Class of 2024 Induction Ceremony
Friday, November 8, 2024
Dr. William B. DeLauder Theater
Delaware State University
LETTER OF WELCOME
FROM THE ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME COMMITTEE
Dear Friends and Honored Guests,
Welcome to the 2024 Delaware State University Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony! We are excited to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of our alumni who have made significant contributions to our athletic program.
Tonight, we honor not just their records and accolades, but also the dedication and spirit that embody Delaware State University. Our inductees inspire future generations and exemplify the values of leadership and teamwork.
Thank you for joining us in this celebration of excellence. Congratulations to our inductees, and cheers to the continued success of Delaware State University Athletics!
Warm regards,
Tamara L. Stoner Committee Chair
ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Dr. Donald Blakey Calvin Jones
Gwendolyn C. Harris
Ursula Harvey
Dennis Jones
Ronnie Shaw
Jimmie Strong
Robert Vanderhost
Dwight Williams
ORDER OF THE PROGRAM
Mistress of Ceremonies
Hall of Fame Processional
Welcome
Invocation
Gwendolyn Harris
Head Coach, Delaware State University Cross Country, and Assistant Coach, Track & Field
Dennis Jones
Member, Delaware State University Athletics Hall of Fame Committee
Tamara Stoner
Chair, Delaware State University Athletics Hall of Fame Committee
Apostle Frank Burton, Jr.
Chaplain, Delaware State University Athletics
Greetings Tony Allen, Ph.D.
President, Delaware State University
John Ridgeway
Member, Delaware State University Board of Trustees
Mark Bennett
Deputy Athletic Director for Compliance, Delaware State University
Inspirational Song
Presentation of the 2024 Hall-of-Fame Inductees
Edward Davis | Women’s Basketball Coach
Andre Dixon (posthumous) | Football
Jordan Elliott | Baseball
Duane Henry | Track and Field Coach
“Bali” fka Reggie Johnson | Football
NaJai Pollard | Women’s Basketball
Jack Powell | Baseball
Willie Lee Sheppard | Football/Basketball
Stephanie Sheridan | Bowling
Mark Sills | Contributor
Nelson Elijah Townsend (posthumous) | Administrator/Athletic Director
Jacqueline Carmichael Wilson | Track and Field
Justin Cory Wilson | Football
Hall of Fame Oath
See Page 51
Closing Remarks
Alma Mater
See Page 51
DELAWARE STATE ATHLETICS of
hall fame
CLASS OF 2024 INDUCTEES
Edward Davis
Women’s Basketball Coach
Ed Davis Jr. spent 12 seasons as the Women’s Basketball Head Coach at Delaware State, where he led the Hornets and created a winning culture. During his tenure, the team achieved a remarkable overall record of 178-182 (.494), solidifying Davis as the program’s all-time winningest coach. Moreover, the Hornets excelled in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), posting an impressive 121-85 (.587) record under Davis’ guidance. The Davis years at Delaware State were highlighted by a MEAC Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament berth vs. No. 2 Vanderbilt (2007), a MEAC regular season co-championship (2003-04), five MEAC championship game appearances and the only 20-win seasons (four) in team history. Davis surpassed the 300win mark for his career and became Delaware State’s all-time leader in women’s basketball victories during the 2007-08 season. He owns a career record of 349-234 (.598), highlighted by nine seasons with 20-plus wins. Delaware State was particularly tough at home under Davis, posting a 94-48 (.662) mark at home during his time there. He led the team to a school-record 23 straight home wins from 2003-05 and the Lady Hornets led the MEAC in scoring defense for seven straight years before that string was snapped during the 2010-11 season.
Prior to taking over the Delaware State job, Davis was the Head Coach at Bowie State University in Maryland. During his eight seasons, he amassed an impressive overall record of 171-54, transforming the Bulldogs into one of the top Division II programs in the country. Davis’ current tenure as Head Coach of the Morgan State Women’s Basketball program has been marked by consistent improvement and a commitment to excellence, including a historic run during the 2021-22 season. The Lady Bears would claim their first MEAC regular season title in program history after finishing in a three-way tie with Howard and Norfolk State with identical 11-3 MEAC records. Davis’ teams have also made a mark on the national stage, earning a spot in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) in 2023. In his early career years, Davis was a teacher and successful high school coach in the Washington, D.C. area.
CLASS OF 2024 INDUCTEES
Andre Dixon
Football (Posthumous induction)
Andre V. Dixon (Trick), a 1978 graduate of Delaware State College, would say, “There is no greater honor than to be recognized for your accomplishments.” To be inducted into the Delaware State Hall of Fame is one of those honors.
As a defensive back in his sophomore year, Dixon made history by returning a kickoff some 90 yards that has been recorded as the longest in Delaware State Hornets football history.
During Dixon’s senior year, he played in Delaware State’s first-ever Orange Blossom Classic against FAMU. He was named Defensive Player of the Week by the Sports Information Directors of the MidEastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) because of his feats on the specialty teams. In a game against Morgan State, Dixon ran back a second-half kickoff for an 85-yard touchdown. He later intercepted a pass to set up the Hornets’ second touchdown for the win.
As a senior cornerback, Dixon made the All-MEAC (1977) First Team. He was the leading interceptor in Delaware State’s secondary. He intercepted six passes and returned them for 114 yards and played on the specialty teams, showing prowess at running back kickoffs. He returned six kicks for 179 yards which also included the 85-yard touchdown run against Morgan State. Most of his interceptions came in key situations, either stopping a drive or getting good field position for his team.
