10.23.2025_Defender-e-FULL

Black Voter Shift Organizers focus on Mobilization

Volume 95, issue 1 October 23, 2025

PROFILE

NEWS

T TAYLOR DAVIS D

3RD WARD RESIDENTS S

T beauty queen is The rredefining her role as a Miss Texas USA.

The neighbors are fighting hard against what they call predatory developers.

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DN News Third Ward residents seek to stop

‘PREDATORY DEVELOPER’

By Aswad Walker

A group of Third Ward residents is calling foul on a developer they say is engaged in unauthorized construction that violates the neighborhood’s deed restrictions.

Their fears run deeper than just one property.

Residents warn of the destruction of their neighborhood’s aesthetic, rising property taxes, a double standard that favors wealthy developers with no allegiance to the community and a blueprint for colonizing Houston’s Black neighborhoods.

The property in question

The flashpoint of residents’ anger is 3838 Southmore, near Scott Street. Behind an existing house, a second large home has been erected without city permits, according to records.

The City of Houston confirmed that the developer was told to stop construction four times in the last 60 days. Red tags were placed on the property, signifying code violations.

However, construction was underway when the Defender visited the property in question.

The developer of record is TPC Endeavors, LLC, whose registered agent is Dr. Gregory Bancroft, a plastic surgeon based in Sugar Land. The company is also based in Sugar Land. The Defender reached out to Bancroft’s office for an interview with Bancroft but was directed to a man identified as his business partner, Shahab Hashemi. However, no public phone number exists for TPC Endeavors.

For residents, the matter goes beyond paperwork. They say it’s about respect—and survival.

Residents speak out

“The issue is that we have a predatory investor who’s decided to come into our community and build this structure here,” said Samantha Townsend, a Third Ward resident. “It is illegal. There are no permits. There are no codes that have been filed with the City of Houston.

There is already an infringement that we see along the fence lines. It’s being done illegally.

“Although we’ve made efforts to escalate according to the policies and guidelines with the City of Houston, this predatory investor

The structure behind 3838 Southmore is what area residents are concerned about. Credit: Aswad Walker.

still is belligerently moving forward with the building process and we want it stopped.”

Marc Newsome, a longtime resident, award-winning director and photographer, echoed the sentiment.

“I’m a resident on this street and what I want to direct your attention to is what I call a predatory developer that’s created this big, monstrous structure in the back of the yard,” said Newsome, who is also a university professor. “They just purchased this home right here, recently. We have deed restrictions that prohibit this sort of thing. The problem that we’re having right now is city enforcement.

“Apparently, somebody can come into a Black neighborhood and just build any type of structure. And you can report it, but the issue that we’re having is no enforcement. When you call the cops, cops can’t do anything.”

The neighborhood deed restrictions state: “All lots shall be used solely for single-family residential use… Only one unitary detached residential dwelling structure shall be erected on each lot.”

Newsome recalled how hard neighbors worked to protect those restrictions.

“We had a lawyer, we paid the expense of getting our deed restrictions updated because we didn’t want townhomes and lofts and that sort of thing on our street. We want people to have regular homes with yards, which is becoming a dying breed right now. So, we specifically spent money and implemented a

Honor 95 Years of Truth

Belligerent is one word Third Ward residents use to describe the actions of what they are calling a ‘predatory developer’ who is constructing things in their neighborhood that are strictly forbidden by area deed restrictions. Credit: Aswad Walker.

WHAT NEIGHBORS WANT

lot of effort to get this done,” shared Newsome.

“And then this guy comes in and he builds this horrific thing, and he builds it really quickly...

Within a week, they had this big monstrosity in our backyard.”

“Belligerent” actions

To residents, the defiance of red tags and city orders makes the developer’s actions especially insulting.

“The reason it’s belligerent is because we know that if we are going to build anything

on our properties, we have to file for permits and pay for permits with the City of Houston,” said Townsend. “According to the records that have currently been filed with the City of Houston, there are no records, no permits that have been filed regarding the construction at 3838 Southmore.”

“Each time that they’re red tagged, they remove the red tags. And the red tags are for code violations because there’s no code permits or anything for them to be building on this property,” said Harolyn Minix, who lives nearby with her husband, Roby.

