Cardinal Hall of Honor
Al Vincent’s total contributions to Lamar University are immeasurable. His connection with Lamar has been in the aura of community service and interest, and without remuneration. As a “volunteer” coach for two different men in two different sports in two separate eras, the chief measuring gauge for Al Vincent is the oft used sports jargon: “He’s a winner!”
Inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1979, Vincent became associated with Lamar in 1933 when he assisted John Gray in coaching football. He did so again in 1934. Lamar advanced to the state junior college championship game both years. For the next four decades, Al devoted his life to baseball, becoming one of the sport’s most respected figures. A coach for several major league teams, Vincent was a successful Texas League manager with three championships in three different cities.
In 1973, Vincent rejoined Lamar, voluntarily, as a special assistant coach to new baseball coach Jim Gilligan. With Vincent’s assistance, Lamar won three conference championships and more than 200 games. More important, however, Al Vincent’s presence enhanced Lamar’s prestige in the tightly knit baseball circles. Evidence of Al’s contributions can be summed up by Gilligan, who claimed, “I never thought you could learn as much about baseball as I have learned from Al Vincent.”
