Texas Tech Mourns the Loss of Decades-Long Sports Information Director

Former Texas Tech sports information director (SID) and Army veteran Joe Hornaday died on Wednesday, leaving behind a decades-long legacy in Texas Tech Athletics. He was 79 years old.

In honor of all that Hornaday has done for the Texas Tech Athletic Department, its faculty, staff, and university alumni across the nation, there will be a moment of silence prior to the TTU vs. Houston game on September 18 at Galaxy Stadium.

Remembering Joe Hornaday

From 1978 to 1980, Hornaday served as assistant SID before taking over the director role himself from 1980 to 1996. He retired in 2008 from Texas Tech University after assuming a role in public relations for the athletics department for several years.

As sports information director, Hornaday was responsible for the success across Texas Tech's football TV and radio shows, highlighting coach and player interviews, securing radio station affiliates, staging weekly press conferences, and entertaining coverage of home games.

In his early years, Hornaday attended Texas Tech University from 1965-1970, before returning to complete his journalism degree in 1978.

After earning his degree, Hornaday began his sports writing career. He was also stationed overseas in Germany while serving in the U.S. Army prior to 1978.

From 1981 to 1985, Joe Hornaday was the national chairman for the Academic All-America football selection committee. He also played a critical role in establishing and serving as the first president of the Texas Tech chapter of the National Football Foundation in 2002.

In his later years, Hornaday served on the Southwest Region Selection Committee for the College Football Hall of Fame.

Hornaday is survived by his wife, Sally, and his two sons, Clay and Chris.