She added, “When we had work done on our house, we had to have a permit. Without those permits, the city was going to come and shut us down. So, they have been shut down, but they continuously come back and continue working. On the window that they have now is some invalid mumbo jumbo that’s taped over the red tags, which lets us know that they’re doing this illegally.”

Townsend emphasized the pride residents take in their neighborhood.

“This is a historic community. This is Third Ward. It is deed-restricted. So, we take pride in our neighborhood. For someone to decide to just come in and disobey the laws for capital gain, it’s not right,” said Townsend. “They certainly would not want this same type of structure sitting next to them in Sugar Land or wherever it is that they live. So, we need to have it stopped.”

Frustration with city’s response

Residents say they’ve spoken at City Council and filed formal complaints. Still, little has changed.

“These people are blatantly breaking the law. Somebody should know something, but everybody wants to turn a deaf ear on us. I hope it’s not because I’m Black and beautiful.

I just want to figure out who I need to talk to,” said Roby Minix, who said he reached out to Bancroft’s office directly. “I’ve contacted his office, sent emails to his office. I’ve never heard from anybody.”

After the Defender spoke with residents, the city stated that the 3838 Southmore site is considered unauthorized and remains under investigation.

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DN News

Flooding the divide

Why Houston’s resilience depends on equity

By Tannistha Sinha

When floodwaters rise in Houston, they rarely recede at the same pace for everyone.

In historically Black and Latino neighborhoods, storms leave behind more than water damage, compounded by decades of disinvestment.

That reality was the focus of Communities First: Flooding, Resilience and Environmental Justice, a community conversation hosted by Harris County Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis with Dr. Robert Bullard, the “father of environmental justice,” at the center of the dialogue.

The gathering, moderated by Sonny Messiah-Jiles, CEO and publisher of the Houston Defender, underscored what Bullard has argued for more than 40 years: Environmental justice is about equal protection.

“Environmental justice embraces the principle that all people in communities are entitled to equal protection of our environment: Housing, energy, health, transportation, basic human rights, civil rights laws,” Bullard said.

“It’s not rocket science. It’s not magic.

The quest for environmental justice is basically ensuring that all communities enjoy the good stuff and don’t get more than their fair share of the bad stuff.”

The legacy of inequity Bullard traced the roots of Houston’s environmental challenges back to racial redlining. In the 1930s, federal maps designated Black neighborhoods as risky investments, shutting them out of loans and infrastructure upgrades.

Those same areas later became prime sites for landfills, highways and industrial facilities.

“This was not random,” Bullard said. “From the 1930s up to 1978, 82% of all the garbage dumped in Houston was dumped on Black people. We went to court…we lost the case even with all that data, but we didn’t lose the legal theory of citing waste facilities that followed a pattern of discriminatory land use patterns.”

That historic pattern was evident in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

While white households in affluent neighborhoods received an average of $60,000 in FEMA aid, Black residents in low-income communities received an average of $84, according to Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis’

Dr. Robert Bullard and Sonny Messiah Jiles called for equity-driven investments to replace outdated cost-benefit flood models. Credit: Tannistha Sinha/Houston Defender

office. Nearly one in three Black Houstonians reported their quality of life was worse a year after Harvey.

Equity vs. cost-benefit At the heart of Harris County’s resilience debate lies a technical but consequential question: Should dollars follow property values or community need?

Traditionally, flood control projects were evaluated by cost-benefit ratio, which favors wealthier neighborhoods with higher-value homes. Bullard explained how this formula ensures that west-side homes worth $800,000 receive priority, while east-side homes valued at $80,000 are overlooked, even if the flood damage is devastating.

After Harvey, Ellis pushed for a different approach: An equity framework.

That policy aims to prioritize projects in historically neglected neighborhoods most at risk of flooding, regardless of property values. It also incorporates health, social vulnerability and resilience outcomes into funding decisions.

But implementing that shift has

been bumpy. Harris County voters approved a $2.5 billion flood bond in 2018, yet many projects have stalled or been paused due to funding shortfalls.

According to county data, 203 projects have been completed, with a total expenditure of $811 million. Still, at least $450 million more is needed to finish critical projects.

Community leadership and advocacy Debra Walker, president of the Sunnyside Community Redevelopment Organization, said funding inequities are glaring.

