Dear Trojans: It is my honor to welcome you to the induction ceremony of the sixth class to the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame. Thanks to the work of Chairman Earl Johnson and the members of the Board of Advisors we are inducting another stellar class this year. The Sports Hall of Fame is a source of great pride for our University. I am pleased to extend a special welcome to our inductees and their families. This class consists of four football standouts and the woman who built our Division I softball program, Coach Melanie Davis. This year we also honor the incomparable Dr. Johnny Long, under whose leadership the “Sound of the South� became the gold standard for collegiate marching bands and a fixture at TROY football games for more than 50 years running. Finally, this ceremony marks the first time we will honor special inductees, Mr. Ben Beard and the late Dr. Doug Hawkins. Both gentlemen have left indelible marks as supporters of TROY athletics. Our inductees tonight honor us by allowing us to honor them. On behalf of each honoree from each class and his or her family, I thank you for supporting TROY University and this Hall of Fame. Sincerely,
Jack Hawkins, Ph.D. Chancellor
Dear Trojan Family: Welcome to the 2017 Troy University Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. We are excited to honor eight outstanding inductees who have significantly impacted the growth and success of Troy Athletics over the years. This is a special event for all involved as we celebrate the rich tradition and history of Troy Athletics. We hope our inductees, their families, and our guests enjoy a beautiful evening inside Trojan Arena. I would like to thank the Hall of Fame Selection Committee for their time and dedication to this process. A special thanks is also in order for the many Trojans who helped make the event this evening possible. Congratulations to the all our inductees and their families on this special recognition. We appreciate all you have done, and continue to do, for Troy University! GO TROJANS!
Jeremy McClain Director of Athletics
TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
2017 INDUCTEES
Benny Beard
DeWhitt Betterson
Melanie Davis
Dr. Doug Hawkins
Jerrel Jernigan
Dr. Johnny Long
Supporter
Football
Administration
Football
Bubba Marriott Football
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Softball
TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Sound of the South
Frank Sadler Football
TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
ORDER OF PROGRAM Troy University Sports Hall of Fame
Sixth Annual Induction Ceremony and Banquet Trojan Arena • Troy, Alabama April 15, 2017 • 7 p.m.
Music......................................................................................................Troy University Jazz Ensemble Call to Order/Master of Ceremonies....................................................................... Barry McKnight Welcome...........................................................................................................................Jeremy McClain Special Recognition......................................................................................................Jeremy McClain Parade of Inductees...................................................................................................... Barry McKnight National Anthem..............................................................................................................Shelia Jackson Invocation........................................................................................................................Lonnie Cochran Dinner Dinner Music..............................................................................Troy University Jazz Ensemble Introductions Corporate Sponsors............................................................................................. Barry McKnight Board of Advisors.......................................................................................... Mayor Earl Johnson Special Guests........................................................................................................ Barry McKnight Special Remarks...........................................................................................Honorable Gerald O. Dial Message from the Chancellor........................................................................... Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. Induction Ceremony..............................................................................................Video Presentation Video Tribute to Inductees Closing Remarks............................................................................................................ Barry McKnight Troy University Athletics would like to thank Troy University and its leadership, including the Chancellor and Senior Vice Chancellors, for their continued support and commitment to athletics. Banquet Program.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................Board of Advisors Event Coordination......................................................................................................................................................................Sandy Atkins, Tony Ferrante, Steve Stroud Music........................................................................................................................................................................................................................Troy University Jazz Ensemble Video Presentations..........................................................................................................Broadcast & Digital Network, Kyle Bozeman, Jeff Herring, Anna Gooden Inductee Awards.......................................................................................................................................................................................................Sandy Atkins, Tony Ferrante Banquet Production............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Mike Frigge Photographer...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................Kevin Glackmeyer Printed Program .......................................................................................................................................Adam Prendergast, Wes Johnson, Grace Bolin, Russ Schaffer Inductee Reception.................................................................................................................................................................................................. Sandy Atkins, Steve Stroud Ticketing and Seating..........................................................................................................................................................................Rebecca Whetstone, Santiago Pinzon Parking.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................Troy Equipment Room Staff Guest Relations...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................Troy Ambassadors Banquet Meal..................................................................................................................................................................................................Sodexho Dining, Ibrahim Yildirim Stage, Table and Chair Set Up..................................................................................................................................... Student Services, Herb Reeves, Derrick Brewster Maintenance, Housekeeping..............................................................................................................................................................................Physical Plant, Mark Salmon Security...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Chief John McCall 2017 INDUCTION CEREMONY AND BANQUET
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TROY UNIVERSITY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Governor of Alabama President, ex-officio
KAY IVEY
Area 5 President pro tempore
JOHN D. HARRISON
Area 2 Vice President pro tempore
KAREN CARTER
EDWARD F. CROWELL
ROY DRINKARD
LAMAR HIGGINS
EARL JOHNSON
FORREST LATTA
C. GIBSON VANCE
Area 7
GERALD O. DIAL
Area 4
C. CHARLES NAILEN At-Large
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TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Area 2
ALLEN OWEN Area 3
Area 6
OLIVIA MELTON SGA President Non-Voting
Area 1
At-Large
Area 4
JACK HAWKINS, JR. Secretary
TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
BOARD OF ADVISORS The Troy University Sports Hall of Fame Board of Advisors is made up of 21 members who serve to encourage, receive and evaluate nominations of persons who shall be considered for induction into the Sports Hall of Fame, then to select from among the nominees those persons who will be inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame.
