MPISD announces the 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame class: Harris Brownlee, Neal Hinson, TJ Lawrence, Destiny Smith, and Vernard Veasley.
Each inductee will be recognized prior to kick off of the football game against Marshall on Friday, October 3 starting at 6:50 p.m. A private, pre-game ceremony will also be held for the honorees, their families, and close friends. The inductees will serve as honorary captains and participate in the pre-game coin toss. In recognition of their selections, each inductee will wear a commemorative gold jacket during the pre-game ceremony. Portraits of each inductee will later be displayed in the hallway of the Willie Williams Gymnasium.
Harris Brownlee graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1974 where he was a standout Tiger football player. He earned 2nd team All-State Offensive Tackle, 1st team All-East Texas, 1st team All 4 States Area, and 1st team All-District Offensive Tackle honors. He was also a regional qualifier in the shot put and discus for Tiger Track. “My greatest memory from playing my career here at MP is that my class only lost 2 games from junior high to high school in football, and we played in the state finals my senior year,” said Brownlee.
After graduation, he attended Southern Methodist University from 1974-1978 on a full scholarship and played football for the Mustangs. At SMU, he started for two years and lettered for three. He ultimately earned a bachelor’s degree from SMU and went on to earn a master’s degree from East Texas State University.
Brownlee served as a Graduate Assistant for SMU for the 1978 season. Of that experience, he said his fondest memories were being able to see places like Ohio State and Penn State and also being chewed out by Joe Paterno from Penn State because film from SMU for the previous game was late getting to them.
After his time at SMU, Brownlee started his coaching career at Sherman High School from 1979-1985. He then moved to Crowley High School for two years and to Daingerfield High School from 1989-1997. Brownlee came back home to teach and coach at MPHS from 1998-2004. He then had coaching stents at New Boston, Queen City, and Paul Pewitt before returning home to MPHS in 2018 where he still teaches and coaches today.
When asked how athletics has molded or shaped him into the person he is today, Brownlee said, “It made me realize what I wanted to do in life, being a coach for the past 46 years. Athletics showed me teamwork, discipline, and setting goals along with accountability. Those were important and made me the coach and person I am today.”
He concluded with, “To be recognized by a school I love and knowing that I am representing all those teammates and coaches I have worked with throughout my career is humbling. I could not have accomplished anything without their help. To those athletes playing today, know that you represent this school, your family, and teammates and should give your very best on the field and in the classroom.”
Brownlee and his wife, Dayna, have been married for 49 years and live in Mount Pleasant. They have three children, Jennifer Brownlee, Lauren Fink, and Kelley Veasley. And they have six grandchildren: Caleb, Eli, Aiden, Chloe, Lawrence, and Audrey. He teaches and coaches for Mount Pleasant High School.
Neal Hinson graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1953 where he played football and basketball, ran track, and even boxed for the Tigers. While in high school, he garnered accolades such as All-District Second Team Back, Co-Captain of the basketball team for two years, and was an All-District Guard in basketball.
About his favorite memories playing for the Tigers, Hinson said, “In football, we went 9-0 my senior year and Sulphur Springs beat us for the district title. In basketball, we won the district title and got beat in the regional finals by Bowie and they won the state championship.”
After graduation, Hinson went on to play football at East Texas State University, now known as East Texas A&M University. Playing for the Lions, he was the conference leading rusher in 1956, earned All-Conference honors in 1956 and 1957, served as team Co-Captain in 1957, and was the ETSU Most Valuable Player in 1957. Hinson was inducted into the ETSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998.
He ultimately graduated from ETSU with a Bachelor of Education in 1958 and went back years later to receive his master’s degree in education in 1970. After graduation, Hinson was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals but wanted to start coaching instead of continuing to play football.
From his college days, he said, “There are many great memories, but we were the only Texas team to win a bowl game in 1957. We beat Southern Mississippi in the Tangerine Bowl in Florida. I kicked the winning field goal. I was a fullback and place kicker but had never kicked a field goal until that game.”
“Athletics kept me in school and enabled me to get a college degree,” said Hinson. “Athletics has always been a big part of my life and anything I have achieved in my life has been because of my involvement in athletics. Athletics teaches you to be a team player, develops friendships, and helps to develop your character. What you learn from participating in athletics will help you throughout your life.”
