PASADENA, TX –The Pasadena ISD Athletics Hall of Fame enshrined its eleventh class with eight new members at the March 12, 2025, Induction Ceremony held at the Pasadena Convention Center.  The annual event is made possible by the Pasadena ISD Athletics Hall of Fame Committee in collaboration with the Pasadena ISD Education Foundation and Pasadena ISD along with many local sponsors.  

The ceremony featured honorary guest emcee Matt Musil, retired KHOU sports anchor and reporter, and communication director for the City of Houston Parks and Recreation. This year's inductees included Sharonda McDonald (Kelley), Josh Rodriguez, Kristine Kelly, Bobby Kramer, Bruce Aguilar, Nancy Cole Bowman, Rick Brewer and the 1980 Dobie Cross Country.

The event began with a walk down memory lane as inductees and their guests arrived at Weldon Phillips Gymnasium, transformed into a memorabilia museum showcasing the inductees' lifelong history and achievements. Attendees then moved to the Pasadena Convention Center for a night to remember. 

Later as people arrived at the Pasadena Convention Center, they were welcomed with a celebratory welcome from district cheerleaders, JROTC, and band members, followed by a delicious meal provided by Ernie Zardeneta Catering Services.

As an ongoing tradition, the Athletics Hall of Fame awarded the Bert Coan Memorial Scholarship to Pasadena ISD J. Frank Dobie High School student Willard Joiner III, and the Pasadena ISD Hall of Fame Scholarships to Sam Rayburn High School student-athlete Daniela Rodriguez and South Houston trojan Braden Mayberry. Methodist Hospital also contributed by awarding scholarships to athletic trainers: Mariana Marquez from Pasadena High School and Dobie High School Ana Nguyen. 

For the first time in induction history, the foundation awarded the Robert Avery Memorial Scholarship to aspiring media professional Longhorn Kahlina Chahayed. This scholarship honors Robert Avery, a longtime sportswriter for the Pasadena Citizen, who passed away earlier this year, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and passion for local sports.

The night concluded with meet and greets, photos, and autographs with the 2025 inductees, making it a truly memorable evening for all involved.

Meet the 2025 Pasadena ISD Alumni Hall of Fame inductees.

Bruce Aguilar: Sam Rayburn High School • Class of 1985

Rick Brewer: Pasadena High School • Class of 1963

A crafty right-handed pitcher for two of the Eagles’ top teams in the Sixties,  Brewer lettered two years in both baseball and football at Pasadena High School. The Eagles baseball team won district his junior year. As a senior, Brewer went 4-0 in district play for a 25-9 team that finished third in district. He pitched two seasons for San Jacinto College before transferring to the University of Houston. Brewer went on to become a key mound component for the Cougars’ playoff teams in 1966 and 1967. 

At the College World Series in 1967, Brewer’s relief effort with one scoreless extra inning helped defeat Boston College. He then pitched a four-hit shutout against Arizona State to put U of H in the title game. U of H Coach Lovette Hill said “He’s my giant-killer. I use him against nothing but the giants -- the ones that swing the bat." His 2.00 career ERA ranks third in U of H history. His .800 winning percentage (8-2) is fourth. Immediately after college, Brewer joined the Air Force and served in Vietnam. He retired as a full colonel. Brewer was inducted into the University of Houston’s Athletics Hall of Honor in 2024.

Nancy Cole Bowman: Pasadena Memorial High School • Class of 2009

A standout volleyball player at Pasadena Memorial High School, Cole was named first team all-district three straight years. Twice she was named the team’s MVP. As a junior, she led the Houston area with 500 kills. As a sophomore, she was No. 1 in the region with 115 blocks. As a senior she led the Houston area with 630 kills. She was rated the No. 62 volleyball recruit in the nation and named all-state by LoneStarVolleyball.com. 

The summer after her graduation, Cole helped lead the Absolute Volleyball Club to the gold medal in the National Division of the USAV Junior Olympics. She was named the division’s MVP. Cole earned high honors during four seasons as a starter for the Rice volleyball team. She was, arguably, the first female athlete from Pasadena Memorial to rise to elite status at a Division I school. She led the Owls to an NCAA postseason berth as a freshman, only the third in school history. The Owls finished second in Conference USA her junior and senior years. She was named to Conference USA’s first-team squad two times. She was an honorable mention All-American selection three times. Cole established top 10 rankings in several statistical categories during her college career. She was picked twice as her team’s MVP, and she still ranks in the top 10 in many of the Owls’ career and single-season statistics categories.