ALLEN OWEN
JEREMY McCLAIN
Chairman of Board of Trustees Director of Athletics (Ex-Officio) Athletics Committee (Ex-Officio) Secretary
JOHNNY WILLIAMS
PATRICK KELLOGG
MAJOR JOHN WILLIAMS First District - Mobile
FREDDIE THOMAS
Fourth District - Tuscaloosa
Fifth District - Hoover
Sixth District - Birmingham
BUZZ PHILLIPS
MELANIE GARNER
KELLY COLBERT
CHRIS BLACKSHEAR
DENISE MONROE
At-Large - Montgomery
MAYOR JASON REEVES City of Troy
At-Large - Geneva
Alabama Electronic Media
City of Dothan
Sports Official
MAYOR EARL JOHNSON
Second District - Andalusia Chairman
PHILLIP GRICE
Seventh District - Birmingham
SIM BYRD
City of Montgomery
JON JOHNSON
Alabama Sports Writers Association
DR. JACK HAWKINS, JR Chancellor (Ex-Officio)
DR. KEN BLANKENSHIP
Third District - Montgomery
RANDALL MOORE
At-Large - New Orleans
STACY FAISON
City of Phenix City
BOB BOOTHE
Alumni Board
2017 INDUCTION CEREMONY AND BANQUET
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2017 Inductee
BENNY BEARD What started as one man’s “Dream” has turned into a model for other institutions who made the jump to the NCAA’s premier level of competition. Benny Beard was the “driving force” for the plan to move Troy University Athletics from Division II to Division I. He not only provided the vision for the transition, he also devoted countless hours of work towards the move. Persuasion was one of his greatest characteristics and his first sell was to Troy University Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. “I hadn’t been in Troy very long when he called me on a Saturday morning and invited me to accompany him to a football game at an in-state institution,” Dr. Hawkins said. “When we got to the stadium it was full at about 4,000 people, and we watched the game from a president’s box that wasn’t anything to write home about. On the way back as we sat in the airport, he looked at me and said, ‘Now, is that what you want you want for Troy? Is that good enough for Troy?’ What “He was passionate and he was persistent and was a great you hear is only surface level, but what you see becomes conviction, Trojan Warrior who worked his agenda and rarely did he fail... and what I saw really elevated my He didn’t do it to draw attention to himself, and very few people have stepped up on the altar of service like he did. He has proven level of conviction.” Dr. Hawkins appointed Beard as that it is about service based on a love for his University.” the founding president of the Troy University Challenge Fund which - Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. was charged with raising $1 million Troy University Chancellor to help fund and support the drive to Division I athletics. Beard fueled that drive as he provided the first gift of $100,000 to reach the $1 million goal. “He, along with Dr. Doug Hawkins, are probably two of the most persistent men I’ve known and they had one goal in life and that was to see Troy University elevated to Division I status and then have the facilities to support Division I athletics,” Dr. Hawkins said. “He believed that Troy could be a winner at the next level because it had been a winner at Division II and NAIA, and we often say the best barometer for what you can do is what you’ve done. He was passionate and he was persistent and was a great Trojan Warrior who worked his agenda and rarely did he fail.” Beard did not fail as Troy made the move to Division I in 1993 and the Trojan football team went on to reach the Football Subdivision Playoffs in seven of 10 seasons, win five consecutive Sun Belt Championships and make six bowl appearances. The success wasn’t limited to just football as Troy’s basketball, baseball, softball, golf and tennis teams have all advanced to play in multiple NCAA postseason events and countless student-athletes have gone on to earn All-America honors. “His love of Troy University and his belief that athletics was the front door of the University is what drove him,” Dr. Hawkins said. “It was all driven by his belief that we could be better than we were. He has always proven that people don’t get excited about little ideas, they get excited by big ideas.” Additionally, Beard was the founding president of the Troy University Action Club that served as a conduit between the City of Troy and Troy University to promote relations between the Troy Athletics Department and local citizens. A Troy University graduate, Beard was named Troy Alumni of the Year in 1989 and has enjoyed an extremely successful business career, including terms as the director of the Alabama Oilmen’s Association and Southtrust Bank. “Benny was passionate about what he was doing,” Dr. Hawkins said. “He didn’t do it to draw attention to himself, and very few people have stepped up on the altar of service like he did. He has proven that is about service based on a love for his University.” Beard’s “The Dream” has become one of the most successful transitions in NCAA history.
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2017 Inductee
DeWHITT BETTERSON Big, powerful, yet resilient. DeWhitt Betterson ran the ball with conviction and he ran it often. The all-time leading rusher in Troy history, Betterson was a key member of the Troy football teams that helped the Trojans make the transition from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision and the Sun Belt Conference. At 6-feet, 218 pounds Betterson, who played for the Trojans from 2001-04, rushed for 3,441 yards on 653 carries over his four-year career – his career rushing total is 515 yards more than anyone else in school history. A Stake, Fla., native, Betterson was an important recruit for the transitioning Trojans to land. “Boy, he helped us win a lot of games,” former Troy football head coach Larry Blakeney said. “He turned into a beast, a great player. He was such a durable guy, one that was not only good enough to make plays, but he could last until the end of the game and make plays down the stretch, too.” Betterson earned first team All-Sun Belt Conference honors in Troy’s first year in the league after rushing for 1,161 yards his junior season. Additionally, Betterson was named Co-MVP of the Silicon Valley Football Classic after he rushed for 150 yards in Troy’s first-ever bowl “He was a quiet, soft-spoken guy, but he carried a big appearance. His 150 rushing yards still stands as the stick. He made our offense what it was because we had a most in a bowl game in Troy history. “He was a big guy that could carry the load,” tailback that could get the job done. He could carry the ball Blakeney said. “He would run it just as hard in quarter 25 times a game and still have something left in the tank. He one as he would in quarter four. He really wore really was an impressive athlete.” defenses down and that helped us in those years of transition. We were able to keep our defense off the - Larry Blakeney field and really move the football offensively because Troy Football Head Coach (1991-2014) he could grind out yards.” Troy University Sports Hall of Fame (2012) Betterson is responsible for three of the top 15 single-game rushing totals in school history – he rushed for 230 yards and two scores against Utah State in 2003, which ranks as the third most rushing yards in a game in Troy history. He also rushed for 184 yards and two scores against Idaho in 2004. In fact, Betterson finished that season rushing for 120-plus yards in three consecutive games. He finished his career with 100 or more rushing yards in 14 games with seven coming in 2004 – both school records. He recorded 24 rushing touchdowns in his career – fifth most is school history – and averaged more that 107 yards per game in his senior season – a Troy single-season record. “He was a quiet, soft-spoken guy, but he carried a big stick,” Blakeney said. “He made our offense what it was because we had a tailback that could get the job done. He could carry the ball 25 times a game and still have something left in the tank. He really was an impressive athlete.” One the most unforgettable touchdowns in Troy football history started with a handoff to Betterson but ended with an unlikely hero emerging to save the day. On Sept. 9, 2004, Troy was hosting No. 17 Missouri - its first-ever ranked FBS opponent. The Trojans trailed 14-7 with less than five minutes remaining in the first half when quarterback Aaron Leak handed the ball to Betterson on a simple dive play up the middle. After breaking one tackle, Betterson stumbled, was immediately hit by another defender and fumbled the ball into the air. However, seemingly out of nowhere 280-pound offensive lineman Junior Louissaint appeared and hauled in the loose ball. The lineman then rumbled 63 yards for a touchdown to tie the game. The Trojans went on to win the contest, 24-14. Betterson went on to coach Pop Warner football in addition to a successful professional career as a Senior Officer for the Bureau of Prisons.