Following his Delaware State career, he was contacted by several NFL teams which included the Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals. He attended an NFL camp in Atlanta, Georgia. He continued his love of football as a defensive coach for Alfred E. Beach High School in Savannah, Georgia.
Jordan Elliott Baseball
A true competitor and former Hornets Baseball pitching standout, Jordan Elliott set the bar high during his career at Delaware State University, and he remains the All-Time Leader in Pitching Wins and Innings Pitched for the Delaware State University Baseball Team. Elliott also ranks third in career strikeouts. He has multiple Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) accolades, including being named to the 2011 Second Team and 2012 All-MEAC First Team. Elliott was the MEAC leader with 10 wins, tying Delaware State’s single-season record, in 2012.
The young pitcher, along with his teammates, helped lead the Hornets to a 73-35-1 overall record and 43-5 MEAC mark and back-to-back MEAC Northern Division titles in 2012 and 2013. He was also a MEAC Academic All-Star and College Sports Information Directors Association Academic All-America nominee.
After his college career with DSU, Elliott signed a professional contract to pitch for the Frontier League’s Washington Wild Things in Washington, PA. After his first season with the Wild Things, Elliott signed a professional contract with the Philadelphia Phillies and played for its Gulf Coast League Minor League Rookie Team in Clearwater, FL. He pitched his final season as a professional the following year back in Pennsylvania for the Wild Things, before returning to DSU to take the position of pitching coach in 2014.
CLASS OF 2024 INDUCTEES
Duane Henry
Track & Field Coach
Duane Henry attended Delaware State College, where in 1983 he was on the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship team for indoor track and field. Henry was the MEAC champion in the 55-meter dash.
Henry returned to Dover High School, where he graduated and started his coaching career in soccer and track and field in 1984.
In 1995, Henry became the Assistant Men’s Track Coach at DSU under the leadership of Coach Joe Burden. In 1996, he became the Head Women’s Coach of Cross Country and Track and Field, and he became the Head Coach of the men’s team following the retirement of Coach Joe Burden.
Henry’s coaching career was through 2015 as the Head Coach. He returned back to DSU in 2020 as an Assistant Track and Field Coach to the present time. Accomplishments: 30+ MEAC & IC4A Champions; 25 NCAA Qualifiers and 10 NCAA All-Americans; 2008 MEAC Runner-up for Indoor Track (Men’s); 2009 MEAC Cross Country Runner-up (Men’s); 2008-2009 3rd Place IC4A Championship (Men’s); 2010 Men’s 4x4 finished 7th place in the NCAA Championship; IC4A President of the Coaches Committee; 2011 Delaware State University Coach of the Year; 2014 Delaware State University Choice Award; 2018 Diamond Extravaganza Award – Starting Women’s Soccer at DSU and Coaching Women’s Track.
The following were qualifiers for the NCAA during his coaching career: Josh Abrams, Doug Bell, Donte Holmes, Leslie Murray, LaRon Moore, Burton Clarke, TaQuan Brown, Steven Bowe, Ryan Carter, Kevaughn Laviea, Tariq Devore, Ketsia Estinfill, Tracey FanFan and Kendra Myers.
“Bali” fka Reggie Johnson Football
During the mid-1980s, Delaware State College was the premier football program in the MidEastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Bali was a four-year letterman and three-year starter at defensive back. The Cleveland, OH, native arrived at Delaware State in the summer of 1986 as a walk-on player. Shortly after beginning the 1986 summer camp, Bali earned a full scholarship.
Bali was a major contributor in Delaware State’s 1987, 1988 and 1989 MEAC Championships. Bali ranks fourth in team history and ninth in MEAC history with 15 career interceptions. Bali was a two-time All-MEAC selection (1987 and 1988). In 1987, Bali was third in the conference with five interceptions. The following year he led the MEAC in interceptions with seven. His seven interceptions also ranked him third in the nation in 1988. He finished his senior year with three interceptions. In addition to earning All-MEAC honors in 1988, Bali earned All-American Honorable Mention and All-ECAC Honorable Mention honors. Bali was selected to play in the 1989 Freedom Bowl All-Star game which was reserved for the top players from the SWAC and MEAC.
Bali graduated from Delaware State with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology in 1991. He went on to earn his Master of Social Work from Stony Brook University in 2009. He currently works for the NYC Board of Education as a Licensed Master Social Worker.
Bali is married to Delaware State University alum Tanya (McCray) Johnson. They have been married for 34 years and have four children with six grandchildren. He is the owner and operator of Back of My Jersey (BMJ). Through BMJ, Bali has mentored and trained over 200 kids. Many of the mentees have gone on to graduate college, play professional sports and become community leaders. Bali has been coaching high school and youth football for the past 25 years. He is also a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
NaJai Pollard
Women’s Basketball
NaJai Pollard, born and raised in Richmond, VA, is a standout in Delaware State women’s basketball history, leaving an indelible mark as the all-time leader with 1,988 career points and ranking ninth in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) history. Her impressive stats also include 254 career blocks, the highest in team history, and a remarkable 1,033 rebounds, placing her second on the all-time list. Pollard averaged 17.8 points per game, good for 10th all-time in the MEAC, and ranks seventh in total field goals made (753) and fifth in blocks (254). During her collegiate career, Pollard earned numerous accolades, including the 2018-19 MEAC Player of the Year, three-time All-MEAC First Team selection and the 2015-16 MEAC Rookie of the Year. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management, achieving a commendable 3.3 GPA.
