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EDINBURG – The University of Texas-Pan American Department of Intercollegiate Athletics honored UTPA Hall of Famer, Olympic Gold Medalist and former-NBA player Luke Jackson by raising his retired jersey into the rafters of the UTPA Fieldhouse in a special halftime ceremony during Saturday's men's basketball game.
 
Jackson's No. 54 was originally retired across all sports on November 12, 1964 by the board of what was then known as Pan American College.
 
Jackson's number was the first to be retired in school history and the only one to be retired across all sports. Since then, only Hall of Fame baseball head coach Al Ogletree has had his number retired.
 
“I'm glad it happened, but I was just a part of a team,” Jackson said. “I wasn't too concerned about my stats. I wanted to win.”
 
And win they did. A 6-9 power forward/center out of San Marcos, Jackson spent three seasons with the Broncs, leading them to the 1962-63 NAIA National Championship as a junior by scoring 25 points and pulling in 25 rebounds to beat Western Carolina 73-62. Throughout the NAIA National Tournament, Jackson averaged 26.4 points and 18.6 rebounds per game to earn the Most Valuable Player award.  

Jackson led the Broncs back to the NAIA National Championship game during the 1963-64 season as well.

A two-time All-American, Jackson ranks first in program history in career field goal percentage (.547), free throws made (443) and free throws attempted (605), second in points scored (1,813), rebounds (1,393) and field goals made (685), and sixth in field goals attempted (1,252). His name is also in the Top 10 for single-season records 17 times and single-game records eight times.
 
“I used to always get a kick out of coming out and being with [Jackson] on the same team,” said Marty Urand, a former teammate of Jackson's. “I'd always here the other guys say I'd rather get kicked in the head by a Bronco than go up and rebound against [Jackson].”
 
Shortly after graduating, Jackson went on to help Team USA win the gold medal in men's basketball at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo.
 
The fourth overall pick of the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1964 NBA Draft, Jackson went on to play in 522 games across eight seasons in the NBA, averaging 9.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. During the 1964-65 season, Jackson was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team and the NBA All-Star Team. He averaged a career-high 14.8 points and 12.9 rebounds per game. Jackson was a starter alongside Wilt Chamberlain on the 1966-67 76ers squad that won the NBA Championship.
 
Jackson was inducted into the inaugural UTPA Hall of Fame class in 2007.
 
He currently resides in Beaumont with his wife, Marva.
 
The Broncs also recognized the entire 1962-63 NAIA Championship team during halftime in honor of their 50^th anniversary.