“Funding is an issue in our community because we are always the last ones to get the funding,” Walker said. “We have so much bad infrastructure in our community. Work needs to be done in order to make our community more sustainable and resilient.”

Bullard urged attendees to view resilience as a relay race, where each generation must carry the baton forward. He stressed the need for partnerships between communities and universities, investments in young

people and long-term funding.

He framed the fight ahead as both moral and practical.

“And when money comes down to fix the problems, white communities end up wealthier and Black

communities and communities of color end up worse off,” he said. “The pattern that we have to break when it comes to who gets that money and why so many dollars are bypassing communities.

VOLUME 95, NUMBER 1 - OCTOBER 23, 2025 Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles Managing Editor ReShonda Tate Content Manager Terrance Harris Associate Editor Aswad Walker

Culture/Lifestyle Reporter Laura Onyeneho Special Assignments Reporter Tannistha Sinha Sports Terrance Harris Jimmie Aggison Video Editor Bryan Erdy

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Newspaper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2025 copyright. No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. 713-663-6996 | P.O. Box 8005, Houston, TX 77288

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DN Obits TRAILBLAZING ARCHITECT

es Willie C. Jordan Jr. die

By Marilyn Marshall

The late Houstonian Willie C. Jordan Jr. is being remembered as a Texas architectural pioneer who made a lasting impact on his profession and community. He died Oct. 3 at the age of 87. Jordan, the third Black architect licensed in Texas, was a trailblazer in other ways. In 1956 he became one of the first Black undergraduates at the University of Texas at Austin.

He began his professional career in Houston working for John S. Chase, the first licensed Black architect in Texas. Jordan later co-founded Haywood Jordan McCowan Architects & Planners of Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. He served as director of architecture for ESPA Corp and senior architect for KCI. After retiring from KCI, he started Jordan Architecture Group (JAG) Consulting firm in 2018.

Jordan’s architectural work can be seen in the H&PE Arena at Texas Southern University, W.

Leo Daniels Towers, Shepard-Acres Homes Neighborhood Library, Smiley High School, Barbara Jordan Post Office, George R. Brown Convention Center and Acres Homes, Kashmere and Northeast Multi-Service Centers.

He designed the new Phillis Wheatley High School, which opened in 2006. Jordan, one of 12 children, grew up in Fifth Ward and was a proud Wheatley graduate. After enrolling in UT, he experienced overt racism, which helped him develop determination, social awareness and unity.

Jordan later told the Texas Exes publication Alcalde, “We had some good, some bad, and some ugly, but I met great people and I earned a fantastic education...” He was a founding member of Precursors, a nonprofit started in 2010 to honor the legacy of Black alumni who entered UT a minimum of 40 years ago and support future generations.

He was a member of the Wheatley Alumni Association, an inductee into the Wheatley

Hall of Fame and a m member of the AIA-American Institutee of Architects, National Organization n of Minority Architects and Black Organization for Leadership Development. He volunteered with the South MacGregor Civic Club, Small Busin ness Advisory Club, Houston Port Autthority and the Municipal Artts Commission.

Survivors include his wife, Carolyn; sons, Willie C. III and Dr. Andre Jordan; brothers, Ernest and Paul Jordan; sisters, Frances Jordan Plummer, Cheryl Jordan Murray and Dr. Paulette L. Jordan; and grandson, Taylor.

HOUSTONIANS PAY TRIBUTE TO WILLIE C. JORDAN JR.

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DN InFocus

Black Voter Shift Organizers focus on mobilization

By ReShonda Tate

In Houston and across the nation, community organizers are rethinking what it takes to build political power.

For decades, voter registration drives have been the heart of civic engagement. However, as registration numbers rise, turnout lags. So now, leaders are shifting their focus to a new priority: Mobilization.

2024 Texas election

18.6 mil registered voters

11.3 mil voted

2024 Harris County election

2.6 mil voters

1.5 mil voted

In 2024, more than a million people sat out of a presidential election that could have changed the direction of their community.

“We’ve got enough registered voters,” said longtime voting rights activist Pam Gaskin. “If all the registered voters voted, we wouldn’t be in the predicament we’re in now. Mobilization is key.”