Currently in her sixth year playing professionally overseas, Pollard has thrived in Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic and Israel. She has scored over 1K points in her professional career. Her notable achievements include: 2020 — Swiss SBL Player of the Week (Round 14), Eurobasket.com All-Swiss SBL Second Team and Eurobasket.com Swiss SBL All-Imports Team; 2021 — Eurobasket.com All-Israeli League Honorable Mention; 2022 —German DBBL Cup Finalist and DBBL Semifinals; 2023 — Player of the Week twice in the Czech Republic ZBL and EWBL, Czech Republic Cup Finalist, EWBL Champion and Eurobasket.com All-EWBL Player of the Year, All-EWBL Forward and Import of the Year, and selection to the All-EWBL First Team and All-Czech Rep. ZBL First Team; and playing in the Euro Cup averaging 18 PPG, 9 RPG, 40% 3 PT, 92% FT with an efficiency average rating of 19.5.
In addition to her playing career, Pollard is committed to empowering others through her brand, “Supreme World,” which focuses on holistic development that she learned through basketball, targeting the mind, body, and soul.
Jack Powell Baseball
Jack Powell grew up in Dover and graduated from Dover High School in 1965, playing basketball and baseball. He married his high school sweetheart in 1966 and recently celebrated 58 years. The same year, he joined the U. S. Army Reserves and served seven years. In 1969, he was hired by the United States Postal Service, which changed his life, and he also entered Delaware State College (DSC).
While working nights at the Postal Service, he attended DSC during the day. He started a family in 1971 with a son as he worked nights, went to college in the day and also played baseball for DSC. Powell graduated from DSC in 1974 while playing baseball for four years, working and raising a family. In 1979, he was promoted to Postmaster of Woodside, DE. After three years as Postmaster of Woodside and one year at the Cambridge, MD, Post Office as a Supervisor, he was promoted to Postmaster of Bethany Beach, DE, where he worked for the next 22 years and he and his family established themselves in lower Delaware.
Now retired, Powell works part time in order to remain active and engage in the community. He and his family have traveled extensively in the USA and around the world and had their lives enriched by hosting four exchange students. He and his wife now enjoy spending time with their adult grandsons and their semi-retirement.
Powell gives credit to Delaware State College – “without them, I would have never become as successful as I have.”
Willie Lee Sheppard
Football/Basketball
Willie Sheppard, a native of Salisbury, MD, graduated from James M. Bennett High School in 1983 and Delaware State College with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism in 1988. He graduated from Stratford University in 2000 with a Culinary Arts degree.
While a student at DSC, he wrote for the Hornets Nest campus newspaper and was a sports reporter at the WDSC Radio Station. Upon graduation he moved to Connecticut, where he wrote for the North End Agent, a small newspaper in Bloomfield. Also in Connecticut, he worked at the Farmington Country Club in West Hartford, where he learned fine dining, French cuisine and European service at the top level. This inspired Sheppard to enter and complete culinary school. He eventually opened his own restaurant, the Odd Fellows Cafe, in 2014 and was voted Best Restaurant 2015 in Smyrna, DE, and received numerous other awards for excellent service.
As time approaches, Sheppard is looking toward publishing a series of writings in paperback under the heading of “Willie Words.” He plans to continue writing beautiful menus and cook because it is inspirational to him.
Sheppard has been married for 35 years to Sophia Hunter Sheppard, a fellow Hornet and Athletic Hall of Famer in Track. They have three children, Kayla, a DSU graduate in Biology; Olivia, a DSU student; and William, a great Black man.
Stephanie Sheridan
Bowling
Stephanie Sheridan has earned her place in Delaware State University record books by becoming one of the most decorated bowlers in Delaware State history. Coming in during a transition period between coaches, Sheridan helped to rebuild the women’s bowling program, bringing it from unranked nationally during her freshman year to ninth during her senior year.
In her tenure at Delaware State, Sheridan competed in approximately 170 individual matches across 39 tournaments, earning an approximate average of 192, with a collegiate career-high game of 266 and accumulated 7 All-Tournament Team placements. During this time, Sheridan led her team to making school history by being a part of the first team in program history to advance to the United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Finals in 2015. The following year, Sheridan became the first bowler in program history to qualify for the United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Singles finals.
She went on to lead her team to a MEAC Championship in 2016, earning MEAC Most Outstanding Player and All-Tournament Team honors for that event. At the end of her senior season, Sheridan was awarded as the 2015-2016 Delaware State Female Athlete of the Year.
CLASS OF 2024 INDUCTEES
Mark Sills
Contributor
A native of the eastside of Wilmington, DE, Mark P. Sills has established a well-known Delaware and regional reputation as an advocate, organizer and business entrepreneur of youth development programs — with organized youth basketball programs as a focal point. During his early professional years, he served as Youth Development Specialist with the Wilmington Housing Authority. He then was Youth Program Director for the Delaware Girls Club and later a 10-year Assistant Basketball Coach with Wilmington Howard High School. For the last 27 years, Sills has been the Founder and President of Urban Youth, Inc., a business, profit-making entity specializing in organizing and directing organized weekend youth basketball tournaments for nonprofit and public youth groups in Wilmington and many other cities. Urban Youth, Inc., has served over 120,000 youths and sponsored an average of 35 to 40 organized weekend youth basketball tournaments per year. He has also been organizing the Urban Youth Inc. Basketball League for the past 30 years in Wilmington. He and his company have received many awards from the Wilmington City Council and local civic groups for their work with Wilmington youth, inclusive of helping many to get into college and receive college academic and athletic scholarships. He has organized basketball events in conjunction with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards and the Delaware 87ers.
