin College. He also taught and coached in several Texas public and private schools and was an adjunct professor at Austin College. Nickell had dentistry practices in Wylie and Van Alstyne and taught at Baylor College of Dentistry.

Bishop, Hall, and Nickell will be recognized at the 2025 HPU Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet on Saturday, May 17, 2025. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., dinner will follow at 6:00 p.m., and presentations will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $28 a person and can be purchased online HERE or by calling 325-649-8048.