Gaskin, a fixture in Houston’s civic engagement landscape, says the new challenge is not just signing up voters but making sure they turn out — and stay engaged.

“Candidates are gonna have to ask for votes. They have to meet people where they are,” she said. “It’s not enough to put out a door hanger or buy a billboard. People want to be heard and seen — and they want their votes to be asked for.”

For Gaskin, that means going back to basics: Neighbor-to-neighbor organizing, block walking and direct conversations.

“If a new family moves in, I stop and say, ‘Are you registered to vote in Fort Bend County?’” she said. “That’s how you build relationships — one driveway, one conversation at a time.”

National push meets local action

The focus on voter mobilization is not limited to local efforts. The League of Women Voters has announced a sweeping new national campaign — Unite and Rise 8.5 — that aims to engage and mobilize 8.5 million voters ahead of the 2026 elections.

In a joint national leadership statement, Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters, and President Dianna Wynn warned that the country is facing “a constitutional crisis” and called on Americans to act.

“We the people must fight back,” the statement read. “Unite and Rise 8.5 will engage and mobilize 8.5 million voters between now and November 2026 to protect and preserve our democratic institutions.

The foundational principles that have sustained our democracy — checks and balances, the rule of law, free and fair elections — are under direct and sustained threat.

In this extraordinary moment, we cannot proceed with business as usual.”

The campaign, part of the League’s Women Defend Democracy initiative, will focus on advocacy, civic education and local engagement — complementing the kind of grassroots efforts already underway in Houston.

Turning registration into representation

That personal touch is what groups like the League of Women Voters of Houston and the Houston Voting Initiative are counting on to change outcomes in

People head to the polls to vote in the midterm election season.

Credit: Montinique Monroe/Getty Images

upcoming elections.

“The redistricting is unfortunate because it disaggregated communities of interest — people who’ve lived, worked and organized together,” said Annie Benifield, a League of Women Voters former president. “That has a detrimental impact on the psyche of already underserved, underrepresented communities.”

Despite these challenges, Benifield said her organization is intensifying its outreach ahead of the primaries.

“We’re hoping to turn people out in numbers that haven’t happened before,” she said.

“In 2024, only about 900,000 Democrats participated in the Texas primary compared to two million Republicans. If we can get

We’re always gonna fight the fight. But now we have to focus on filling the holes in the glass — making sure no more people slip through.... being registered isn’t enough. You have to show up.”

PAM GASKIN

voters to show up, that could totally change the dynamic.”

Benifield believes that education and empowerment are at the core of effective mobilization. “You have Annie Benifield to educate to empower to mobilize,” she said. “Once people understand that their vote is a valuable commodity — a franchise with real value in the marketplace of politics — they’ll be more likely to exercise it.”

Barriers and breakthroughs

Both Benifield and Gaskin point to the same obstacles: Confusing ID laws, polling location changes, limited early voting awareness and a flood of misinformation.

Many registered voters are unsure whether they’re still eligible to vote or where to cast their ballots after moving. Others don’t realize how much power local elections hold over issues like taxes, schools and infrastructure.

To counter that, Houston-area organizers are launching ride-to-poll programs, text banks, targeted door-knocks and trusted messenger campaigns aimed at specific neighborhoods with historically low turnout. The shift also includes early voting education and outreach around the November 4 constitutional amendment election — a ballot that Benifield says could impact “the

5 Ways to Help Mobilize Your Block

1

Start with your circle.

Mobilization begins close to home. Talk to friends, family, church members and neighbors. Make sure everyone knows when and where to vote — and confirm their voter registration is up to date.

2

Be a trusted messenger.

People are more likely to act when information comes from someone they know. Share accurate voting details on your social media, in group chats or at community gatherings.

A simple reminder can make a big difference.

state’s income, taxes and future funding priorities.”

“We’re phone banking, block walking, mailing and texting — everything we possibly can,” Benifield said. “Because if we can get people to turn out, it could change the trajectory of politics in this state.”

A call to action

3

Offer a ride — or a reminder.

Transportation and time are two significant barriers to voting.

Organize carpool rides to the polls or set up a “text tree” to remind people of early voting dates and polling locations.

The numbers make the stakes clear.

