History Photos

b8658fc2-6d87-4a39-98f3-c85600d23b89

The Trojan Baseball Alumni Association’s Annual Fall Banquet has evolved into a premier event in honoring former Trojan Baseball Players. Don Buford was the most recent recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was presented to Trojan baseball players who have achieved outstanding accomplishments both while at USC and in their subsequent careers. Don Buford was an exceptional baseball and football letterman at USC. He then achieved fame as a major league baseball player for the Chicago White Sox (1963-1967) and Baltimore Orioles (1968-1972). Don played in the 1971 All-Star game and starred in the World Series for Orioles.

Special Thanks to artist, Mark Hilliard.  At the 2015 Fall Banquet ceremony and as a lasting memento of the event, Don Buford received an original portrait by artist and former USC baseball player, Mark Hilliard. Mark participated in the Trojan baseball program for three years and graduated from the USC School of Dramatic Arts in 1981. Essentially, he started his art career by doing sketches at rehearsals. He taught art and drama to adults and children for over thirty years. He has received numerous awards in juried art competitions throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties. He has painted and drawn more than twenty murals for local schools. Mark has painted portraits of other TBAA Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, Fred Hill and Justin Dedeaux.

Mark has painted and drawn portraits of other notable Trojans including Coach Rod Dedeaux, Don Buford, Fred Lynn, Steve Kemp, Randy Flores, Rex Johnston, Dr. Arnold Bartner and Dave Winston. The other portraits of TBAA Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, Fred Hill and Justin Dedeaux will be displayed on this webpage in the near future.

Thank you Mark for your contributions in supporting USC Baseball!   If anyone is interested in having a unique portrait for a special person in their life, please e-mail Mark Hilliard at mandg_hilliard@sbcglobal.net.

 

Rex Johnson
Portrait by Mark Hilliard
Don Winston
Portrait by Mark Hilliard
Dr. Arthur C. Bartner
Portrait by Mark Hilliard