Sills attended Delaware State University, where he studied Business Administration and Recreation Studies. He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, and for the past 27 years, Sills has been an DSU advocate, ambassador, promoter and loyal supporter of the school, Athletic Department and its athletes. He is an appointed board member of the Delaware High School Basketball Hall of Fame, serves on the Wilmington Martin Luther King Jr. Referral Center Advisory Board, and is an alumnus of the H. Fletcher Brown Boys and Girls Club, a former Board Member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Delaware, President of the Delaware Afro American Sports Hall of Fame and a Board Member of the Delaware Sports Broadcaster’s Associations (D.S.B.A.).
Nelson Elijah Townsend
Administrator/Athletic Director (Posthumous induction)
Nelson Elijah Townsend (1941-2015) was a college athletics administrator who served seven tenures as athletic director at four different universities: the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (1976–1979 and 2003–2005), Delaware State University (1979–1986), Florida A&M University (1986–1987, 2005–2007 and 2014–2015) and the University at Buffalo (1987–1999). He was the University at Buffalo’s first African American athletic director. At both Delaware State and Buffalo, Townsend was responsible for leading the athletic department to achieve full NCAA Division I status, as both schools transitioned from lower levels of NCAA hierarchy.
At Delaware State College, in 1980 Townsend finalized the transition of Delaware State from a Division II to a Division I school and the Pride of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). DSC went on to win 15 MEAC team championships and capture back-to-back Talmadge Hill Awards, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s top overall men’s program award in the 1984–85 and 1985–86 seasons. In 1981, Townsend made a bold appointment hiring Joseph Purzycki as the first white man to ever be named a head football coach at a Historically Black College or University. Townsend has also been credited for adding then-future Super Bowl wide receiver John Taylor to the Delaware State Hornets in 1983 as the last scholarship player without Coach Purzycki’s knowledge but to his pleasant surprise. Coach Purzycki and the succeeding coach, William “Bill” Collick, another Townsend hire, led the Hornets through the glory years of Hornet football which included 13 straight years of non-losing seasons and five conference championships.
Townsend was inducted to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 1995 and was inducted to both the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Halls of Fame in 2012.
CLASS OF 2024 INDUCTEES
Jacqueline Carmichael Wilson
Track & Field
Following a State Champion and school record-setting high school athletic career at Weaver High School in Hartford, CT, Jacqueline Carmichael Wilson went on to display her superior athletic ability at Delaware State College.
Wilson was a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champion in the High Jump. She also represented DSC at the NCAA National Track and Field Championship. She was a DSC/DSU school record holder with a jump of ( 20 “5 3/4”) and was part of the record-setting Distance Medley Relay since 1985.
Wilson received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1988. After graduation, she married DSC track athlete Ronald Wilson. He had a young daughter (Ronisha Turner) who Jackie helped raise along with her mother. Ronisha was a DSU cheerleader and also Miss DSU in 2003. Jackie and Ron had three children together, Justin, Jordan and Janae Wilson. Justin played football at DSU and is also being inducted into the Hall of Fame in this Class of 2024. Jordan and Janae both ran track at DSU. Wilson has been a successful entrepreneur for over 30 years.
Justin Cory Wilson
Justin Cory Wilson, a two-time All-MEAC First Team selection, ranks second on the Hornets’ career list with 189 receptions and is fourth in team history with 2,416 receiving yards. He is also fourth on the school’s all-time list with 23 touchdown catches.
In 2010, Wilson became the first player in the history of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) to lead the league in receptions (59), receiving yards (937) and touchdown catches (11) in the same season. In addition, he has the second-best receiving yardage game in team history with 217 vs. Howard in 2010.
Wilson was named to the All-MEAC First Team in 2010 and 2012, and was the league’s preseason Player of the Year in 2011. He ended his career at DSU in the Top 4, if not higher, in every receiving record category.
He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Sport Management in 2013. He was picked up by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent. After Green Bay, Wilson went to play in the CFL for the Winnipeg Bluebombers and also played arena football in the AFL for the LA Kiss and the Washington Valor. After a career-ending injury in 2019, Wilson still wanted to be involved in sports so he decided to achieve his master’s in Athletic Administration which he finished in 2023. He now works as an Assistant Athletic Director at a high school in his home state of Connecticut and lives with his significant other and their two children in New Britain, CT.
ALL-TIME DSU HALL OF FAME MEMBERS
NAME SPORT
Carlene Albury-Radhouani
Women’s Basketball 2001
Henry Clay Aldridge Football, Baseball, Track & Field 1985
Frank Alexander Baseball 2018
Ernest L. Anderson Football, Track & Field 1988
Phil Anderson Football 2022
Catrina Ansbach Softball 2013
Dana (Walker) Armantrading Track & Field 2017
Thomas Arrington Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country 2010
Kalyn (Washburn) Arthurs
B
William Bank Sr.
John Barber
John “Bull” Barber Jr.