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2017 Inductee
MELANIE DAVIS
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The all-time winningest coach at Troy and an integral piece in the foundation and formation of the Troy softball program, former head coach Melanie Davis compiled a 780-506-4 record in her 21 seasons at the helm. She led the Trojans to a pair of conference titles in 1996 and 2005, and one NCAA regional berth in 1996. Davis began her long career with the Trojans as both the head softball and volleyball coach in 1993 before choosing to focus on softball full-time in 1996. “She juggled a lot,” Troy’s Senior Woman Administrator and a player under Davis, Sandy Atkins said. “I can remember one time we were playing in a softball tournament in Nashville and the volleyball team had a tournament there at the same time. We would go watch the volleyball team play the night before and then they would come watch us play the following day. We didn’t think anything of it at the time; it was just part of what we did. She made it a lot of fun, and it was also extremely rewarding because we were very successful in the years that I played here.” Turning her attention to softball full-time, “She is probably the fiercest competitor I have ever been Davis became a member of several exclusive clubs including the Alabama Amateur Softball around. When you thought you couldn’t give anymore Association Hall of Fame, ASA Alabama Hall of she was always able to get the most out of you, Fame, the West Alabama Softball Hall of Fame, that was one of her greatest strengths as a coach.” the Wiregrass Hall of Fame and a member of the National Fastpitch Association’s 900-win club. - Sandy Atkins The key to her success seemed to be her ferocity Troy softball student-athlete (1994-95) / Troy Deputy Athletics Director (2001-pr.) and passion on and off the field. Troy University Sports Hall of Fame (2016) “She is probably the fiercest competitor I have ever been around,” Atkins said. “She hated losing at all costs, but that made her an extremely confident and extremely strong coach. She pushed you to be the best you could be. When you thought you couldn’t give anymore she was always able to get the most out of you, that was one of her greatest strengths as a coach.” Being no stranger to taking on multiple responsibilities and wearing many hats within athletics, Davis became Troy’s Senior Woman Administrator for the athletic department in 1998 and passed the job off to Atkins in 2004. “She was a huge catalyst in bringing me here,” Atkins said. “She willingly gave up that title. I truly believe because she knew that would help me grow, and that just speaks of her unselfishness.” Davis’ unselfishness was a trait that was recognized by many. She always made herself available to help a student-athlete or a friend tackle any problem they had. She wanted Troy softball to be able to compete and be successful in the conference, not to build on her personal attributes, but for her love of the program and Troy University. She worked hard to help those around her find success in softball and in life, but more importantly, she taught her students how to do the right thing. “She took interest in every single student who came through, not just on the field, but off the field as well,” Atkins said. “She made sure they were good people, and she was always there to help them through troubles that they might have had. She is always giving of herself and is so committed to the things that she felt strongly about family, animals, softball, Troy and her friends. She gives 110 percent in every aspect of her life and she expects the same from her students.” Troy University has one of the best softball facilities in the conference, and Davis is a huge part of that. Not only did she build a tradition of success, but she had a huge hand in building grade-A facilities to elevate the program even more. A native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., Davis received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Alabama. She began her coaching career at Brewer State Community College, now Bevill State, where she was head coach of the softball, volleyball and women’s basketball programs before coming to Troy.
2017 Inductee
DR. DOUG HAWKINS A staple at Troy Athletic events and a man who loved Troy University until the day he passed away, Dr. Doug Hawkins was an “extraordinary” individual who was a “true Trojan.” A 35-year veteran of the Troy University Board of Trustees, Dr. Hawkins dedicated his life to service and was a major administrative voice behind Troy’s move from NCAA Division II to Division I. Additionally, he served as the President Pro Tempore on the Troy University Board of Trustees from 1995 to 2011 after his appointment to the Board in 1980. “Dr. Doug was a unique, extraordinary individual who knew how to pull people together for a common cause, especially those causes he valued,” Troy University Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., said. “He came to my office countless times over the 25 years I knew him. He always had an agenda, and it always cost money.” It was Dr. Hawkins’ love for athletics and his belief that Troy could play at the highest level against the big boys, that led Troy towards greatness. “He was always front and center,” Dr. Jack Hawkins said. “If we played, he wanted to be there. Most of the time he wanted to be on the sideline and if he had the opportunity, and coach (Larry) Blakeney had given him the opportunity, he would have “He was always front and center. If we played, he wanted to be there. Most of the time he wanted to been sending in plays. “I remember when we played LSU and got ahead be on the sideline and if he had the opportunity, of them in the first half running up and down the field and coach (Larry) Blakeney had given him the on them. Dr. Doug was so excited he couldn’t stand opportunity, he would have been sending in plays.” himself. When the game began to change in the second half and LSU came back, by the time we lost that game, - Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. Dr. Doug was as low as a living human being I’ve ever Troy University Chancellor known. We walked outside and I was truly afraid he was going to jump off that six-story landing where we were – his knees were weak and he was the most despondent that I’ve ever seen him. As he said, ‘we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.’” Dr. Hawkins’ impact on Troy University was much more than his dedication towards Troy Athletics. Dr. Hawkins served as a guiding vision to many projects, including the first doctoral programs, the internationalization of the University and the creation of the Greek system on campus. His impact on Troy Athletics was so resounding that the tower at Veterans Memorial Stadium that houses the press box, luxury suites, Stadium Club and athletic training facility bears his name. The founder of the Pi Kappa Phi Chapter at Troy, he was named Greek Man of the Year in 1969 and Honorary Alumnus of the Year in 1996. In 2013, he wrote “Turning Points” a history of Troy University. Dr. Hawkins practiced veterinary medicine in Troy for 55 years and passed away on Sept. 5, 2015. The Troy football team wore “Dr. Doug” stickers on their helmets for the remainder of the 2015 season in his honor. “No one was prouder to see that Dr. Doug on the back of those helmets,” Dr. Jack Hawkins said. “I know he loved it and I know he was looking down because that was about the closest he ever got to getting into a game. “Never say die, that was Doug Hawkins. He never saw a hill that was too steep to climb. He was the true Trojan. If you were part of Troy University or you lived in Troy, Alabama, he expected you to not only love this University, but also to be engaged. He didn’t accept anything less than a total commitment, and his best attribute was that he lived from the front – you didn’t have to worry about where he was and where his heart was.”
