FEATURED MAJOR REFRESH ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS

BY [ Vaughn WILSON ]

Patrons who attended the 2022 FAMU Sports Hall of Fame (SHOF) Enshrinement on September 9, 2022, witnessed a major refresh of the festivities, which was highlighted by a change of venue to the newly refurbished and historic Lee Hall Auditorium. New Hall of Fame Board Chairman Marvin Green, Jr., made the official announcement regarding the annual event that celebrates FAMU’s legacy of sports excellence spanning over a century of competition.

The 2022 Shof Class

Last year’s group of inductees featured 10 former student-athletes, a coach, three financial contributors, and two supporters of athletics.

Power-running halfback Frank “Choo-Choo” Middleton (1979-82), baseball pitcher Willie Mitchell (1983-86), men’s track-and-field record-holders sprinter Javaro Sims (1979-82) and middle-distance ace Alphonso Williams (197680), and decorated golfer Ulric Francis (1993-97) were the male athletes who were honored.

The female athletes who were honored include former star tennis player and current tennis director Rochelle “Nikki” Goldthreate Houston (1998-2002) and a trio basketball standouts, including forward Angela McPhaul (1991-96) and guards Akita Heatly (1996-99) and Antonia Bennett (2009-12)

Tallahassee attorney Daryl Parks and Emmitt and Hattie Alexander were recognized for their financial contributions. Longtime Rattler Sports Network broadcaster Michael Thomas and Office and Event staff administrator Clarice Byrd were honored for their support.

Last year’s induction featured an Excellence in Sport Performance Yearly (ESPY) Awards-style format with a post-ceremony reception in the University’s Grand Ballroom. The 2022 Class was recognized the following evening during the FAMU-Albany State University football game at the venerable Bragg Memorial Stadium.

This year’s Enshrinement Weekend was dedicated to the memory of Coach Bobby E. Lang, a highly decorated coach and educator who served on the Sports Hall of Fame Board until his death in January 2022.

The coaching honoree was Pamela E. Reilly, who served as coach from 1989 to 1996 and mentored the championship-winning women’s volleyball and tennis teams.

Special Recognition

The 2022 SHOF Weekend also paid tribute to some notable athletic legends and trailblazers, including James Ashcroft, Major Hazelton, Eugene Milton and Nathaniel James, who comprised the fabled quartet from the 1966-68 men’s 4×100 relay team that won for three consecutive years at the prestigious Penn Relays.

Harriett Adderley was given the inaugural FAMU Sports Hall of Fame Trailblazer Award for her service as a member of Rattler Baseball in the 1960s.