Warren S. Barkley
Reginald Barnes
Women’s Bowling 2022
Men’s Basketball 1986
Tiffany Barnes Track & Field 2011
Monroe E. Barrick Men’s Basketball 1986
Anthony Baylor Men’s Basketball 1998
William W. Bayne Men’s Basketball 1985
Stewart E. Beanum Football, Basketball, Baseball 1985
Joseph H. Bedford Sr. Football 1985
Tyrone Belford Contributor 2017
Delores Blakey
Women’s Basketball 2014
Donald Blakey Football, Baseball, Basketball 1986
Jahsha Bluntt
George Bratcher
Men’s Basketball 2012
Men’s Basketball, Football 1988
Elmore Briggs Baseball 2023
Walter Broughton Football, Men’s Basketball 1986
Collie F. Brown Track & Field 2003
DeCasto Brown Football 2010
George Brown Baseball 2015
Kamerra Brown Equestrian 2022
Patty Brown Softball 2010
Freddie Brunson Football 1999
Elizabeth H. Bullard
Women’s Basketball 1985
Oscar W. Bullock Football, Baseball 1986
John Bundy Football 1986
Barbara Burgess
Women’s Basketball 2000
Joseph Burden Coach – Track & Field 2003
Stanley Burris Football 2013
Frank Burton Jr.
Baseball, Football 2000
Joseph Burton (posthumous) Football 2016
Randolph W. Cameron
Dan Candeloro
Greg Carney
Jerome Carter
Earl K. Chism
Jessica Chrabaszcz
Rafael A. Cora Cintron
Barbara Lewis Clark
Mandakova “Mandy” Clark
William “Skip” Clark
Hallie Eugene Coleman
Steven Coleman
William Coles
Bill Collick
Carl James Collick
Raquel Collier
Elsie McIntosh Collins
Ivory Collins
Eldridge “Ace” Comer
Coppadge
David Crocker
Joseph Daluz
Edward Davis
Emanual Davis
Scott Davis
Steve Davis
Tom Davis
Desi Day
Wilson Henry Decoursey
Hurley W. Derrickson Sr.
Jacqueline Tunstall DeVane
Andre Dixon (posthumous)
DuPree
Dr. William B. DeLauder
Douglas
Dunn
Claretta D. Elliott
Eddie Epps
Donald Evans
George Wilbert Evans Sr.
Steven R. Ewing
Basketball, Track & Field
Najmah Fauntleroy
J. Franklin
Gazzola
Bennie J. George
Jessica Gilbert-Wilson
Clark L. Glenn
Lige H. Glover
William H. Godfrey
Thomas Hargis
Clarence Harris
Gwendolyn Harris
Elmore Harris
Major T. Hairston Jr.
Jazmyne Hefflefinger
Victor Heflin
Duane Henry
John W. Henson
Marvin Hicks (posthumous)
Nathan “Doc” Hill
Stacey Hithon
James Hogsten
Jerome Holland (posthumous)
Donte Holmes
Wardell Holt
Terence Hood
Terance Hoover (posthumous)
Ronald B. Horton
Luther Howard
Robert Hunter III
Shervon Hunter
Sophia Hunter-Shephard
Dr. Robert C. Hutchins
Breann Huyett
Wilbert
Felmon D. Motley
William Murray
Willie C. Murray
Faye R. (Green) Nance
Nixon
North
Hilda Norwood
Norman Oliver
Ella Elizabeth Parker
John L. Parker
Kenneth Pearson
Emmett Franklin Pharr
Shawn Phillips
Jerome Pinkett
NaJai Pollard
Poplos
Powell
Powell
Edward Powell
Pratt
Presbury
Maurice Pritchett
Ronald Probst
Joe Purzycki
Herbert M. Ramsey
Brian Randall
Douglas Randolph
Russell Reeves
Jordan Reid
Angela Reynolds
John Ridgeway
Conrad F. Riley
Martin P. Roberts
Donald Robinson
Cora Jackson Robinson
Harold Robinson
Lybrant Robinson
William Robinson
Karen (Johnson) Rogers
Ean Rose
James Roundtree
Fred Ruben
Albert Rue
Carrie Dale Russell
Walter Samuels
Janice Savage
Jeff Savage
Edward Schenck
Murdock Schofield
Albert Mills Scott Sr.
Tyrone Seymore
Anthony Sharpe
Ronnie Shaw
Charles Shealey
Sam Shepherd
Willie Lee Sheppard
Stephanie Sheridan
Novella Lockman Shockley
Malcolm Showell
Mark Sills
Howard Smack
Frank D. Smith
Sam Smith
Shelton Smith
R. Stephens
Jimmie Strong
Jimmie & Tina Strong
Pedro Swann Jr.
Pedro Swann Sr.