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2017 Inductee
DR. JOHNNY LONG Anyone who has ever attended a Troy football game, is familiar with “The Fanfare.” As the band takes the field, family, friends and fans are brought together by the Sound of the South to cheer on the mighty Trojans. Founder of Sound of the South, Troy’s nationally recognized marching band, and writer of “The Fanfare,” Dr. Johnny Long has a passion for music that he used in more than 30 years of dedication to the founding and building of Troy’s band program. Not only has Dr. Long built a legendary marching band that has been nationally recognized, but he has also served many roles within academic departments of Troy University. He served as the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dean of the School of Fine Arts, and was assistant to the former Chancellor, Dr. Ralph Adams. The effect Long and his band had on the athletic programs at Troy was unprecedented. During his time as band director, from 1965-1996, Troy football won three national championships at the NAIA and Division II levels. “Dr. Long and his band was the greatest pep squad that we had all those years,” former athletic director and current lecturer of finance, Robert Earl Stewart said. “He always encouraged his band members to support the athletic programs, particularly the football program.” In addition to being inducted into the Troy Sports Hall of Fame, Dr. Long is a member of the National “The effect the Sound of the South had on the team was Band Association Hall of Fame of Distinguished Band immeasurable. We always had a good home crowd, but Conductors. He has also served as president of the regardless of the size of fans at the away games, any game American Bandmasters Association. The Sound of that he and his band attended, the team knew it and was the South represented the state in four presidential inspired by it.” inaugural parades and served as the official band for two presidential visits to Alabama under Dr. Johnny - Robert Earl Stewart Long. Troy Director of Athletics (1974-91) “The effect the Sound of the South had on the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame (2015) team was immeasurable,” Stewart said. “We always had a good home crowd, but regardless of the size of fans at the away games, any game that he and his band attended, the team knew it and was inspired by it.” During his 30 years with the program, Long produced hundreds of current band directors. His passion and love for music shined through with each note the was played. But more than he loved music, he loved his students. He consistently found joy in other peoples’ happiness and had a positive impact on each student that passed through his doors. “He has a very dynamic personality,” Stewart said. “He is a very energetic person and very demanding of his band, but that’s the reason they were so good. He was a leader to everyone around him. He is very outgoing and personable.” In 1998, two years after Long retired from Troy, the University Board of Trustees and Chancellor Jack Hawkins, Jr. named the Troy University School of Music the John M. Long School of Music to honor the one who dedicated his life to his craft. Long started his career in music as a high school band director in 1949 before transitioning to Troy to change the sound of Troy Athletics forever. Dr. Long continues to serve the band program today as a distinguished professor of music and Director Emeritus. His legacy at Troy will live on forever through the Sound of the South and the students he continues to inspire. “There are very few programs in the country that have a band as good as Troy’s,” Stewart said. “Dr. Long’s band was extremely instrumental in the success of all of our athletics programs.”
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2017 Inductee
JERREL JERNIGAN A native of nearby Eufaula, Alabama, Jerrel Jernigan is one of the most prolific players in Troy football history. A seven-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection, Jernigan’s name is littered throughout the Troy record book and included in the box scores of some of the school’s most memorable football games. Jernigan led Eufaula High School to the Alabama Class 5A state title in 2006 as the team’s quarterback and was named first team all-state in the process. He also lettered in basketball and baseball, but the gridiron is where he excelled. Jernigan easily caught the eye of the Trojan coaching staff, especially head coach Larry Blakeney. “He was a guy that could make something happen out of nothing,” Blakeney said. “He was a versatile athlete and a top class person. There were things Jerrel could do on the football field that you couldn’t prepare for, he was just so athletic. If you threw it to him, you pretty much knew he would catch it. He was most dangerous after he got the ball, he had a knack for finding open space.” Jernigan, who moved to wide receiver at Troy, used his athleticism to accumulate 5,985 all-purpose yards over his career which spanned from 2007-10 - at the time he was one of just three Sun Belt players to ever eclipse the 5,000-yard mark. “He could do it all. He could run, throw and catch. He changed His versatility on the field was so defined and dramatic teams’ entire game plans. He wasn’t the biggest player on that Jernigan has 1,806 more all-purpose yards than the the field, but he had one of the biggest hearts and he is very next closest Trojan on the list – Troy University Sports Hall deserving of the accolades he has received over his career of Fame member Perry Griggs. especially the Troy Hall of Fame.” He also holds records for receiving yards (3,128), pass receptions (262) and pass receptions per game (5.24); - Larry Blakeney Jernigan ranks in the top five in Sun Belt history in four Troy Football Head Coach (1991-2014) categories as well. In his time in a Trojan uniform, Jernigan Troy University Sports Hall of Fame (2012) saw action in four different positions – quarterback, wide receiver, punt returner and kick returner. Jernigan won four Sun Belt Conference titles as a member of the Trojans and helped lead Troy to four bowl appearances. As a sophomore, he broke Troy’s 40-year-old receptions record as he pulled down 77 catches despite missing the equivalent of two games to injury. His record didn’t stand for long as Jernigan broke his own mark two seasons later when he caught 84 passes en route to his third straight All-Sun Belt First Team honor as a wide receiver – he was twice named first team as an all-purpose player and twice named second team as a return specialist. Jernigan was named Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week during his sophomore season in 2008 after hauling in five passes for 131 yards and a score, rushing for 88 yards on 10 carries as well as throwing a touchdown pass against Florida International. Jernigan’s junior season was just as eventful as he caught 71 passes for 1,101 yards; totals that rank fifth and second heading into the 2017 season. “He could do it all,” Blakeney said. “He could run, throw and catch. He changed teams’ entire game plans. He wasn’t the biggest player on the field, but he had one of the biggest hearts and he is very deserving of the accolades he has received over his career especially the Troy Hall of Fame.” Considered one of the best prospects at the wide receiver position, Jernigan was selected 83rd overall (third round) by the New York Giants in the 2011 NFL Draft. He caught 38 passes for 391 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his four-year NFL career and was a member of the Giants’ Super Bowl XLVI championship team in 2012. Following his professional career, Jernigan continued his life in football as a coach where it all began for him, Eufaula High School.
