Saturday, July 27th, 2024

Elton Conger | Track

Former Dunbar Panther, Elton Conger, will always be remembered as one of the greatest all-around athletes to ever compete for the Panthers. That is saying something when one looks back at the outstanding athletes that have graced the fields and courts for Dunbar. From 1963 to 1966, Conger made a name for himself as a three-year letter winner on the gridiron. But his excellence in track, as a four-year letter winner and state meet qualifier on the track, is what set him apart. Conger was a valuable member of the 1963 2A State Champion Panther football team. In both 1965 and 1966 he qualified for the 2A State Track and Field Championships and he earned a state title in the 880- yard run at the 1966 state meet. For his tremendous efforts as a representative of Dunbar, Conger was inducted into the Prairie View Interscholastic League Hall of Fame in 2013. Dunbar High School was only the beginning of his memorable track career. Conger went on to become an All-American member of the Prairie View A&M Cross Country and Track and Field programs from 1966-1970. He was a member of five NAIA National Championship Track teams at Prairie View A&M and ran on the National Champion 4 x 800 relay team. Conger was named All- Conference four years and earned NAIA All-American honors in 1969 and 1970. His career achievements were recognized when he was inducted into the Prairie View A&M Sports Hall of Fame for track in 1997. A storied coaching career began for Conger after his days as a competitor. He went on to coach for 37 years. That lengthy stint as a mentor to young athletes brought Conger back to Lubbock as a young coach at E.C. Struggs Junior High in Lubbock. He went on to spend many years coaching basketball, track, and cross country in the Houston area where he won 19 “Coach of the Year” awards. Conger was inducted into the Greater Houston Area Coaches Hall of Honor in 2012. His contributions to the track and field world didn’t stop when his coaching career ended. Conger became regarded as an excellent track official and in 2011 he won the “Stan Wright Award” as Outstanding Track Official, while also being inducted into the TSU Track Officials Hall of Fame in 2013. Young people never know if sports may open doors for them later in life and sometimes they choose the wrong door. That wasn’t the case with Elton Conger. His choice has filled his life with success and recognition. Now, he is being inducted into the Lubbock ISD Athletic Hall of Honor for all of his success, but mainly for his outstanding achievements where it all began, at Dunbar High School.
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