Don Bryson was a man of many firsts. After an incredible basketball career, he became the first All-American basketball player at Lamar University. He went on to become the first ever men's basketball coach at Lamar State College Port Arthur.
On May 31, 2023 Bryson passed away at the age of 80.
Don started his collegiate basketball career at Abilene Christian in 1965 but was recruited by Jack Martin in the early 1960s to play for Lamar University. He became one of the best players in the school's history, becoming LU's first-ever All-American selection in 1965.
A 1981 Cardinal Hall of Honor inductee, Bryson led the Southland Conference by scoring 533 points (23.2 ppg) and pulling down 343 rebounds (14.9 rpg). He also shot .611 from the field that season. At the time he graduated, Bryson was the school's third all-time leading scorer and still ranks 17th all-time in program history and is one of just 21 Cardinals to score 1,000 points in a career.
Bryson also graduated as the school's all-time leading rebounder (931) and is currently one of just four Cardinals to record 1,000 points and at least 930 rebounds in a career.
A three-year starter, the Cardinals posted a 59-17 (.776) record during his time on the court and guided Big Red to a Lone Star Conference title in 1962-63 and a Southland Conference championship in 1963-64.
Bryson made a return to Beaumont in 1971 where he spent six seasons as an assistant coach for his alma mater.
He would go on to coach high school basketball at Nederland and Port Neches-Groves high schools before retiring. Of course, he couldn't stay away from the basketball court for long.
Bryson helped establish the Lamar State College Port Arthur men's basketball program, which came to life in 2004.
Typical of a new program, the start was slow. Bryson knew how to excel on the court, though.
After two years as an independent, Bryson ushered the Seahawks into the Metro Athletic Conference where they made the postseason tournament in consecutive seasons.
Just three years later, the program that Bryson had helped bring to life earned a trip to the NJCAA national tournament.