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2017 Inductee
BUBBA MARRIOTT When it came to Bubba Marriott, there was only one issue his teammates had with him. “The main problem with Bubba was that he threw the ball so hard, a lot of his receivers couldn’t catch it,” former Trojan football player Mike Amos said. “He had quite the strong arm.” That arm helped Marriott be inducted into the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame as one of the first star quarterbacks in the prestigious history of Trojan football. The Foley, Ala., native, like many of his Troy peers of the time, was a multi-sport athlete who was named one of the first All-Americans in the school’s history when he was tabbed to the Associated Press’ Little All-American Team his senior year. The accolades didn’t stop there as he also garnered All-Alabama Collegiate Conference honors that season. It’s not hard to wonder why as his hardthrowing style made him one of the most recognizable quarterbacks in Alabama at the time. It didn’t take long for the quarterback’s career to get going, as just four games into his tenure as a Trojan he was tabbed as the starting man behind center. He would go on to start 31 games as quarterback of Troy from 1957-1960. “He was a solid athlete and a superb leader. The guys Marriott’s 62 pass attempts against Samford during who played with him will all tell you that Bubba is a the 1960 season—at a time when running the ball was still the primary means of offense-- was a Troy record that stood Hall of Famer. They would be the first guys to say something if he wasn’t.” for more than 50 years. “He was a solid athlete and a superb leader,” Amos said. “The guys who played with him will all tell you that - Mike Amos Troy Football Student-Athlete (1965) Bubba is a Hall of Famer. They would be the first guys to say Troy University Alumni Association Membership Coordinator something if he wasn’t.” Amos credits Marriott for being the glue that held the team together during lean years at the end of the 1950s. His strength as a quarterback and leadership propelled him to be the focal point of those teams. His success on the football field and his talented arm led him to be one of the best members of the Trojan baseball team at the time. Marriott holds the still-standing record of 13 innings pitched against Southern Union in the 1958 season. Upon his graduation from Troy in 1960, his football career continued as he spent two years on the taxi squad with the New York Giants in 1961 and 1962. Bubba—whose real name is Francis—also spent a season with the Montreal Aloquettes where he notched the first touchdown of his professional career during the 1963 season. His years of experience in the football world made for a seamless transition into the coaching ranks after his playing career had ended. Marriott remained in Canada and moved to Toronto to become a player and assistant coach in the Continental League until 1967. Marriott, who was inducted into the Foley High School Hall of Fame in 1984, stayed in coaching and won a national championship in 1967 and won six Ontario championships in eight years before retiring with an 8212 record. With athletics behind him, Marriott began to transition into the next stage of his life. He became a successful businessman in serving as the vice president of industrial development for the Toronto Development Company for nine years before opening up his own real estate business. Marriott will be joined in this year’s Hall of Fame class by teammate Frank Sadler as the duo played together on the late 1950’s teams for Troy.
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2017 Inductee
FRANK SADLER When Frank Sadler took the football field, it was hard not to take notice. “He would hit your block off,” former Troy football player Mike Amos said. “He only weighed 135 pounds, but he hit you with all 135 pounds.” While Sadler is being inducted for his efforts in football, he could have gone in for any number of sports, as he was a four-sport star for the Trojans during his tenure from 19561960. The Albany, Ga., Native lettered in football, basketball, track and field and baseball during his freshman season alone when he arrived on Troy’s campus. Scholarships were limited back in those days, so Sadler was one of five players who interviewed with head coach Bill Clemson for a spot on the team. He was the only one offered a scholarship. Instead of using the $800 he received, the running back and defensive back sent every dime of it right back to his family. Then he went to work becoming one of the best kick returners in school history. Nicknamed the “Little Beaver,” Sadler still holds the record with most career kickoff returns for touchdowns at three in the more than 100 years Trojan football has existed. That number is actually four, but one of those kickoff “His motto was ‘I believe.’ He believed he was the best. returns came when Sadler was playing with the freshmen A lot of people thought he was cocky, but that’s just team. He is also one of just two players in Troy’s history to return more than one kickoff for a touchdown in a single season. the way he played. At 135 pounds you better Those touchdown records aren’t the only records he still be cocky or something.” holds, as he had a remarkable 215 kickoff return yards against North Alabama in a matchup in the 1959 season. - Mike Amos “His motto was ‘I believe,’” Amos said. “He believed he Troy Football Student-Athlete (1965) was the best. A lot of people thought he was cocky, but that’s Troy University Alumni Association Membership Coordinator just the way he played. At 135 pounds you better be cocky or something.” Upon the conclusion of his student-athlete career with Troy, Sadler turned down an offer he had to play professional baseball to get married and spent the next 40 years teaching the game of football to the following generations. His coaching journey began in Columbus, Ga., before he returned to Troy to accept the head coaching spot with Charles Henderson. Success didn’t take long as he only lost three games in the first two years he was coach, including winning the South Alabama Conference Championship. Wherever he went, success followed. He left Charles Henderson to become the coach at Phenix City where he was able to coach an Alabama football legend in Woodrow Lowe, who went on to be a 3x All-American at Alabama and play 11 years with the San Diego Chargers. By the end of his high school coaching career, Sadler’s career record was 110-65-5. He won three area and county championships at Bob Jones High School and was named Madison County Coach of the Year. Sadler finished with only two losing seasons in his entire coaching career. After developing a reputation as one of the best option coaches in the country, he went off to the University of South Carolina to be an assistant coach. In his time there, the Gamecocks went to the Gator Bowl twice, the Liberty Bowl and reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings during the 1984 season. Sadler, who was inducted into the Albany Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2002, is known as a person who did all he could to help others and who worked as hard as he could to get there. “He is a very spiritual guy,” Amos said. “Everywhere he went he put God first. He was a great role model for kids and for men like myself. He taught me much more outside of football and is a wonderful man. This is very worthwhile for him entering the Hall of Fame because he is definitely a Hall of Famer.”
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TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
2016 INDUCTION CEREMONY The fifth class of the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame was inducted on April 9, 2016, inside state-of-the-art Trojan Arena. Eight of the greatest men and women in Troy history were part of the fifth annual class. The class included Sandy Atkins, Ralph Black, David Felix, Al Lucas, Rick Maxey, Terry McCord, Charles Pickett and Johnny Williams. A sold out gathering of over 600 people enjoyed a ceremony that featured comments from Troy University Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. and President pro tempore of the Troy University Board of Trustees Gerald O. Dial.