Nationally, 90 million eligible Americans didn’t vote in 2024. Among young voters ages 18–29, turnout fell to 42%, down from 52% in 2020. Black voter turnout in Texas also dropped after record highs during

4

5

Volunteer for a local campaign or nonprofit.

Join phone banks, canvases, or voter outreach events hosted by groups like the League of Women Voters, Houston Voting Initiative, or neighborhood civic clubs.

Your time and energy can multiply turnout.

Barack Obama’s first campaign.

“We’re always gonna fight the fight,” Gaskin said. “But now we have to focus on filling the holes in the glass — making sure no more people slip through. That means mobilizing 15, 20, 30 people at a time. If each of us does that, we can change the outcome.”

Make voting a community event.

Turn Election Day into a celebration.

Host a “walk to the polls” with your church or block association. Take photos, share stories and show others that participation is powerful.

As the 2025 election cycle begins, Houston’s grassroots leaders are betting that connection, not just registration, will determine the city’s political future.

Because in a democracy, as Gaskin says, “being registered isn’t enough — you have to show up.”

8 | October 23, 2025 |

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DN Feature Willow Waterhole MusicFEST 2025

Celebrates rhythm and resilience

D

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C

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T

Chrristian Menefee kes on Trump tak and wins for us.

A proven record of standing up to Trump and MAGA Republicans for us.

Raised in Texas’s 18th Congressional District by military parents, Christian Menefee became the youngest and first Black person elected Harris County Attorney. He has taken on Donald Trump, Greg Abbott, and MAGA Republicans every time they’ve attacked our communities. He will never shirk his duty to protect our rights, schools, health care, and neighborhoods.

By Tannistha Sinha

Menefee leading the fight against Trump

On Oct. 25, the yearly tradition of MusicFEST will help bring attention to Willow Waterhole’s flood resiliency.

“In the beginning, the MusicFEST was just that…to get people out there,” said Margaret Greene, Levitt Pavilion board treasurer and MusicFEST chair, who moved to the area in 1965.

“Flooding in that area has been devastating. To have a MusicFEST out there that brought people to the park and they can see it, it took a little while for a lot of people to even know it was there and where their flood mitigation dollars were going.”

When: Sat., Oct. 25, 2025, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Where: Willow Waterhole Greenway (5300 Dryad Drive, Houston, TX 77035) Headliner: Skyrocket (6 – 8 p.m.)

Early sets: Westbury Feeder School Bands, Jazz Houston Orchestra, Woody Witt, Klockwork, and Charlie y la Tribu Cubana Extras: Halloween costume parade, food trucks, games, and family activities, VIP Area Admission: Free

The leaders we trust support Christian because he’ll never give up on us: FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN

HARRIS COUNTY JUDGE

ERICA LEE CARTER

LINA HIDALGO

FORMER CONGRESSMAN

BETO O’ROURKE

CONGRESSWOMAN

JASMINE CROCKETT

CONGRESSWOMAN

LIZZIE FLETCHER

I know how much [County Attorney Menefee] cares. I know how much my mother – the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee – and the late Congressman Sylvester Turner invested in him personally.

— E R I CA L E E CA RT E R , FO R M E R CO N G R E S S WO M A N , TX-1 8 DAUGHTER OF LATE CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE NYT, 3/ 17/2025

Vote in the Special Election NOVEMBER 4, 2025.

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Houston’s beloved MusicFEST will return with a powerful mix of jazz, community, and flood-smart design at the Willow Waterhole Greenway. Credit: Levitt Pavilion Houston

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| 9

DN Profile

Taylor Davis Redefines role as Miss Texas USA

By ReShonda Tate

When Taylor Davis was crowned Miss Texas USA 2025, the moment felt surreal.

“I remember being on that stage, grabbing my face and thinking, ‘I can’t believe it,’” Davis recalled. “Then I saw my friends and family jumping up and down in the audience, so I started jumping too. It was pure joy.”

For the 25-year-old Howard University alumna, that victory was years in the making and the culmination of perseverance, purpose and faith.

Davis’s journey to the world of pageantry began in a place many wouldn’t expect: the halls of Howard University’s School of Business.

“I didn’t grow up in pageants or anything like that,” she said. “My mom went to Grambling State and was Miss Grambling back in 1986, but I kind of found my own way to it. My first pageant was in college when I was Miss School of Business, and then Miss Howard University.”

