MOBILE, Ala. – A pair of individuals affiliated with the University of South Alabama Department of Athletics have been chosen for induction into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame.

Both Luis Gonzalez and Roy Patton are a part of the organization's Class of 2019 and will be recognized at a ceremony slated to be held at the RSA Battle House on May 2.

A three-year letterwinner at South, Gonzalez was named a Freshman All-American in 1986 following his first season with the program and was selected a first-team All-American two years later.  During his career, he recorded a.325 batting average along with 51 doubles, 32 home runs and 183 runs batted in while scoring 176 runs and drawing 121 walks.  As a junior, he hit .375 with 19 doubles, 16 home runs and 80 RBI, with the latter a school season record that still stands to this day.

Gonzalez would go on to play 19 seasons in the Major Leagues, and after finishing his career as the Arizona Diamondbacks all-time leader in hits (1,337), doubles (310), home runs (224), RBI (774) and runs scored (780) he became the first player to have his number retired by the organization in 2010.  He was inducted in to the South Alabama Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999 and had his Jaguar jersey retired two years later, and is also slated for induction into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in April.

It marks the fourth straight year that a former member of the Jag baseball program has been chosen for induction into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame.

Patton led the Jaguar men's soccer program from 1980-95, posting an overall record of 202-81-20 (70%) including recording a winning mark in 13 of 16 years highlighted by a streak of 11 straight campaigns with 10 or more victories.  He guided South to five straight Sun Belt Championships from 1991-95 and was voted the league's Coach of the Year on six occasions.  Patton first earned the honor after leading the Jags to a 15-2-2 mark in 1981 and was recognized again in 1987 after USA went 19-2-1.

In his final season at the helm of the program, Patton helped the Jaguars compete in their first-ever NCAA Tournament Play-In match.  He also started the school's women's soccer program in 1994 and guided South to a 21-12-2 record in its first two seasons of competition.  Patton was inducted into the South Alabama Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997.

Their honor brings the total to 13 former coaches and student-athletes with ties to South selected for induction into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame, with the group also including Beth Barry (2009), Cliff Ellis (2003), Lance Johnson (2016), Joey Jones (2011), Steve Kittrell (2004), Jon Lieber (2013), June Mayson (1999), Juan Pierre (2018), Eddie Stanky (1990), Dave Stapleton (2017) and Turner Ward (2007).

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the South Circle, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics.  Contributions to the South Circle directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/give

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