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TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
MEMBERS
VERGIL PARKS McKINLEY
CLASS OF 2012
Vergil Parks McKinley, a professor at Troy Normal School, was charged with the task of fielding the school’s first football team in 1909. McKinley, who never played football, had 14 players try out for the first team, but kept just 11. He guided that squad to a 1-0-2 record in his only year as the head coach. Both Troy University and the University of Alabama now award a Virgil Parks McKinley Employee Award on a regular basis. (Deceased)
Inaugural Induction Class
RALPH ADAMS
Football
Administration
DENISE MONROE
Women’s Basketball
Ralph Adams became President of Troy State University in 1964 and remained in that role for 25 years. Under his administration, Troy State achieved university stature and more than doubled its enrollment. Athletically, the Trojans won three national championships in football, two in baseball and numerous national titles in golf and track & field. (Deceased)
Denise Monroe is the all-time leading scorer in Troy women’s basketball history with 2,024 points in her four year career (1977-81). Monroe also ranks second in Troy history with 1,312 career rebounds and holds the Troy career records for field goal attempts, field goals made, free throws attempted and free throws made. A 1981 All-American, Monroe’s No. 30 uniform was retired on Nov. 14, 1998 and is still the only retired jersey in Troy women’s basketball history.
BILLY ATKINS
CHARLES OLIVER
Football
Track and Field
Billy Atkins coached the Troy State football team for six seasons from 1966 to 1971 and led the Trojans to the 1968 NAIA national championship. Atkins also led TSU to three Alabama Collegiate Conference championships (1967-6869). He was a two-time NAIA District 27 Coach of the Year and was the NAIA National Coach of the Year in 1968. He served in the dual role of football coach and athletic director from 1969 to 1971. (Deceased)
Charles Oliver made an impression on Troy State track and field as both a student-athlete and as a coach. Oliver, who is still Troy’s 400-meter record holder, was the NAIA 400-meter national champion in 1976 as an athlete. He became the head coach at Troy State in 1981, and in his nine seasons won seven conference championships while coaching 26 athletes to All-America honors. Oliver still sponsors two Coach O Invitationals in Troy every year.
LARRY BLAKENEY
CHASE RIDDLE
Football
Baseball
Larry Blakeney led the Troy University football program from Division II, through Division I-AA and into Division I-A. Blakeney led Troy to eight conference championships, including five straight Sun Belt titles (2006-10). He guided the Trojans to 15 winning seasons, including six seasons of 10 wins or more and led the Trojans to five bowl game appearances at the FBS level. Before retiring in 2015, he was the second longest tenured coach in the FBS.
Chase Riddle is the all-time winningest coach in Troy baseball history with 434 victories in his 12 seasons (197990). Riddle led the Trojans to back-to-back NCAA Division II national championships (1986-87) and guided Troy State to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances. His teams won five conference championships and played in six NCAA Division II World Series. He coached 30 All-Americans and Troy’s home baseball field now bears his name. (Deceased)
SIM BYRD
MIKE TURK
Football
Football
Sim Byrd owned many of the Troy football program’s alltime passing records for over four decades. During his three seasons at quarterback (1966-68), he guided the Trojans to a 24-8 record and the school’s first national championship (1968). He was named a first team All-American as a senior, setting then single-season records for passing yards, completions and pass attempts.
Mike Turk led the Troy football program to a pair of NCAA Division II national championships (1984, 1987) as a fouryear starting quarterback. He earned all-conference honors three times and first team All-America honors in 1987. During his career the Trojans posted a 40-8-1 record and captured three conference titles. Turk finished his career second in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in Troy history. Turk was also an assistant coach at Troy for 12 years.
DON MAESTRI
DeMARCUS WARE
Men’s Basketball
Don Maestri led the Troy men’s basketball program from Division II to conference championships in three different Division I leagues. He retired in 2013 with 501 victories, nine 20-win seasons and seven conference championships. Troy led the nation in scoring three times and in 3-pointers seven times. Troy also set numerous records in a 258-141 win over DeVry in 1992, hitting 51 three-pointers while becoming the first team in NCAA history to score 200 points.
Football
A four-year defensive lineman, DeMarcus Ware had a great career for the Troy football program and has turned it into a wildly successful NFL career. He is Troy’s career leader in tackles for loss and helped Troy to its first bowl game in 2004, earning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year. Since being drafted 11th overall in 2005, Ware has been named to the Sun Belt’s All-Decade Team, been an NFL All-Pro seven times and was the 2008 NFC Defensive Player of the Year.
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TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
MEMBERS
JOYCE SORRELL
CLASS OF 2013
Joyce Sorrell, the mother of women’s athletics at Troy Unversity, was the first ever Coordinator for Women’s Sports at Troy State. She also made a name leading the women’s basketball program for 20 years (1975-95). Sorrell recorded 274 wins along the way, still the most in program history. Her 1980-81 team won an Alabama AIAW State Championship. Sorrell retired from the University in 2006 after 39 years as a physical education instructor.
Second Induction Class
JOHN “DOC” ANDERSON
WILLIE TULLIS
John “Doc” Anderson first made his name at Troy State when he served as the track and field/cross country head coach (1969-80) and head athletic trainer (1965-80). Anderson was twice named the NAIA Track Coach of the Year while his track and field teams won three conference championships and his cross country teams won 10 conference titles. Anderson is currently an associate professor and clinical director in Troy University’s Athletic Training Education Program.
Willie Tullis still ranks among the Troy football all-time greats. A dual-threat quarterback from 1978 to 1980, Tullis was a Kodak All-American in 1980 when he rushed for 450 yards and threw for 1,880 yards with 20 total touchdowns. A twotime All-Gulf South selection, Tullis went a combined 21-7 in his three seasons. Tullis was selected by the Houston Oilers in 1981 NFL Draft returned a kick 95 yards for a touchdown in his first career game.
JOHN ARCHER
LAWRENCE TYNES
Administration Track and Field/Cross Country
Men’s Basketball
John Archer coached the Troy State men’s basketball team for 17 seasons (1956-73), posting a 303-185 career record. He led the program to three NAIA National Tournament appearances in his first three seasons. He helped the team to three conference championships while also serving as the head tennis coach and football line coach. After his coaching days, Archer remained at Troy State as a physical education instructor. (Deceased)
BOBBY ENSLEN
Football
Bobby Enslen finished his football career at Troy State as one of the most dangerous all-purpose players in the country. He had 61 catches for 970 yards and 12 touchdowns during Troy State’s 1968 NAIA National Championship season. An allconference and all-district selection, Enslen’s 12 touchdown receptions still rank as the third most in a season in Troy history. The Red Wave went a combined 19-3 in Enslen’s two season with a pair of conference championships.
CHAN GAILEY
Football
Chan Gailey spent just two seasons (1983-84) as the head coach of the Troy State football team, but his impact was felt for many years. Gailey turned a program that won just five games over the two years prior to his arrival (1981-82) into the 1984 NCAA Division II National Champions. Gailey went 19-5 in his two seasons at Troy State. Since then, Gailey has served as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and Georgia Tech.
