EDINBURG – The University of Texas-Pan American Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced Tuesday that memorial services in memory of UTPA Hall of Famer and men's basketball head coach emeritus Sam Williams, who coached the Broncs to the 1963 NAIA National Championship, will be held on Friday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 27.
Williams passed away on Monday at the age of 88 due to natural causes.
A gathering will be held at
Kreidler Funeral Home, which is located at 314 N. 10
th St. in McAllen, on Friday from 6-8 p.m.
A memorial service will be held at
Kreidler Funeral Home on Saturday at 10 a.m.
UTPA Athletics will celebrate the life of Williams during a special ceremony at homecoming on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013 at the UTPA Fieldhouse.
The family is asking that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Sam Williams Endowed Scholarship fund. To do so, interested parties should make a check out to the UTPA Foundation, with “Sam Williams Endowed Scholarship” in the memo, and send it to UTPA Athletics at 1201 W. University Dr. in Edinburg, TX 78539. Donations to the Sam Williams Endowed Scholarship can also be made with a valid credit or debit card by calling the UTPA Foundation Office at (956) 665-5301.
The University of Texas-Pan American Department of Intercollegiate Athletics competes at the NCAA Division I level. UTPA, formerly known as Pan American College and Pan American University, is a part of the University of Texas System of Schools. The Broncs compete in 14 varsity sports: men's and women's basketball, golf, tennis, track and field, and cross country, along with women's volleyball and men's baseball. The Broncs have won six team national championships, including the 1963 NAIA Championship in men's basketball and every NAIA Championship in men's tennis from 1961 through 1965. The Broncs also have also won 10 individual national championships, all in men's tennis, with six NAIA doubles championships and four NAIA singles championships. UTPA has been a member of the Great West Conference in 12 sports since 2009-10. Men's golf competes in the America Sky Conference while men's tennis competes in the Southland Conference.