Hinson continued, “To be remembered at 90 years old is quite an honor and this has brought back great memories of playing football and basketball with the best friends I have had all my life.”
Hinson lives in Pittsburg. He was married to his wife, Joyce, for 61 years until her passing in 2020. They have two daughters, Niki Warden and D’Ann Linwood, four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
TJ Lawrence graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 2003 where he lettered in football and soccer. As a Tiger football player, Lawrence earned 1st team All-District Kicker, All-Area Kicker, All-Northeast Texas Kicker, and Special Teams Player of the Year honors. For Tiger soccer, he was named District Sophomore of the Year, earned 1st Team All-District Defensive honors as a junior, and was selected District MVP and 1st Team All-East Texas in his senior year.
“Without a doubt, my greatest memory from Mount Pleasant High School athletics was playing under the Friday night lights,” said Lawrence. “The way the entire town came together to support us created an atmosphere that was truly unmatched—even beyond what I experienced at the college level. There was something special about that sense of community and pride in Mt. Pleasant. I’ll never forget gathering as a team to say the Lord’s Prayer before and after games—it brought us together and grounded us in something bigger than football. And the bus rides home, playing ‘Freeze Out’, celebrating wins or processing losses together—
those moments are etched in my memory. They weren’t just games—they were life lessons, friendships, and a brotherhood that shaped who I am today.”
After high school, Lawrence played football at Tyler Junior College for a year then transferred and played three years at The University of Houston. He ultimately graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Global Business.
“One of my greatest memories from playing at the collegiate level was competing in front of massive crowds—like 90,000 fans in Tuscaloosa, AL—and experiencing some of the most iconic stadiums and teams in the country, including Oregon, TCU, Oklahoma State, and South Carolina,” said Lawrence. “I had the privilege of playing alongside elite athletes such as Case Keenum, Donnie Avery, Kevin Kolb, and Sebastian Vollmer. Beyond the field, I was fortunate to meet sports legends and Hall of Famers like Carl Lewis, Jim Nantz, Doug Flutie, Steve Spurrier, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Clyde Drexler. Those experiences—both on and off the field—made a lasting impact on me.”
When asked how athletics shaped him into the person he is today, Lawrence said, “Athletics has been one of the most formative experiences of my life. It instilled in me the discipline, drive, and work ethic that I carry into every aspect of my professional and personal life today. The daily grind of early mornings, intense practices, and balancing academics taught me how to stay focused under pressure and push myself beyond perceived limits. Being part of a team taught me how to collaborate, support others, and work toward a shared goal. I learned the value of being coachable—taking feedback, adapting, and always looking to improve. Through wins and losses, I developed resilience. Losing on the field taught me how to handle setbacks, how to respond—not just react—and how to grow from failure. Athletics shaped my competitive spirit, but more importantly, it taught me how to lead, encourage, and elevate others around me. These lessons have stayed with me and continue to fuel my success far beyond the playing field.”
Of the honor of being chosen for the Hall of Fame, Lawrence said, “Growing up in Mount Pleasant and attending MPISD, this community has always been a part of who I am. My roots here run deep—my mom spent over 30 years as a schoolteacher in MPISD, so I practically grew up in the schools, even as a baby. Because of that, Mount Pleasant holds a special place in my heart. Those years—especially my time as a student-athlete—were truly formative. They shaped my character, my values, and laid the foundation for the person I’ve become. I was incredibly surprised and deeply humbled to be inducted into the Mount Pleasant Athletic Hall of Fame. To be recognized by the very school and town that helped raise me means more than I can express, and I’m profoundly grateful.”
Lawrence continued, “To the student-athletes sitting where I once sat: these years are something you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life. Don’t take them for granted. The practices, the long bus rides, the time in the locker room with your teammates—those small, everyday moments may not seem significant now, but one day, you’ll look back and realize how special they were. Athletics is doing more for you than just teaching you how to compete. It’s building discipline, resilience, teamwork, and leadership—skills that will serve you long after the scoreboard shuts off. So, give it everything you’ve got. Soak it all in. And be proud to wear Mount Pleasant across your chest—because it truly means something.’