Thomas Hemsley Swiggett
Mitchell Thomas
Lorraine (Dortch) Thomas
Oliver Thompson
William Thompson
Fabian Thorne
Nelson Elijah Townsend (posthumous)
Tullis
Basketball
HALL OF FAME TEAMS
1956 FOOTBALL TEAM
Year inducted: 2014
Bennie George, Head Coach
Ulysses S. Washington, Assistant Coach
Players
Robert Alexander, Thomas Anderson, Albert Battle, Harry Bell, John Biggins, Don Blakey, Isaac Carter, Marlin Carter, Earl Chism, Augustus Davis, Clarence Davis, Edward Davis, Charles Durden, Walter Green, Thomas Griffin, John Grinnage, Cornell Harvell, Frank Holloway, William Jackson, John Lewis, John Matthews, Howard McKenzie, Wilbert Miller, William Murray, Carly Naylor, Claude Naylor, John Peeblesr, Frank Pharr, Ulysses Roseboro, Albert Smith, William Thompson, James Vestal, Marvin Williams, Stephen Wright
1962 BASEBALL TEAM
Year inducted: 2014
Donald Blakey, Head Coach
Players
Robert Bailey, Charles Bost, George Bowles, Lewis Brashears, Walter Broughton, Louis Brummell, Freddie Brunson, William Clark, Donald Conway, Rafael Cora, Robley Fortune, William Godfrey, Larry Gunnell, Major Hairston, Cornell Harvell, Lawrence Hayes, Stanley Johnson, Clarence Jordan, Roger King, Alphonzo Lawson, Felton Lingo, Maynard Miles, William Pearson, Donald Short, Jimmie Strong, Lucius Wines
1970 FOOTBALL TEAM
Year inducted: 2015
Arnold Jeter, Head Coach
Joe Burden, Assistant Coach
Rufus Simmons, Assistant Coach
Jimmie Strong, Assistant Coach
Desi Day, Assistant Coach
Players
Delaware State’s 1970 record-setting starting defensive unit. The Hornets led the nation in total defense and rushing defense in the 1970 season.
Harrison Andrews, Mitchell Bass, Dana Billingslea, Dwight Bomey, Robert Caison, Vaughn Cauthan, Daryll Claxton, Tim Clayburn, Frank Cole, Steve Coleman, Mike Davis, Steve Davis, Clifford Dawson, Leslie Dennis, Lemuel Ferguson, Palmer Gaines, Nathaniel Garland, William Gaskins, Leonard Hudson, Glenn James, Pete Jenkins, Gregory Johnson, Victor Johnson, Byarie Jones, Garfield Jones, William Jones, Gerald Kobasa, Ronnie Lyons, Paul Madric, Richard McElroy, Vance Mitchell, Joseph Moore, Mike North, Dale Palmer, Mike Parker, William Paul, Stanley Randolph, Joseph Rykard, Robert Smith, Russell Stevenson, Pedro Swann, Walter Turner, Samuel Waters, Robert Watson, Ronald Watts, Tyrone West, Larry Williams, Lester Williams, Steve Wilson, Clifford Wright.
1985 FOOTBALL TEAM
Year inducted: 2015
Bill Collick, Head Coach
Greg McLaurin, Assistant Coach
John Coveleski, Assistant Coach
Don Golacinski, Assistant Coach
Dave Dolch, Assistant Coach
Robert Maull, Assistant Coach
Players
David Parkinson, Oneal Pressley, Derrick Hubbard, Willie Sheppard, Anthony Carmichael, Edward Williams, Jonathan Boyd, Tim Egerton, John Taylor, Michael Delon, Anthony Kenner, Dan Paskins, Michael Cherry, Alonzo Dunn, Joseph Chavis, William Teel, Keith Harris, Everett Morgan, Joe Burton, Robert Cooks, Desmond Wynn, Darren Felton, Gerald Cordova, Michael Curtis, Mike Walker, Eric Palmer, Derek Andrews, Jerome Baker, Steve Williams, William Kitchen, Carl Robinson, Justin Proctor, Solon Page, Dujuan Tilghman, Chris Jones, Dave Wheeler, Michael Hatcher, Virgil Blocker, Andre Williams, Bertram Chew, Oliver Maull, Lybrandt Robinson, Billy Alston, Kevin Bryant, Robert Presbury, Greg Scudder, Daniel Coppedge, Tim Gray, Dwayne Henry, Todd Drew, Leodis Dickson, Curtis Trott, Neal Judkins, Scott Pinkett, John Stone, Lee Johnson, Coleman Gibson, Craig Alleyne, Keith Savage, James Ingram, James Lee, Stephen Hart, Sam Dennis, John Barber, Tony Danzey, Eldridge Comer,John Downs, Elvis Hines, Errich Hines, Reggie Barnes, Sherman King, Bruce McGriff, Ed Carek, Arandre Powell, Marcellus Edwards, Patrick Casey, Charles Loney, Terrance Hoover, Cordie Greenlea, Clinton Bethea, Charles Primas, Russell Lucas, Bruce Wright, Brian Trader, Donald Jackson, Marvin Bright, Dan Candeloro, Eric Dines, Roger Johnson, Phillip Washington, Rod Bratcher
1984-87 MEN’S & WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS
Year Inducted: 2016
Fred Sowerby, Head Coach
Faye Jordan, Assistant Coach
Players
Altheia Allen, Tim Bamforth, Vasleria Bower, Angelique Broushet, Malkeyia Honesty, Margeret Locke, Ray Mitchell, William Morgan, Wesley Ridgeway, Michelle Robinson, Caiphus Vilakazi
1989 BASEBALL TEAM
Year Inducted: 2016
Harry Van Sant, Head Coach
Robert Probst, Assistant Coach
Players
Tony Alston, Elmore Briggs, Paul Dotson, Robert Ergenzinger, Eric Gass, Jeff Greenly, Randy Holliday, Chris Kirby, John Kirby, Chris Megee, Steve Meyers, David Overstreet, Scott Pokorny, Don Probst, Ron Probst, Brian Shuba, Pedro Swann
Right: Hornets celebrate the 1989 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship.
