Olga Aranda
Inducted 2002
Hometown: La Feria
High School: La Feria High School
College: Texas Woman’s University
Best Known for: Athlete-Track and Field
One of the dominant track and field athletes of the early women's era, Aranda set records in the 1970s that still stand.
The La Feria native set a national Junior Olympics record in the shot put as a sophomore. Her throw of 47-5.5 is the best toss in area history, and her 140-4 discus effort is seventh all-time.
As an underclassman, Aranda was second at the state meet in the shot and third in the discus, ranking second nationally in the former event. She was voted the Outstanding Athlete at the Junior Olympics in 1976, in Seattle, and was a hopeful for the Summer Olympics.
At Texas Woman's University, Aranda established several records and was a four-time finalist in the AIAW National Championships. She was also co-captain of the school's basketball team in 1970, later coached at Harlingen and Weslaco, and was named RGV All-Millennium in her sport.