The Galveston County Daily News

LA MARQUE — La Marque school district inducted four distinguished alumni into its Legacy Hall on Thursday night.

The district’s education foundation honored four La Marque graduates who excelled in their fields and contributed to their communities.

“La Marque ISD is built around the legacy of champions — in the classroom, on the field and in the community,” Denise McLean, the foundation’s executive director, said. “The four inductees chosen this year are perfect examples of this legacy. They are champions in their professions and in their communities.”

The inductees are:

• Norman Bulaich, who graduated in 1965, was a first-round pick in the 1970 National Football League draft and helped the Baltimore Colts win Super Bowl V in 1971. He held the Colts’ single-game rushing record — 198 yards against the New York Jets in 1971 — for almost 30 years. His NFL career spanned 10 years and included stints with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Miami Dolphins.

• Geraldine Sam, who graduated in 1969, made history when she was elected in 2009 as the first female mayor in La Marque’s history and the first female African-American mayor in Galveston County. Sam teaches at Simms Elementary School.

• Bruce Blankenship, who graduated in 1976, is a member of the Santa Fe school board. He is a lifelong volunteer who has helped with the Galveston County Fair and Rodeo, community sports and student organizations.

• Dr. Janice Crowder, who graduated in 1976, opened her obstetrics and gynecology practice in La Marque in 1994. One of her focuses is to assist teenage mothers as they cope with impending motherhood and educate them about their choices and the long-term effects they may have.

The foundation had a reception for the inductees Thursday night at the Charles T. Doyle Convention Center in Texas City. The inductees’ photos and biographies will be displayed in the front hall at La Marque High School.