2004-05 MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM
Year Inducted: 2016
Greg Jackson, Head Coach
Jarrell Wilkerson, Assistant Coach
Keith Walker, Assistant Coach
Arthur Tyson, Assistant Coach
Players
Jahsha Bluntt, Caheem Broadus, Philip Brown, Brandon Coles, Bruce Davis, Anthony Fair, Aaron Fleetwod, Terrance Hunter, Quincy Marshal, Try Roundtree, Darrin Shine, Chris Slae, Alain Walker, Aaron Williams, Tracey Worley
2006-07 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM
Year Inducted: 2017
Ed Davis, Head Coach
Andre Bolton, Assistant Coach
Trenita Shields, Assistant Coach
Danielle Dawson, Assistant Coach
Michael Rogers, Director of Operations
Players
Ashlee Burbage, Raquel Collier, Selena Galloway, Azzie Knox, Shatasia Little, Thea Littlepage, Nicole Matthews, Shaquana Morgan, Lutifyya Muhammad, Stephanie Orji, Katreem Palmer, Jameka Smith, Ashley Thompson, Monet Williams
2007 FOOTBALL TEAM
Year Inducted: 2017
Al Lavan, Head Coach
Ray Petty, Assistant Coach
Doug Sams, Assistant Coach
Jeff Braxton, Assistant Coach
Derek Hall, Assistant Coach
Chuck Shelton, Director of Operations
Players
Paul Macklin, Assistant Coach
Ed Sanders, Assistant Coach
Curtis Thomas, Assistant Coach
Bobby Jones , Assistant Coach
Mike Gallagher, Assistant Coach
Francis Adjei, Keola Asuega, Stan Banks. James Beverly, Jeremy Breath, Josh Brite, Adrian Brown, Eddie Brown, Lavesta Bryant, Andre Caroll, Kevin Conner, Blake Covington, Fabian Dunn, Octavious Everett, Riley Flickinger, Dashawn Frazier, Mike Gable. Peter Gaertner, Jarin Giesler, Akeem Green, Reshard Gresham, William Griggs, Amadeus Hall, Stephon Hampton, Brandon Hudson, Tyron Hurst, Eric Jackson, Rashon Jackson, R. Deon Jackson, Jamaal Jones, Kareem Jones, Kellen Kemp, Lamont Kennard, DJamal Kirby, Greg Ligon, Mike Malony, Johnny Martin, Tolbert Mathews, Shaheer McBride, Reggie McCoy, Derrick McNeil, Joe Mendes, Phil Morgan, John Newman, Lennox Norville, James Parker, Luke Petion, Josh Pope, Jeff Postell, Russell Reeves, Douglas Richburg, Nick Richmond, Bryson Roach, Ryan Robinson, James Romain, Kelly Rouse, Akiel Russell, Dennis Savedge, Chris Sears, Eric Sewell, Adam Shrewsbury,
Jerome Strums, Ollie Taylor, Thomas Threadgill, Calvin Tolliver, Jackie Watkins,
2008-09 WOMEN’S BOWLING TEAM
Year Inducted: 2019
Kim Terrell-Kearney, Head Coach Eric Kearney, Assistant Coach
Players
Nicole Bower, Jazmyne Hefflefinger, Jasmine Isler, Adriana Jaime, Brooke Peterson, Angela Reynolds, Samantha Scionti, Nicole Turnbell, Courtney Varin, Kalyn Washburn
Chris Singh, Ronn Spinner, Jr., Steven Steinbacher, Chris Strother,
Marc White, Alimayo Wilder, Ryan Willis, Vashon Winton
BlueSKY Collaborative Partners celebrates
James H. Sills, Jr. and family proudly congratulates
MARK P. SILLS
on his induction into the Delaware State University
Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Delta Gamma Sigma Chapter, Dover, DE
CONGRATULATES
Brother Mark Prescott Sills
On Your Induction into the
Delaware State University Hall of Fame Class of 2024
From Your Brothers
Delta Gamma Sigma Chapter
President …………………Charles Gibson
1st Vice President ……….Julius Williams, Jr
2nd Vice President ………John Wallace
Treasurer ………………...Kendall Harris*
Asst. Treasurer ………….Deweese Davis
Recording Secretary ……Delonte’ Neal
Officers
Parliamentarian ………….Wes Davis
Sgt. At-Arms …………… Wes Davis
Chaplain ………………….Jamal Earls
Historian …………….…...Robert Drummond
Imm Past President ……John Allen, Jr *
4th All Time in Delaware State history with 15 career interceptions.
3rd in the nation with seven interceptions in 1988.
MEAC leader with seven interceptions in 1988.
3rd in the MEAC conference in interceptions with five in 1987.
Ranked 9th in MEAC history in interceptions.
Delaware Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame, INC.
The Delaware Afro American Sports Hall of Fame Inc. would like to congratulate our president Mark P. Sills for induction into the Delaware State University Athletic Hall of Fame as an contributor to the Delaware State University Athletic Dept. for the past 27 years.
Class of 2024
Executive Board
Mark P. Sills, President
Emile Brown, Recording Secretary
Tamara Stoner, Corresponding Secretary
Wendy Hanner, Treasurer/Membership Chair
Howard Smack, Assistant Treasurer/Scholarship Committee
Clemon Jordan, Parliamentarian
Bernard Pinkett, Contact Person
Clemon Jordan, Chaplain
Courtland Thomas, Website Coordinator
Gloria Harmon, Wardell Harmon
Donald Polk, Gregory McNeill, Michael Brown, Julia Nelson, Jay Faulkner, Shirley Riley, Emma Trammell, Cora Robinson
Paulette Lessene
Congratulations
To our colleague, board member and friend Mark Sills
On
his
induction into
the
Delaware State University Athletic Hall of Fame
Mark’s advocacy for youth, basketball and Delaware has benefitted hundreds. Many happy returns, Mark!