That experience, and a pivotal encounter, changed the course of her life.

“I attended a leadership conference at Howard, and the keynote speaker was Deshauna Barber, Miss USA 2016,” Davis said.

“I was so inspired by her story and how she carried herself. I thought, maybe I could be Miss USA one day, or more importantly, maybe I could be anything I want to be.”

That spark ignited a journey that would take her from the stages of HBCU pageantry to the bright lights of the Miss USA stage.

The power of persistence

Davis’ road to the crown wasn’t without obstacles. She competed at Miss Texas USA three times before winning, finishing as a finalist and runner-up along the way. “It was a lesson in resilience,” she said. “It taught me that delayed doesn’t mean denied. Every year I got better, and this time, I was ready.”

Her former advisor at Howard, Warren Servance, wasn’t surprised by her perseverance.

“During Taylor’s time as Miss Howard 2020, she exemplified grace, leadership and a deep commitment to uplifting her peers and the Howard community during a pandemic,” Servance said.

“She consistently carried herself with poise and purpose. Seeing her now as Miss Texas USA 2025 is a proud moment, a testament to her dedication, perseverance and authenticity.”

That authenticity shines through in everything she does - from her 9-to-5 career to her passion project that’s inspiring young girls across Texas.

Beauty, brains and the NFL

By day, Davis works as a data analyst for the National Football League, managing analytics on the league’s social media team.

“This is my nineto-five,” she said.

“Pageants are actually my side hustle,” she said.

“I love working in a space where we tell unique stories that bring communities together.”

In a male-dominated industry, Davis understands the weight of her presence.

“The sports world has very few women, and even fewer women of color,” she said.

“But you can’t be afraid of the odds. You can’t wait to see people who look like you before you take a chance. Sometimes, you have to be the first.”

That message of boldness is at the heart of her platform, “Hail Mary,” an initiative inspired by her love of football and her faith.

“A Hail Mary is a long pass, high risk, high reward,” she explained. “It’s a leap of faith. My platform is about encouraging people to take that leap, to bet on themselves, even when the odds aren’t in their favor.”

Through her Hail Mary workshops, Davis mentors young girls across the state, helping them develop confidence and set goals. “It’s

My platform is about encouraging people to take that leap, to bet on themselves, even when the odds aren’t in their favor.”

TAYLOR DAVIS

important that they have a positive example,” she said. “Someone who teaches them to be brave and ambitious.”

Beyond the crown

As she prepares to compete in the Miss USA 2025 pageant in Reno, Nevada on Oct. 24, Davis says she’s focused not just on winning, but on impact.

“My ‘why’ is doing for others what Deshauna Barber did for me,” she said. “It’s not about the sash or the crown. It’s about how you use your platform to inspire others.

If someone sees how boldly I’m walking in faith and decides to chase their own dream, that’s the real win.”

Her story is one of faith, focus and fearlessness.

“The boldness to believe that you can do something,” she said, “is all you need to actually achieve it. If you believe in yourself, you’re already halfway there.”

10 | October 23, 2025 |

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DN Sports UH SENIOR LINEBACKER

JALEN GARNER Thrives in his first starting opportunity

By Terrance Harris

It was late August, and University of Houston linebacker Jalen Garner was standing in the TDECU Stadium tunnel before the season opener against Stephen F. Austin when this feeling took over.

Garner had waited five years for this moment. Five years to hear his name called as one of the Cougars’ starters.

It was a moment he had undoubtedly thought might never come, but there it was, and so was that feeling.

“Finally felt free, finally felt like I could do what I’ve been knowing I could do,” Garner recalled. “I could finally express myself the right way, the way I feel.”

Garner did something that really doesn’t happen anymore in college sports. Players don’t sit. They don’t have to be patient.

They move on. The NCAA has made it easy for athletes to move around freely via the transfer portal, which allows student-athletes to transfer schools until Garner they find the right fit or exhaust their college eligibility.

But not Garner.

Instead of transferring to another school for more playing time and probably a little more name, image and likeness (NIL) cash, Garner endured waiting his turn, a coaching staff change and those voices in his head that told him there were better opportunities elsewhere.