Lawrence closed by saying, “I want to take a moment to express my deep gratitude to the coaches who shaped me—not just as an athlete, but as a person. Marc McDaniel, Joey and
Jason Mayfield, Devin Jones, Sam Parker, Larry Sherman, Harris Brownlee, Landon Johnson, Rocky Agan, and Billy Wilson—thank you for your leadership, your discipline, and the lessons you instilled in me. A special thank you to my athletic trainer, Randy Nolan, for always keeping me ready to play—especially with those ankle tapes. To my college coach, Art Briles, and even my very first soccer coach, Keith Hardman—your influence left a lasting mark on my journey. And to any coach I may have failed to name—please know your impact was felt and is not forgotten. I’m grateful for each and every one of you. To my mom—who passed away eight years ago. Mom, you’d be so proud of me—not just for being inducted into the Hall of Fame, but for the man, the husband, and the father I’ve strived to be. You were my biggest supporter, my encourager, and my example. You picked me up after the tough games, kept me grounded after the good ones, and always reminded me to honor God before accepting any glory. You taught me humility, respect, and how to lead with integrity. I miss you deeply and love you always. Lastly, to my beautiful wife and our amazing kids—you five are my everything. Thank you for your constant love, support, and patience. You are my rock, and no honor in this world means more than being your husband and father. This moment is as much yours as it is mine. Thank you, Mount Pleasant. This will always be home.”
Lawrence works as an Assistant Vice President at Travelers Insurance. He and his wife of sixteen years, Amanda, live in Frisco with their children Landon, Lillie, Lincoln, and London Eve.
Destiny Smith graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 2009 where she was a multisport athlete in volleyball, basketball, softball, and track. Her senior year, she qualified for the UIL State Track Meet where she placed 4th in the Triple Jump.
Her memories of MPHS athletics include the long bus rides and the late-night shenanigans. “While winning is important, it wasn’t always about winning—it was the friendships, the laughs, and the memories we made off the field and court that I’ll always carry with me,” said Smith.
After graduation, Smith played basketball at Paris Junior College then Henderson State University. She graduated from HSU with a bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Leisure Services.
She will always remember her final game. “Win or lose, knowing I gave everything I had to the sport, and my teammates was emotional, but also incredibly fulfilling,” she said.
About being chosen for the Hall of Fame, Smith said, “Being selected is an incredible honor- it’s more than recognition of athletic success; it’s a reflection of the dedication and passion I gave to sports over the years. This honor also belongs to my teammates and coaches (Judd-my freshman year), who helped shape me, and to my family and friends who supported me. To be remembered in this way means that my journey left an impact—and that’s something I’ll always be proud of. To the athletes—stay committed, stay coachable, and stay true to your love of the game. The way you show up each day matters. Remember, you’re writing your own legacy right now- so give your best and embrace the journey.”
Smith finished by saying, “I want to personally thank my mother, Charlotte—my biggest supporter from day one. Thank you for being my rock, my role model, and my personal safe space. Also, thank you to the rest of my family and friends for coming out to support me on this amazing honor.”
Smith now lives in Springfield, MO where she is starting her third year as an Assistant Basketball Coach for Drury University.
Vernard Veasley graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 2001 and was a 3-year letterman in football, basketball, baseball, and track. Veasley won numerous athletic awards including 1st team All-District in football, basketball, and baseball. He was a state finalist in the high jump, finishing in 6th place. And he was voted MPHS Most Athletic and Athlete of the Year.
When asked about his favorite memories from Tiger athletics, Veasley said it is the black and gold pride. “Away games always pumped me up with the hometown support.”
After graduation, Veasley played football for the Rangers at Kilgore College then transferred and continued his football career at Pittsburg State University in Kansas. His greatest memory from collegiate football is winning the National Championship at Kilgore College.
Veasley said that athletics gave him a strong work ethic and perseverance. Of the honor of being chosen for the Hall of Fame, he said, “It checks a box of accomplishments that I have made in earlier years of my life. When I played on a championship winning team, I noticed quickly that no workout was a normal workout. Everything was extra from lifting, running, film study, and even eating.”
Veasley lives in Mount Pleasant and is a driver for Your Choice. He has been married to his wife, Kelley, for 12 years. He has two children, Aiden and Chloe, who both attend MPISD schools.