Congratulations to all of today’s inductees. Each has helped create a proud Hornet history.
Delaware Basketball Hall of Fame
to coach Mark Sills
on being inducted into the Delaware State Athletics Hall of Fame. Well-deserved for a Hall of Fame human being!!!
From your 1995-1996 Howard High School Boys State Basketball Champions
Roberson
Grammy nominated singer, songwriter and producer
Violinist
MARK SILLS
Congratulations on your induction into the Delaware State University Athletics Hall of Fame, Class of 2024.
Your induction is a testament to your dedication to uplifting and mentoring young athletes. This honor is truly well-deserved.
Proudly supports Delaware State University and congratulates Mark Sills along with the entire Class of 2024 for their induction into the Delaware State University Hall of Fame.
Jeff McDonald
Congratulations, Mark Sills for your induction to the DSU Athletics Hall of Fame!
Well-deserved!!
Keith Walker
Congratulations DUANE
HENRY
on being inducted into the Delaware State University Athletics Hall of Fame. What an honor!
Gwen Harris and Stephen Kimes
The Delaware Sports Museum & Hall of Fame congratulates each of tonight’s legendary inductees into the Delaware State University Athletics Hall of Fame
We invite everyone to visit the Delaware Sports Museum at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington for a tour; become a member of our organization; nominate a deserving athlete or coach for induction; and visit our website (www.desports@desports.org)
DELAWARE SPORTS MUSEUM & HALL OF FAME 801 Shipyard Drive, Wilmington, Del. 19801 • 302-425-3263 Email: desports@desports.org
Congratulations, Mark Sills
for your induction into the Delaware State University Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024
Miracle Temple Holy Church Ministries, Inc.
504 E. 11th St., Wilmington, DE
Apostle Sylvia J. Stoner
Congratulations on your induction into the Delaware State University (DSU) Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024 and representing us on the highest levels while at DSU and on team DSK Levhartice Chomutov 2022-23, EWBL League (League’s) in Europe, where you received the League’s award of Player, Forward and Import of the Year, plus making the First Team and Top Scorer.
Isa Al-Muid
NAJAI POLLARD
FROM ATHLETICS ADVANCEMENT
Congratulations
On behalf of the Athletics Advancement Team, congratulations to the 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees.
It is because of the legacies in performance and sport that Delaware State Hornets Athletics will continue to work to break records. Setting the bar high while doing so in a manner of dignity and class is what makes you truly elite.
As the department embarks on supporting its current athletes and future members of the Hall of Fame, we are reminded that the support of our campaigns is what is necessary to truly give our student-athletes the championship mentality. Thank you for laying the foundation for the excellence that is to follow in your footsteps.
Go Hornets,
Temesghen Starr Assistant Vice President for Athletics Growth and Revenue Generation
NORTHERN DELAWARE BASKETBALL OFFICIALS
Congratulates Mark Sills
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME Class of 2024
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Leroy A. Tice, Esq., Chair
Dr. Debbie Harrington, 1st Vice Chair
The Honorable Norman D. Griffiths, Esq., 2nd Vice Chair
Bernadette Dorsey Whatley, Treasurer
Tamara Stoner, Board Secretary
John J. Allen Jr.
William Collick
James L. Collins
Dr. Wilma Mishoe
Dr. Janice E. Nevin
John Ridgeway ’75
Chip Rossi
Dr. Marlene Saunders ‘67
Jocelyn Stewart
ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME PLANNING COMMITTEE
Tamara Stoner, Chair
Stephanie M. Alvarez | Registration
Jillian Brooks | Sodexo Catering
Khalil E. Brown | Athletics Operations
Jasmine Couch | Marketing and Design
Liz Derosier | Sodexo Catering
Darius Godwin | Audio and Visual
Gwendolyn C. Harris | Event Volunteers
Shenequa Harris | Facilities
Alexandra S. Powell | Event Coordination
Jennifer Rickard | Marketing and Design
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
The Honorable John Carney
Governor of the State of Delaware
Dr. Tony Allen
President of the University
TRUSTEE EMERITI
Dr. A. Richard Barros, Esq.
Dr. Claibourne D. Smith
PRESIDENT EMERITI
Dr. Wilma Mishoe
Dr. Harry L. Williams
HALL OF FAME OATH
I, (state your name), a member of the Athletics Hall of Fame, will represent Delaware State University (DSU) and the Athletic Department with pride and spirit. I will continue to support and be involved in some capacity with DSU Athletics to promote its vision and mission.
Whether it’s financially, as a mentor or other means of support, it is my responsibility as a Hall of Famer to help DSU and its students reach their full potential as those before have helped me reach my potential.
ALMA MATER
Hail Alma Mater!
Thy children greet Thee!
Greet Thee with loyalty, love, strength and truth. Here in Thine ancient halls
O’er Thy plains so verdant, Thou are our guide in the pathways of youth. From the broad world without, Come Thy sons and daughters, Bearing our laurels to lay at Thy Shrine, E’er shall we heed Thy Call,
Ne’er shall we fail Thee
Loved Alma Mater, God bless Thee and Thine.
— Pauline Williams LeCompte ’29
Congratulations and best wishes to the 2024 Delaware State University Athletics Hall of Fame Class
Robert Vanderhost (HOF Class ‘12)