Linebacker Jalen Garner made his starting debut for the University of Houston Cougars as a fifth-year senior during the season opener against Stephen F. Austin. Courtesy: University of Houston Athletics

Things are going pretty well. I feel like.

I feel like I’ve done pretty well, but my goal is to do better and I will do better.”

JALEN GARNER

“It was hard,” he said. “We all have our thoughts, but at the end of the day, I always talked to my coaches, and I felt like Houston was the right place to stay. But it was really hard.”

What made it easier is that UH’s second-year coach Willie Fritz brought aboard Austin Armstrong as his new defensive coordinator this past offseason. It turns out that Armstrong and Garner had previously crossed paths. Armstrong was a young assistant coach at Louisiana-Lafayette when he unsuccessfully recruited Garner

out of Norcross High School in Georgia, when COVID-19 had effectively shut down in-person recruiting back in 2020.

Garner’s name immediately jumped out at Armstrong once he took the job. It wasn’t long after that Garner reached out to reconnect and make Armstrong aware of his desires.

Once offseason conditioning and training got going, Armstrong was impressed with what he saw from the 6-foot-1, 225pound linebacker. But naturally, he had questions.

“He has size, speed, he can run and he’s got twitch. But he didn’t really play last year, so I was kind of like … almost confused a little bit,” Armstrong observed. “This guy is a really good player. What was the deal?

What’s wrong with him? He had been here almost five years, and he hadn’t really played.”

That was all about to change. Not only did Armstrong see the raw talent, but he noticed how hard Garner worked, how smart he is and most critical, how important it was to him.

Armstrong’s belief in Garner has paid off immensely this season for the defense and the 6-1 Cougars. As the Cougars’ starting weakside linebacker, Garner has emerged as a leader on the field and in the locker room.

Garner is second on the team in tackles with 42 stops on the season, which includes two 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks on the season to go along with 1 pass breakup, two forced fumbles and five quarterback hurries.

He ranks 13th and 21st in tackles and sacks, respectively, in the Big 12.

“He has that second step of power. He can strike blockers and get off and make the play.

He can run and make the play. He has the ability to finish,” said Armstrong, who also coaches Garner’s inside linebacker position.

“And as a pass rusher, he has the ability to finish on the quarterback, which is a really hard thing to do.

“I think the guy is as valuable a guy as there is in this conference to be quite honest.

I don’t know what everybody else has and no disrespect to anyone else, but I think the guy is a really good player. We are really fortunate to have him on our team.”

It’s what Garner has always known he could do. He just needed the opportunity.

“I’ve always been ready to start since my junior year, but sometimes you don’t get the opportunity,” said Garner, who had played a total of 242 defensive snaps as a reserve in the years leading up to this season. “You’ve just got to sit there and be ready. It’s the next man up.”

It’s definitely Garner’s turn now. While it’s hard to understand waiting for so long, Garner says he found growth through prayer.

“Honestly … I pray a lot, so I definitely say God,” Garner said. “If He does one thing, He alerts patience, so I think I’ve been patient with that. And I’ve known, I’ve always been able to play, so I haven’t been really worried about it. I just needed an opportunity.”

October 23, 2025 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 11

DN Sports TITAN COACHES

RAY SEALS, TOM NOLEN

Inducted into Texas High School Football Hall of Fame

philosophy of coaching. I really appreciate this honor and will cherish this day. I give God the praise for it all!”

Born in Bellville, Texas, Seals was a standout athlete who led his high school teams to state titles in both football and track. At Prairie View A&M University, he helped secure two national championships and was named an All-American running back in 1964 before being drafted by the Houston Oilers.

Seals dedicated 46 years to Houston ISD, coaching at Attucks, Woodson, Sterling, Milby, Houston High and M.C. Williams before finding his home at Madison High School. Over 23 seasons as Madison’s head coach, he built one of HISD’s most respected football programs.

“I coached at Madison for over 25 years,” said Seals. “We became a family and that is what we wanted our students to invest in.

My coaching staff bought into my vision of building character and integrity into our young men and women. We had to show them what that looked like and the kids Legendary coaches Ray Seals (left) and Tom Nolen (right) shake hands eventually understood what we were teachafter being honored as 2025 inductees into the Houston ISD Athletics Hall ing them. Many of them needed a father of Honor. Credit: Jimmie Aggison/Defender figure, so we became what they needed.”