Kristine Kelly: Pasadena High School • Class of 2006

A versatile athlete in and out of the pool, Kelly rewrote nearly all of the swimming records at Pasadena High School. She was named the most valuable swimmer in District 23-5A both her junior and senior seasons. Three times she won the district 200 freestyle title and twice won the district 100 backstroke crown. Kelly broke 71 school records at PHS. Only one record kept by the school eluded her. She shattered 21 Pasadena ISD records.

As a senior, she won the Dale Parrott Award as the outstanding swimmer in Pasadena ISD. She also collected numerous honors in water polo competition. In track, Kelly set school records in the pole vault and shot put -- and a Pasadena ISD record in the pole vault. Kelly graduated No. 6 in her class. She is the daughter of Robert and Darla Kelly, both Pasadena ISD swim coaches. Her mom coached her in high school. Kelly competed in swimming for two years at the University of Houston. Kelly is now a lawyer in Houston.

Sharonda McDonald Kelley: J. Frank Dobie High School • Class of 2003

At Dobie, she was named district co-MVP as a senior shortstop and was twice a unanimous all-district pick. McDonald ranks as probably the best softball position player ever produced by a Pasadena ISD school. She placed fifth at the state track meet in the 200 meters as a junior. At Texas A&M, she was named All-Big 12 in each of her four seasons. She holds Aggie single-season records for runs scored (60) and stolen bases (48) -- and still ranks as the program's all-time leader in both categories. Her 48 steals in 2005 led the nation and helped her earn the 2005 NCAA Golden Shoe Award as the nation's top baserunner.

While at A&M, she set an NCAA record with 73 consecutive stolen bases. That record still stands. As a senior, she led the Aggies to the Women’s College World Series for the first time in 20 years. McDonald played professionally for eight years after college while launching her college coaching career. She was named a National Pro Fast-Pitch all-star three times. Since 2022, McDonald has been the head softball coach at Michigan State; she goes by Sharonda McDonald-Kelley, but she’s “Coach Sho” to her players.

Josh Rodriguez South Houston High School • Class of 2003

Josh Rodriguez was a standout athlete in football and baseball at South Houston High School before playing shortstop at Rice University. He contributed significantly to Rice's championship years under coach Wayne Graham and played in the 2006 College World Series. Rodriguez was a second-round draft choice of the Cleveland Indians following his junior season at Rice.

He started three years at Rice, hitting .306 as a freshman, .345 as a sophomore, and .344 as a junior. Rodriguez earned WAC Freshman of the Year in 2004 and twice received third-team All-America honors. He led Rice in home runs and RBIs as a sophomore and played with Team USA, hitting .326 against international competition. The Owls' postseason success improved each year during his time at Rice, culminating in a College World Series appearance his junior season.

Rodriguez had a long career in professional baseball, including a brief stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011. He emerged as a star player in the Mexican League from 2018 until his retirement this season.

Coach Bobby Kramer: J. Frank Dobie High School

Hired in 1977, Coach Bobby Kramer needed only six years to develop a program worthy of state-wide recognition. Kramer brought numerous titles to Dobie during an 18-year career as head tennis coach. At the same time, he encouraged youth participation in tennis across the South Belt area. At its peak in the mid-Eighties, Kramer’s Dobie program earned numerous Top 10 state rankings while dominating competition in District 23-5A.

Starting in 1983, his girls captured five straight district team tennis titles. In 1985, his combined boys and girls teams won three straight district championships. His 1985 and 1987 squads advanced to the regional semifinals. In 1986, the squad won 59 of 63 matches in district play and swept the district field in head-to-head competition, 7-0. The Longhorns reached the regional final, falling just one step short of state.Kramer retired in 1995. He was subsequently elected to the Texas Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Dobie’s Faculty Dobie Hall of Honor.

1980 Dobie Boys Cross Country Team: J. Frank Dobie High School Longhorns 

Coach Bryan’s squad produced the first state championship by a Pasadena ISD school since Pasadena High’s state track conquest in 1957. It was the first of two titles for Coach John Bryan’s Dobie program. Just over five months later, his boys track team also won the state championship. In their 11 meets that fall, the Longhorns placed in the top three each time, winning 9 out of 11 meets.

At the  State cross-country meet, three Dobie runners placed in the Top 20: Gawain Guy took 10th, Pete Ramos 13th and Phillip Williams 19th. That paved the way for the Longhorns to post 56 points, by far the lowest (and best) score in the field. Edinburg was a distant second with 93 points. Rounding out the Longhorns’ top 6 finishers were Greg Johnson(24), Dave Windsor (29) and Todd Whistler (31).The meet was the pinnacle performance for a cross-country program that had finished third at the state meet in 1978 and fifth in 1979.