DANNY GRANT
Football
Danny Grant was one of the most dominant receivers in the country when he played for the Trojans from 1966 to 1968. An NAIA All-America selection, Grant finished his threeyear career with 44 touchdown receptions, still 15 more than anybody in school history. Grant’s All-America season came during Troy State’s 1968 NAIA National Championship run when he caught 72 passes for 1,002 yards and 14 touchdowns.
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Administration Women’s Basketball
Football
Football
Lawrence Tynes transformed his successful career as a Trojan into a pair of Super Bowl titles with the New York Giants. A three-time All-Southland Conference selection, Tynes helped Troy State to a pair of NCAA Division I-AA Playoff berths. Tynes still holds Troy’s career record for extra point percentage and ranks second in field goal percentage. He has since kicked game-winning field goals in the 2007 and 2011 NFC Championship Games on his way to two titles.
TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
MEMBERS
RICK RHOADES
CLASS OF 2014
Rick Rhoades is one of three men to lead Troy football to a national championship as he was at the head of the school’s 1987 NCAA Division II National Championship. Troy State won two Gulf South titles in Rhoades three seasons, posting a 22-2 conference record over his tenure. He was the National Coach of the Year in 1987 and was also the defensive coordinator for TSU’s 1984 NCAA Division II National Championship.
Third Induction Class
DANNY COX
Football
Baseball
OSI UMENYIORA
Football
Danny Cox put together one of the most magical seasons by a Troy State pitcher in 1981, earning first team AllAmerica honors. Cox won a school-record 13 games with six shutouts, a number this is still both the single-season and career record at Troy. An inaugural member of the Troy Baseball Hall of Fame, Cox set an NCAA record with 43 consecutive scoreless innings and posted a 1.30 ERA. Cox played 11 major league seasons for four different teams.
A top-notch defensive lineman in the NFL for much of his career, Osi Umenyiora was an All-American in 2002 following his senior season at Troy. Umenyiora finished second in the nation that season with 15 sacks and set a then-Troy record with 20.5 tackles for a loss. He finished his career as the Troy all-time leader in TFLs and was drafted in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Umenyiora has won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants and has played in two Pro Bowls.
MIKE GRIFFIN
PAUL WORD
Men’s Golf
One of the most successful golf coaches in NCAA history, Mike Griffin led Troy State to three NCAA DIvision II National Championships (1976, 1977, 1984), one runner-up finish and nine straight appearances in the NCAA Division II National Championship tournament. Griffin won nine coach of the year awards and coached 32 All-Americans in his 11 seasons at TSU. Griffin then took over at Auburn in 1984 and led the Tigers to 18 NCAA Regionals in his final 20 years.
PERRY GRIGGS
Men’s Basketball
One of the early pioneers of Troy State men’s basketball, Paul Word was named a Small College All-American following the 1961-62 season. In his three-year career at Troy State, he helped TSU to three NAIA National Tournaments and scored 1,113 points. Word led the team in scoring and rebounding in each of his final two seasons, including 17.6 points and 9.9 rebounds as a senior. Word went to win 614 games in 38 years as a high school coach in Alabama.
Football
One of the most versatile players in Troy football history, Perry Griggs held the school’s all-purpose yards record for over 30 years after finishing his career with 4,079 yards. Griggs was named a Kodak first team All-American and a NAIA second-team All-American in 1976. Griggs posted his best statistical season as a sophomore in 1974 when he gained 1,585 all-purpose yards. In that season, Griggs was named the Gulf South Player of Year.
TED HORSTEAD
Football
One of the all-time great running backs in Troy football history, Ted Horstead currently ranks second in Troy history with 2,926 career rushing yards. During Troy’s 1984 National Championship season, Horstead rushed for 1,123 yards on 238 carries, both setting Troy single-season records, at the time. A fullback, Horstead earned All-Gulf South honors in 1984 and 1985. He is tied for second in Troy history with eight career 100-yard rushing games.
ANTHONY REED
Men’s Basketball
Troy’s all-time leading scorer, Anthony Reed dominated the Gulf South for four years, posting 1,875 career points. He was named Gulf South Freshman of the Year in 1986 after averaging 13.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Reed’s scoring increased by over 10 points a game over his career as he averaged a Troy single-season record 24.4 points his senior season. Reed was named All-Gulf South three times and was an All-American following his senior season.
2017 INDUCTION CEREMONY AND BANQUET
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TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
MEMBERS
ROBERT E. STEWART
CLASS OF 2015
Robert E. Stewart was Troy’s athletic director from 1974-91 and the Trojans won 10 NCAA Division II National Championships, 66 conference championships and eight All-Sports Trophies during his tenure. During his career, the men’s golf and women’s golf teams each won three national titles, while the football and baseball teams each won two national titles. He was responsible for the hiring of Troy University Sports Hall of Fame coaches Larry Blakeney, Don Maestri, Chase Riddle, Chan Gailey and Rick Rhoades.
Fourth Induction Class
JAMES BATIE
Track and Field
A five-time NCAA & NAIA All-American from 1970 to 1973, James Batie set Troy records the moment he stepped foot on campus. Rated as the sixth-fastest runner in the nation by Runner’s World, Batie held school records in the 50, 60, 100 and 200-yard dashes, in addition to being a member of three different school-record relay teams. A member of the U.S. Olympic Training Team, Batie finished just one-tenth of a second off the world record in the 50-yard dash in high school.
RONNY MOBLEY
Men’s Golf
The first student-athlete to receive a golf scholarship at Troy, Ronny Mobley did not disappoint as he went on to become a four-time NCAA Division II All-American and help lead the Trojans to back-to-back NCAA Division II National Championships in 1976 and 1977. Mobley won a remarkable 18 tournaments during his Troy career before going on to play on the PGA Tour for two years. Mobley coached the Troy men’s team for two seasons (1985-86).
KATHY RUSSELL
Women’s Basketball
The all-time leading rebounder in Troy history, Kathy Russell earned All-America honors and helped lead the Trojans to the 1981 AIAW State Championship. Russell finished her career with 1,325 rebounds, which was one more than teammate Denise Monroe. Russell, who was a two-time AllAIAW Conference selection, ranks seventh all-time in Troy history with 1,521 career points. She set the Troy singleseason rebounding record with 394 in the 1979-80 season.
VIRGIL SEAY
Football
One of the most dynamic players in Troy history, Virgil Seay parleyed an outstanding collegiate career into a pair of Super Bowl appearances with the Washington Redskins. Seay holds the Troy career record as he averaged 16.66 yards per punt return over his two-year career. His five punt return touchdowns ranks as the second most in Troy history, Seay ranks fourth all-time in punt return yards, despite ranking eighth in punt return attempts.