Seals finished his career with 212 victothose players was defensive back Chris Boy- polite and respect others,” said Boykins. ries, 21 playoff appearances, 10 HISD Coach kins, who remembers Nolen as a demanding “Always answer with yes, sir, or no, sir, be of the Year awards and in 2008 became the but deeply impactful leader. accountable and put in full effort. He taught inaugural Don Shula NFL High School “Coach Nolen’s coaching style was old- us to be winners.”

Coach of the Year. University school, no-nonsense, disciplinary,” said While Nolen’s impact shaped of Texas legend Vince Young, Boykins. “Once he got mad, he would stomp Lamar, Seals left a generational among his most notable players, the ground to let the world know that he mark at Madison High School starred under Seals at Madison was upset. Then he would stare with a blank and beyond. His coaching phiin the early 2000s. look on his face and we all knew to stay losophy was rooted in both dis“Coach Seals didn’t just teach away.” cipline and compassion. me how to play the game; he Behind that tough exterior, Nolen was “Coach Seals deeply cared taught me how to approach life,” MORE FROM a mentor and father-figure. The culture he about us as people, not just as said Norris. “He pushed me to THE TITAN instilled at Lamar centered on discipline, athletes,” said Moran Norris, give my best every day, showCOACHES accountability and respect. a former Madison player who ing me the value of discipline, “Be on time, be ready, work hard, be went on to the NFL. “He knew preparation and resilience.” the game inside and out, but he Together, Nolen and Seals also knew our families, our struggles and combined for more than 600 wins, 79 our dreams. He had a way of holding you years of service and immeasurable impact accountable while also making you believe on players, programs and communities in yourself, even when you doubted your across Houston. own abilities. That balance of toughness “Besides winning a ton of games, Coach What I did was for the love of kids and to make a difference and genuine care is rare and it made all Nolen and Coach Seals not only impacted the difference.” the players they coached, but they also in their lives. I tried to teach them to be humble and to use For Seals, it was never about recognition. impacted the communities they served, this “I was never one who wanted to be in the State and the nation,” said Andre Walker, their talent to benefit others. I was proud to be recognized spotlight,” said Seals. “What I did was for HISD Athletic Director. “Look at the awards with Tom Nolen. I think we shared the same philosophy of the love of kids and to make a difference they received. They are both well-known coaching. I really appreciate this honor and will cherish this in their lives. I tried to teach them to be far beyond the city of Houston because of humble and to use their talent to benefit the legacies they built through players and day. I give God the praise for it all!” others. I was proud to be recognized with coaches alike. They set a high standard for RAY SEALS Tom Nolen. I think we shared the same all of us to follow.”

By Jimmie Aggison

Two of the most iconic figures in Texas high school football history, Tom Nolen and Ray Seals, were honored as 2025 inductees into the Houston ISD Athletics Hall of Honor.

With a combined 600 victories, 79 years of coaching service and legacies that have shaped generations of athletes, the legendary coaches were celebrated during a special ceremony, cementing their place among Houston’s all-time greats.

“Made me feel really good to get this nomination, this is really nice,” said Nolen.

A Houston native, Nolen graduated from Marian Christian High School before continuing his education at Sam Houston State University, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. He began his coaching career at St. Michael’s School in 1967, then moved to Strake Jesuit in 1968 as an assistant head coach. There, he collected 57 wins and two league championships before taking over Lamar High School’s football program in 1985.

At Lamar, Nolen built one of the city’s most dominant programs, winning 308 games and 20 district championships, including eight straight to end his career. His 307 UIL victories remain a Houston-area record, standing 88 wins ahead of Katy’s Gary Joseph, who currently sits at 276.

“Gary is a good guy, he will probably pass me someday, but you know, you just gotta do it long enough,” said Nolen. “Thirty-three years, I think we won 308 games, so if you hang around a while, you’re going to do it.”

In 2012, he led Lamar to the 6A state championship, falling to Allen before a crowd of 48,000. That same year, he was named Touchdown Club of Houston Coach of the Year. He retired from Lamar in 2018.

Nolen credits his longevity and consistency to the people around him. One of

12 | October 23, 2025 |

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