Stephen F Austin State University - Stone Fort Yearbook (Nacogdoches, TX)

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10 - Gulf Star Conference

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Hdley ' s Comet hits 1986 by Scott Miller and Doug Craig The mysteries of the universe have been met with fear, myths and the desire to conquer the unknown. Halley ' s Comet was probably first sighted by the Chinese in 240 B.C. Since that time, the comet has baffled many who saw it. Others have responded to the comet with fear while still others have studied and researched to answer the questions behind Halley ' s Comet. According to Dr. Norman L. Markworth, assistant professor of physics, Halley ' s Comet is made up of water, carbon dioxide, ammonia, methane and dust. The comet appears every 76 years to entertain the masses and to provide re- search for astronomers. The comet was named after Edmund Halley, an English astronomer, who was the first to develop the theory that comets orbit the sun in an elongated elliptical path. Halley realized that appearances of comets in 1531, 1607 and 1682 were the reappearance of the same comet. He also successfully predicted that the comet would reappear in 1758. Halley ' s comet can be viewed as it comes between the earth and the sun. Once it passes the sun, the comet will head towards Pluto. Just before reaching the planet, the comet will head back towards the sun to be seen again in the year 2061. The optimal time to have seen Halley ' s comet was in November and December of 1985, and March and April of 1986. The first photograph of Halley ' s Comet was taken was taken in 1910 by Donald H. Menzel. The photograph above was taken at the SFA observatory through the 41-inch telescope. The telescope is the largest between the McDonald Observatory in West Texas and Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. According to Dr. Thomas O. Callaway, There are only 12 sites in the United States with larger telescopes. In addition to academic uses of the new telescope and research uses in tracking bi- nary stars, the scope is an integral part of public showings and is used in tracking pro- grams with observatories around the world. And I think we ' ll be attracting more as- tronomy students, Callaway said. There aren ' t many educational facilities that can match what we have for astronomers. SFA ' s 41-inch telescope and observatory are just two more symbols of the excellence that SFA is achieving. SFA - 9

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Jacks earn division title The Jacks closed out their 1985 season as champions of the Gulf Star Conference. SFA shares this title with Sam Houston State University. With a winning record 9-2, SFA clinched its first conference championship in 50 years. This is the first championship SFA has claimed since 1935 when the Lumber- jacks tied two other teams for the Lone Star Conference title. SFA also closed the season with impressive league standings. The Jacks placed first in five team statistical categories, and 25 individual SFA records were broken. These included James Noble setting six season and career records and place kicker Rick Wilson established four new career records. SFA ' s only two losses, both at home, were to Sam Houston State University, 28- 21, and Abilene Christian University, 22- 21. SFA has earned four straight years of winning records under the direction of Coach Jim Hess. The overall record for the past four years is 29-14-1 for a winning percentage of 67 percent. Hess, who took over a team with a 1-10 overall record in 1981 was named Gulf Star Conference Coach of the Year. Hess trails only Fred Akers of the University of Texas in winning percentage among all ac- tive head coaches in the state of Texas. With his coaching record from Angelo State University and SFA combined, Hess improved his overall winning percentage to 71.1 percent. He trails Akers by two-tenths of a percent. Under the direction of Hess, SFA has broken over 70 individual and team records. Through determination, hard work and persistence, the SFA Lumberjacks have grown to represent the excellence of SFA. f Right: Phil Sotolongo, Conroe McCullough senior, prepares to catch a catch despite ACU ' s defense. Gulf Star Conference -11