Montevallo Athletics Inducts Hall of Fame Class of 2023

The UM Athletic Department in- Award in 2017. She was selected a PBC Gold Wood was named a WGCA Second Team ducted its Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Scholar and All-Academic Team member for All-American. She earned UM’s Margaret Feb. 10 at the Center for the Arts. four years. She was also named PBC Female Blalock award for three consecutive years. Te new inductees included Dr. Cheyenne Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2017 and a She earned four individual tournament wins Tompson ’17, Elaine Wood ’17, Robert COSIDA Academic All-American selection and posted a third-place fnish at the PBC Blake ’65, Phillip Agricola ’66, Hon. Todd in 2015. She earned the NCAA Division Championships in 2016. She tied for ffth at Strange ’66 and the 1971-1972 men’s bas- II Athletic Directors Association Academic the NCAA Division II South Super Region ketball team. Te Hall of Fame now includes Achievement Award in 2016, was an Ala- Championships in 2016 and represented 135 members and seven teams. bama Sports Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete the Falcons as an individual in the National “Te 11-member Montevallo Athletics of the Year runner-up, D2CCA Southeast Championship.

Hall of Fame Committee has done a fne job Region Scholar-Athlete of the Year and an Robert Blake selecting some of the best student-athletes NCAA Woman of the Year fnalist. Tomp- Blake, a native of Bufalo, New York, and pioneers throughout Montevallo Ath- son led the Falcons to three consecutive PBC graduated from Alabama College in 1965. In letics’ rich history,” said Vice President of Titles and three consecutive NCAA South- 1960, he joined the golf team formed earlier Athletic and Special Programs Mark Richard. east Regional Championships and competed that year by Dr. Chester Palmer. Addition- individually at the NCAA Division II Cross

Dr.

Cheyenne

Thompson ally, Blake earned All-Conference honors in Country Nationals four consecutive years.

A Chelsea native, Tompson was named 1964 and helped form a competitive golf the Peach Belt Conference Track Athlete of Elaine Wood program at his alma mater. the Year in 2015 and 2017 and was a four- Wood, a Spanish Fort native, received Phillip Agricola time selection to the PBC All-Conference the Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Agricola graduated from Alabama College Team. She was named to the USTFCCA Year award in women’s golf in 2014. Wood in 1966 and became the frst athlete from NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region was named to the PBC All-Conference First the institution to be drafted by a professional team four times and named to the COSIDA Team four times and was a two-time NCAA team when he was drafted to Major League Academic All-District Team three times. First Team All-American. In addition, she Baseball by the Boston Red Sox shortly after Tompson earned UM’s Margaret Blalock was a two-time selection to the WGCA graduation. He was a four-year letterman Award twice and received the Jan Eagles Southeast All-Region Team. In 2014-2015, at the University from 1962-1966. Agricola served as team captain, was named the team MVP in 1965 and was selected to the Alabama Collegiate Conference All-Conference First Team in 1964.

In a game against Southern Union on May 5, 1962, Agricola drove in eight runs, a mark that is second all-time in today’s record book. He helped form and served as a member of the A Club, a social club for athletes, and the Delta Social Club. Agricola served in the Birmingham Unit of the United States Marine Corps Reserve during the Vietnam era and was hired as the frst full-time assistant coach at Livingston University under Montevallo Hall of Fame coach Bob Riesener.

Hon. Todd Strange

Strange, the 56th mayor of Montgomery, was inducted for his meritorious service. While attending UM, Strange was part of the golf team. During his service as a trustee and chair, the UM Board of Trustees approved major growth in facilities and sports at Montevallo. Strange graduated from Murphy High School in Mobile, Alabama, and received a bachelor’s degree in political science at UM. Strange served as CEO of Blount Strange Automotive Group, where he managed hundreds of employees. He also served as the former director of the Alabama Department of Commerce. Strange’s extensive involvement in the community includes former chair of the Capital City Club and former chair of Leadership Alabama. He is also a former president of the UM National Alumni Association.

1971-1972 Men’s Basketball Team

Te 1971-1972 men’s basketball team became the frst Montevallo team to win a championship in any sport after winning the Alabama Collegiate Conference Championship in 1972 with a 19-9 record under Hall of Fame Head Coach Bill Jones. Te team featured Willie Cash, David Conway ’73, Eddie Freeze ’72, Dale Hughey ’74, Eddie McCarter ’75, Bobby McCormack, Mike Newell ’72, James Newman ’74, trainer Mike Sellers ’74, manager Robby Tibbs ’74 and current Hall of Fame members Charles Averhart ’75, Owen Butts ’73, Billy Cannon ’74, Gerald Douglass ’75, Ott Knight ’73 and Gene Meadows ’73, along with assistant coach James Hobbs ’71.