East Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame
Football • 1966-69
James Thrower was a three-sport athlete at East Texas State, where he participated on the Lions’ football, basketball and track and field teams, and majored in English and physical education. He came to Commerce on a basketball scholarship but found most of his success on the football field. As a three-year starter on the football team, he intercepted 12 passes for 135 yards. He also earned a varsity letter in basketball and two in track and field as a high jumper and member of the 440-yard relay team.
Following his playing days and graduation in 1970, Thrower went on to a six-year career in the NFL. He spent three seasons as a defensive back for the Philadelphia Eagles and an additional three seasons with the Detroit Lions.
Thrower and his wife Marla are proud to have provided the leadership gift to the Thrower Student-Athlete Success Center, which is the premier academic and success support center for student-athletes in all of Division II. He was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus at A&M-Commerce in 2012, and was inducted into the Lion Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010. He was inducted into the Lone Star Conference Hall of Honor in 2017.