RONNIE SHELLEY
Football
Ronnie Shelley holds Troy single-season and career records for interceptions. A key piece of Troy’s 1968 NAIA National Championship team, Shelley earned All-America honors after intercepting 15 passes during the 1968 season. He broke his own school record that season as he established a new single-season mark with eight interceptions the prior year. Shelley finished his career with 36 interceptions, which is almost double that of the next closest player’s tally.
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Administration
WARD THIGPEN
Basebll
Ward Thigpen turned in one of the best seasons in Troy baseball history as he posted an 11-1 record with a 2.12 ERA en route to Gulf South Pitcher of the Year and First Team AllAmerica honors. Thigpen helped lead the Trojans to within one game of a trip to the NCAA Division II World Series. Thigpen struck out 107 batters during the 1990 season, including a school record seven consecutive strikeouts.
FREDDIE THOMAS
Football
From walk-on to two-time All-American, Freddie Thomas is a true success story in the history of Troy Athletics. Thomas earned Kodak All-America honors his junior season after recording 85 tackles, five interceptions, eight pass break ups and a blocked punt. He parleyed his outstanding junior season into an even better senior campaign where he was named captain of the 1987 NCAA Division II National Championship squad. Thomas was a Consensus AllAmerican that season as he finished with 85 tackles and an interception from his safety position
TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
MEMBERS
TERRY McCORD
CLASS OF 2016
One of the top offensive players in Troy men’s basketball history, Terry McCord not only lit up the scoreboard, but he also helped lead Troy to the 1993 NCAA Division II National Championship Game. McCord earned All-America honors his senior year after averaging a Troy single-season record 24.2 points per game. The Trojans topped the 100-point mark a remarkable 24 times, McCord also a set Troy single-season record that season for free throws made (156). McCord ranks second all-time in Troy history in scoring average at 22.0 points per game.
Fifth Induction Class
SANDY ATKINS
Softball
A dynamic offensive threat, Sandy Atkins helped lead the Troy softball team to its best season in school history, while at the same time etching her name in the Troy record book. Atkins finished her Troy career with a .359 batting average over two seasons, which is a number that still holds true as the best in school history. She also ranks fifth in on-base percentage (.419) and steals (69). As a senior, Atkins set single-season records for hits (85) and runs scored (54); she finished ninth nationally with 36 stolen bases.
RALPH BLACK
Broadcaster
Ralph Black was responsible for many historic calls during his 26 years as the play-by-play broadcaster for Troy football, basketball and baseball. He called four national championship games during his career. Black was also part of the 1993 men’s basketball run to the national championship game. Black called over 1,000 Troy sporting events from 1976 to 2002 and helped build the Troy State Sports Network into one of the largest of its kind in Alabama, at one point comprising 18 stations.
DAVID FELIX
Men’s Basketball
David Felix made his mark at Troy as both a player and coach. He still holds the school records for assists (625) and steals (251). Felix spent 32 seasons as an assistant coach at Troy. He helped guide the Trojans to four trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament, a pair of NCAA Division II Final Four appearances, one NCAA Division I Tournament appearance in 2003 and two NIT appearances. Troy led the nation in 3-pointers six times and won three NCAA scoring titles.
AL LUCAS
Football
Two-time All-American and 1999 Buck Buchanan Award winner, Al Lucas was a true force on Troy’s defensive line during the late 1990s. A unanimous All-America selection following his senior year in 1999, Lucas led the Trojans to an 11-2 record and a berth in the NCAA FCS (I-AA) quarterfinals. He finished the season with 129 tackles and 20 tackles for loss, which rank as the ninth and third most in a singleseason in school history, respectively.
RICK MAXEY
Football
One of the most feared defensive players of the 1970s, Rick Maxey was a four-year starter for the Trojans at linebacker and was named one of the team’s permanent captains his senior year. A native of Ocoee, Fla., Maxey led the Trojans in tackles as a sophomore and a senior en route to earning NAIA All-District honors his sophomore campaign. A member of the 1974-77 football teams, Maxey helped lead Troy to a 1976 Gulf South Conference championship.
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Men’s Basketball
CHARLES PICKETT
Football
Troy’s all-time sack leader and a three-time NAIA All-District selection, Charles Pickett’s name is littered throughout the Troy defensive record book following an All-American career. Pickett earned honorable mention All-America and NAIA All-District honors following his junior season in 1975 after recording 106 tackles and 19 sacks. He followed with another 19-sack season his senior year as the Trojans went on to win the Gulf South Conference championship.
JOHNNY WILLIAMS
Administration
One of the instrumental leaders in Troy’s move from NCAA Division II to Division I, Johnny Williams’ was named Troy’s Athletics Director in the spring of 1994 following a sevenyear stint as Troy’s defensive coordinator. Williams was an original member of the Athletic Challenge Fund Steering Committee, which was the precursor to the committee that raised $1 million in less than two years to initiate Troy’s move to Division I.
TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS
HALL OF FAME The Troy University Sports Hall of Fame was established in 2010 and inducted its inaugural class of 11 members on August 10, 2012. The Hall of Fame is located in the main rotunda of Trojan Arena, which opened in 2012. The Hall of Fame, now with 51 members, features two interactive video monitors that display pictures and induction acceptance videos of all members. Between the two monitors is a wall displaying permanently the names of all members. The Hall of Fame area of Trojan Arena also features numerous artifacts from throughout the history of Troy University Athletics.
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TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE 2017 TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES FROM TROY ATHLETICS
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2017 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES WITH SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO:
Dr. Doug Hawkins and Dr. Johnny Long
IN MEMORY OF
ERIC MIZELL F R O M T R OY BA N K & T R U S T A N D H E N D E R S O N W E A LT H M A N AG E M E N T
- 1993 Troy State University Business Graduate - Offensive Lineman for Troy State University1990 and 1991 - Lifetime Member of the Troy National Alumni Association - A founder of the Letterman T Club - Member of the Alumni Board and Warrior Council - Avid tailgater and TROY football supporter - Member of the Troy City Schools Education Foundation Board - Wealth Manager at Henderson Wealth Management at Troy Bank & Trust - Devoted family man
(334) 566-4000 | (888) 258-8769
www.troybankandtrust.com
Located at the
Main Office of Troy Bank & Trust 1000 Highway 231 | 334-807-5101
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TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME