Dear Trojan Family: Welcome to the 2016 Troy University Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. We are excited to honor eight outstanding inductees who contributed significantly over the years to the success of Troy Athletics. This is a special event for all involved as we celebrate the rich tradition 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
2016 INDUCTEES
Sandy Atkins
Ralph Black
Al Lucas
Rick Maxey
Softball
Football
Men’s Basketball
Terry McCord
Football
Charles Pickett Football
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David Felix
Broadcasting
TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Men’s Basketball
Johnny Williams Administration
TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
ORDER OF PROGRAM Troy University Sports Hall of Fame
Fifth Annual Induction Ceremony and Banquet Trojan Arena • Troy, Ala. April 9, 2016 • 7:00 p.m.
Music...........................................................................................Troy University Jazz Ensemble Call to Order/Master of Ceremonies.............................................................Barry McKnight Welcome................................................................................................................ 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 Music........................................................................................................................................................................................................................Troy University Jazz Ensemble Video Presentations..........................................................................................................Broadcast & Digital Network, Kyle Bozeman, Jeff Herring, Anna Gooden Inductee Awards....................................................................................................................................................................................................Hannah Mason, Steve Stroud Banquet Production............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Mike Frigge Photographer...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................Kevin Glackmeyer Printed Program ..................................................................................................................................................................................................Adam Prendergast, Matt Mays Inductee Reception......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Hannah Mason Ticketing and Seating..........................................................................................................................................................................Rebecca Whetstone, Santiago Pinzon Parking.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................Troy Equipment Room Staff Guest Relations................................................................................................................................................................................................. Ambassadors, Jennifer Gardner Banquet Meal......................................................................................................................................................................Sodexho Dining, Ibrahim Yildirim, James Quinn Stage, Table and Chair Set Up..................................................................................................................................... Student Services, Herb Reeves, Derrick Brewster Maintenance, Housekeeping..............................................................................................................................................................................Physical Plant, Mark Salmon Security...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Chief John McCall 2016 INDUCTION CEREMONY AND BANQUET
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TROY UNIVERSITY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Governor of Alabama President, ex-officio
ROBERT BENTLEY
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 S. 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
HEATH BARTON 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
WILLIAM THIGPEN
G. KEITH BLACK
RON DAVIS
First District - Pritchard
FREDDIE THOMAS
Fourth District - Fayette
Fifth District - Florence
Sixth District - Birmingham
RICK MAXEY
MELANIE GARNER
KELLY COLBERT
BARRY McKNIGHT
DENISE MONROE
At-Large - Tallahassee, Fla.
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
BEN BEARD
At-Large - Troy
STACY FAISON
City of Phenix City
BOB BOOTHE
Alumni Board
2016 INDUCTION CEREMONY AND BANQUET
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2016 Inductee
SANDY ATKINS “Unquestionable character and a leader from day one,” is how former Troy University Athletics Director Dr. Ken Blankenship described Sandy Atkins when she stepped foot on Troy’s campus in the fall of 1993. By the time she graduated in the spring of 1995 and completed her two-year playing career for the Trojans, Atkins had left her mark not only on the Troy record book, but also on the Athletics Department and University as a whole. “She has been a great representative of Troy University and committed to whatever she says she is going to do,” Dr. Blankenship said. “I don’t think you could find a better person to represent what Troy University stands for and what intercollegiate athletics stands for. Sandy is a shining example of that.” Atkins transferred to Troy prior to her junior season after playing two years at Shelton State Community College, where she was an All-American, and stepped into a brave new world of Division I athletics. Atkins’ first season with the Trojans just happened to be “She has been a great representative of Troy University ... I don’t think you could find a better person to represent what Troy Troy’s first at the Division I level. “She had more reasons to fail University stands for and what intercollegiate athletics stands than she did to succeed in softball for. Sandy is a shining example of that.” having come from playing slow pitch in junior college to fast pitch - Dr. Ken Blankenship here at Troy,” Dr. Blankenship said. Troy Athletics Director (1992-94) Fail was not a word in Atkins’ vocabulary as she went on to rank 18th in the NCAA with 31 stolen bases and led Troy with 44 runs scored during her first season with the Trojans. But it was Atkins’ senior year where her true talent shone through. As a senior, Atkins set the Troy single-season records for hits (85) and runs scored (54), while posting the second-most stolen bases (36) and fifth-best batting average (.373). Atkins finished the year ranked ninth in the country with her 36 stolen bases. Not only did Atkins enjoy individual success, but the Trojans also triumphed as a team. Troy posted a school record 58 wins during her senior season, which included a victory over Georgia Tech. “She was a great softball player, but more than that the she was determined and a competitive player,” Dr. Blankenship said. “If she needed to get on base, she would get hit by a pitch if she couldn’t get a hit – she would always find a way to get it done.” Atkins’ career numbers still hold the test of time as she still ranks first in school history with a .359 career batting average, while her .419 on-base percentage and 69 stolen bases are the fifth most in school history. After graduation at Troy, Atkins began her professional career as a graduate assistant at the University of Kentucky where she earned her master’s degree. From there, Atkins served as the Assistant Director of Compliance at the Southeastern Conference before returning to Troy as the Director of Compliance in 2001. Atkins quickly ascended the ladder within the Troy Athletics Department as she was named the Senior Woman Administrator in 2003, Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance in 2004, Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Affairs in 2007 and finally Senior Associate Director of Athletics in 2014. Atkins even served as the Interim Director of Athletics in the summer of 2015. Athletic success and leadership are part of her DNA as her father was a standout football player at Southern Miss and a respected principal at Sweet Water High School, while her uncle, Nolan Atkins, won numerous state championships at Sweet Water High School.
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2016 Inductee
RALPH BLACK Many say athletics is the front porch to any university, and nobody brought more people onto that front porch than legendary “Voice of the Trojans” Ralph Black. “For me, and for countless numbers of people, they first learned about Troy University in depth through Ralph’s outreach and his broadcasts,” Troy current broadcaster Barry McKnight explained. “Ralph may be the most effective sales person, the most effective representative for Troy University that I have ever seen. Through Ralph, the gospel of Troy University was spread. Innumerable people got to know Troy and Troy Athletics because of Ralph Black.” Black told the story of Troy for 26 years as the play-by-play broadcaster for Troy football, basketball and baseball. “Holy Mackerel” is a signature phrase that any fan of Troy during the 1980s will surely recognize, and the call came as Ted Clem booted a 50yard field goal as time expired to win the 1984 NCAA Division II National Championship Game. Remarkably, that was just one of four national championships that Black called during his career, as his voice painted the picture for the 1987 football “Ralph may be the most effective sales person, the most national title, in addition to the 1986 and 1987 effective representative for Troy University that I have ever baseball national championships. Black was also seen. Through Ralph, the gospel of Troy University was part of the 1993 men’s basketball run to the national spread. Innumerable people got to know Troy and Troy championship game. Athletics because of Ralph Black.” “Not many people are as good as Ralph at capturing the big moments, at transmitting the - Barry McKnight passion of what’s going on. He was an excellent “Voice of the Trojans” (2002-present) big game broadcaster, and Troy played in a lot of big games in his time. It was a great marriage of opportunity for him and opportunity for Troy to have a guy like Ralph call those big games. He made it that much more special.” A native of Montgomery, Ala., Black called over 1,000 Troy sporting events from 1976 to 2002. “Anybody in the radio business, particularly sports in Alabama, knows who Ralph Black is,” McKnight said. “I got to know him before I even came to Troy. When I came to Troy, he was a blessing and made my transition so much easier. That’s because his main concern was what’s always best for Troy. He never looked out for himself as much as he looked out for the benefit of others in the town and at the University.” Black also helped build the Troy State Sports Network into one of the largest of its kind in Alabama, at one point comprising 18 stations. “There were so many great players, so many great teams, so many great coaches and so many great personalities that would have been great no matter what, but so many people knew of them because of Ralph Black,” McKnight said. “They would’ve existed in much more of a vacuum were it not for Ralph building that radio network literally with his own hands. He didn’t have a lot of help or a lot of resources, but he would go everywhere in his car and stop at radio stations all over the state and tell them why they should be part of the network.” Black called 122 straight Troy football games, including Troy’s first season as a Division I member. “Consistency is the most difficult part of broadcasting,” McKnight said. “Anybody can get on the air and tell you for three hours where the ball is and what the score is. To do it at a high level is much more difficult, and to do it in all the places that Ralph did day in and day out is really a commitment. “Not only was Ralph so consistently there for every broadcast at a high level, but he also made it so entertaining. Anybody can get the games on the air, but Ralph not only lent a flair to each broadcast at a high level of preparedness and professionalism, but he also made it fun to listen to.” Still an important voice in the Troy community, Black is an on-air personality at WTBF and he can be heard as the public address voice for Charles Henderson High School football in addition to several local high school radio broadcasts.
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2016 Inductee
DAVID FELIX
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Described as one of the most exciting players to watch in the history of Troy basketball, it’s easy to understand why. David Felix’s name is written throughout the Troy record book. His time as a Trojan guard was certainly enough to warrant Felix a Troy University Sports Hall of Fame induction, but his three decades on the bench as a Trojan coach really cemented the legacy of David Felix. His stats as a player shine light on the excitement Felix brought to the court. He is still the Trojan record holder with 625 assists and 251 steals, two staples of any great point guard. However, Felix is also still sixth in Troy history in scoring with 1,469 points, despite playing before the 3-point line was introduced. A three-time All-Gulf South Conference selection, Felix was the leader of Troy’s 1977 Gulf South Conference championship team. It wasn’t just the records though, Felix’s personality also made him a fan favorite, and that is what led him into coaching. Upon graduation, Felix spent two seasons as the head coach at Lowndes Academy before returning to Troy as an assistant coach. Felix would go on to spend 32 seasons on the Troy bench, with the final 31 “David was never the assistant coach all of those years, he was coming on the staff of fellow Troy University the co-head coach of the team. We coached the team together, Sports Hall of Famer, Don Maestri. and I’m not saying that to be humble, that’s a fact. He was just as “Charisma made David a great athlete, a responsible for our 500 wins as anybody else in the program.” great coach, a great recruiter and a friend to many people,” Maestri said. - Don Maestri Felix and Maestri were the architects behind Troy men’s basketball head coach (1982-2013) the rise of Troy basketball, and Maestri will be Troy University Sports Hall of Fame (2012) the first to tell anybody that the construction of one of nation’s most exciting programs was certainly a team effort. “David was never the assistant coach all of those years,” Maestri said. “He was the co-head coach of the team. We coached the team together, and I’m not saying that to be humble, that’s a fact. He was just as responsible for our 500 wins as anybody else in the program.” The 500 wins came while Felix and Maestri were guiding the Trojans to four trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament, a pair of NCAA Division II Final Four appearances (1988, 1993), one NCAA Division I Tournament appearance in 2003 and two NIT appearances. They accomplished all of that with a flair and a style of basketball that kept fans pouring into Sartain Hall. Troy led the nation in 3-pointers made per game on six different occasions and won three NCAA scoring titles. The Trojans also set the NCAA single-game scoring record with a 258-141 win over DeVry in January 1992. Felix signed 42 all-conference student-athletes in his time at Troy, and he and Maestri were the masters of getting the most out of those players, but it was easy for anybody around the program to see Felix’s ability to connect with his players was a huge part of that success. “I’ve met hundreds of college coaches over the years, and not one has a better rapport with college players than David,” Maestri said. “He could throw a player out of practice one day, and the next day that same player would have his arm around David. Players loved David Felix. Most of our players could imitate David, especially his laugh.” The infectious laugh and undeniable likeability carried over from the court to the home, as well. Felix and his wife, Mary, raised two children while in Troy, Drew and Addy, and Maestri was most impressed with Felix’s ability to be such a great father while also being one of the best assistant coaches around. “What people don’t know about him is how well he raised his own kids,” Maestri said. “If he and Mary would write a book on on bringing up children, it would be a best seller. They did an unbelievable job in raising their family.”
2016 Inductee
AL LUCAS A human magnet, who always brought out the best in everyone around him, while at the same time tuning his craft to the highest level, Al Lucas was a one-of-a-kind player, teammate and person. Lucas was a two-time All-American for the Trojans and as a senior received one of the highest honors at the NCAA I-AA level, the Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented to the top defensive player in the country. “I cannot emphasize enough the fact that Al Lucas was a superstar at Troy,” Troy University Sports Hall of Fame member and Lucas’ head coach Larry Blakeney said. “Al Lucas was a leader, he was a player and he was whatever he needed to be to make his team better.” Lucas’ legacy almost didn’t include the Trojans as Blakeney was making a visit to Northeast High School in Macon, Ga., to watch his brother Lenny, who Troy was recruiting, play a basketball game. However, it was Al’s attention that especially caught Blakeney’s eye. “We were recruiting his brother Lenny, who was a really good tight end,” Blakeney said. “When they put Al in the game, he moved around like a cat on “I cannot emphasize enough the fact that Al Lucas that basketball court. We took a chance on Al and was a superstar at Troy. Al Lucas was a leader, he was signed them both and he became probably the best a player and he was whatever he needed to be to interior defensive lineman that we had – he was the make his team better.” real deal. We got two great players out of that trip, but more importantly we got a great family. They became - Larry Blakeney Trojans immediately and have been ever since.” Troy football head coach (1991-04) Lucas earned All-America honors as a junior after Troy University Sports Hall of Fame (2012) recording 65 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. The Trojans also used Lucas on offense in goal line situations and he rushed for nine touchdowns on 26 carries. “Big, big, big,” Blakeney remembers the call that sent Lucas on the field in offensive situations. “They all wanted to be a running back and he was the first one on the field anytime we made the big call – he loved having the ball in his hands.” Lucas’ junior season was just a precursor for what was to come his senior year. He led the Trojans to an 11-2 record and a berth in the NCAA I-AA Quarterfinals. He finished the season with 129 tackles and 20 tackles for loss; the totals still rank as the ninth and third most in a single-season in Troy history, respectively. He still ranks among the all-time best at Troy as he is tied for seventh in tackles for loss, 11th in assisted tackles, 12th in tackle for loss yards and 17th in yards from sacks. Lucas played 20 games for the Carolina Panthers in the NFL from 2000-01 and was the fourth overall pick in the 2003 NFL Europe Draft, but elected to play in the Arena Football League (AFL). Lucas took the AFL by storm as he was named to the AFL All-Rookie Team and helped the Arizona Rattlers win the ArenaBowl. However, that is where the Al Lucas story takes a tragic turn. Lucas passed away at the age of 26 from an injury suffered on April 10, 2005, in an AFL game between Lucas’ Los Angeles Avengers and the New York Dragons. Blakeney and the Troy staff decided to honor Lucas the following fall and Troy wore black uniforms in the Trojans’ game against Florida International. “It was emotional,” Blakeney said. “Anything that has to do with the brotherhood of a team is emotional. We had, and still do have, a lot of respect and admiration for Al and his family.” The AFL renamed its Hero Award to the Al Lucas Award, while the Maxwell Football Club has named its AFL Player of the Year award in his honor. “He deserves all of this,” Blakeney said. “Al Lucas was due this honor to be remembered among the all-time greats at Troy University regardless of the circumstance and I’m am beyond excited for his family.”
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2016 Inductee
RICK MAXEY One of the hardest hitters of his time, Rick Maxey was also one of the most feared defensive players in the country. A four-year starter for Troy, Maxey led the Trojans in tackles as a sophomore and a senior and was voted a permanent team captain during his senior campaign. “He was very competitive on the football field and was one of the best, if not the best, linebacker in the Gulf South Conference,” his teammate and Troy University Sports Hall of Fame member Perry Griggs said. “He was also one of the fiercest hitters I’ve ever seen, to the point where he would knock himself out and would have to come to the sidelines to get his faculties together before he could go back in.” A member of the 1974-77 football teams, Maxey helped lead Troy to a 1976 Gulf South Conference championship as the Trojans finished the year 8-1-1 overall and 7-1 in conference play. In addition to leading Troy in tackles as a sophomore, he also recorded 15 sacks that season, a number that still ranks as the fifth most in school history. What sticks out most about Maxey was his ability to read an opponent and make plays almost as if he was in their huddle. “He was making all the calls on the defensive side of the ball and knew exactly what to expect from a team,” Griggs said. “He studied film on opponents, but “Rick was the definition of a team player. He was also not to the extent that people do these days. He was a great motivator for the team, no matter the situation that was just the kind of guy he was.” very smart guy and was very focused on the field.” While his on-field demeanor was strictly business, Maxey was known to have a little bit of a lighter side - Perry Griggs with his teammates off the field. Troy football student-athlete (1973-76) Troy University Sports Hall of Fame (2014) “During practices he would always make people laugh and ease the tension a little bit,” Griggs said. “Our practices were very, very hard and he was very competitive and tough on the field. But when we were on the sideline and the second or third team guys were on the field, he would take someone’s helmet and hide it or other things like that. He was a joker and did it all in fun.” His actions on the field spoke for themselves. Maxey recorded 119 tackles during his sophomore season and 93 tackles during his senior season. Maxey’s career numbers still hold the test of time as he ranks ninth all-time in Troy history in total tackles (333), sixth in solo tackles (200) and is tied for sixth in sacks (26). “Rick was the definition of a team player,” Griggs said. “He was also a great motivator for the team, no matter the situation. If we were winning or losing, he would always be right in the middle of the huddle or the sideline pumping guys up and keeping everyone focused, that was just the kind of guy he was.” Maxey continued a life in football as he coached Pee Wee Football for 15 years in addition to serving on the Troy Alumni Association Board of Directors and as the Director of Education Policy for the State University System of Florida.
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2016 Inductee
TERRY McCORD Terry McCord only had two years to make an impact on the Troy basketball program, but there is no coincidence that those were arguably two of the Trojans’ best seasons, and now the Anniston, Ala., native will forever be part of the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame. One of the top offensive players in Troy men’s basketball history, McCord joined the Trojans as a junior in 1991-92, helping lead the team to the NCAA South Regional. In 1992-93, as a senior, McCord not only continued to light up the scoreboard, but led Troy to the 1993 NCAA Division II National Championship game, gaining Troy University national exposure on CBS. “Terry was an outstanding talent, a great leader and a great player,” his head coach, fellow Troy University Sports Hall of Famer, Don Maestri said. “He always wanted to be the best. He always wanted to be on top as a player and as a teammate. The strongest thing was his leadership skills. He’s the one that led us to the national championship game and he made everybody better on that team.” McCord was named an All-American that season, as voted on by the nation’s coaches, and is still the only first team All-American selection in program history. He “He also had such a great personality. He treated everybody averaged a Troy single-season record 24.2 points per the same. Whether you were helping set up in the gym, the game, but his fire as a competitor is what helped lead the coach of the team or the Chancellor of the University, he was Trojans to a school-record 27 wins. always friendly to every person he met.” “We were an NCAA Division II Independent when Terry played,” Maestri explained. “We didn’t have a - Don Maestri conference, so we couldn’t earn an automatic NCAA Troy men’s basketball head coach (1982-2013) Tournament bid. That meant we had to a play a tough Troy University Sports Hall of Fame (2012) schedule to be considered for an at-large spot. “I remember we lost a game right before Christmas, and I heard Terry tell Tommy Davis in the locker room after the game, ‘We won’t lose another game.’ I overheard him say that, and I’m thinking he must not understand the tough schedule we’re about to play. But sure enough, right after that we won a bunch in a row and got an at-large NCAA bid.” McCord’s leadership led the Trojans to a Final Four, and his scoring led them to averaging a remarkable 111.4 points per game. Troy was explosive night in and night out and scored over 100 points 24 times, including three games over 140 points. McCord not only broke the scoring average record as a senior, he also set the single-season free throw record with 156 made free throws and set the steals record with 87. His scoring average and free throw records still stand today. The Trojans were just as exciting in McCord’s junior season, averaging an even higher mark at 121.1 points per game and going over 100 points in 23 of 29 games. That season, McCord was part of the Troy team that scored an NCAA record 258 points in a win over DeVry on January 12. However, as Maestri explains, it wasn’t always fiery competitiveness that was coming out of McCord. “He also had such a great personality. He treated everybody the same. Whether you were helping set up in the gym, the coach of the team or the Chancellor of the University, he was always friendly to every person he met. “He would grab players by the collar and push them to new heights on the court, but when those lights went off, he was the exact opposite and he was everybody’s friend.” McCord ranks second all-time in career scoring average at 22.0 points per game, while ranking 10th in career points (1,300) and 10th in career free throws made (226). An accurate shooter, McCord shot over 50 percent from the floor and made 136 3-pointers in his career with the Trojans. Troy posted a 50-11 combined record in his two seasons. Nobody could sum up Terry McCord better than Maestri. “He was just flat out a history maker.”
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2016 Inductee
CHARLES PICKETT The all-time sack leader in Troy history, Charles Pickett checked in at just 6-foot-1 and 213 pounds heading into his senior season in 1976 where he was an All-American defensive tackle. “I never played with a guy that had his kind of size and was as tough as he was,” his teammate and Troy University Sports Hall of Fame member Perry Griggs said. “He was pretty light to be playing that position, but his quickness and his strength showed up on every play – that’s how he got to be how he was.” A three-time NAIA All-District selection, Pickett earned honorable mention All-America honors following his junior season in 1975 after he recorded 106 tackles and 19 sacks. He followed with another 19-sack season his senior year and helped lead the Trojans to an 8-1-1 overall record and a Gulf South Conference Championship with a 7-1 league mark. Despite playing an interior defensive line position at just 213 pounds, Pickett routinely had the upper hand on his opponents both physically and mentally. “I guess some of the opposing offensive linemen felt like this little lightweight guy would be easy,” Griggs said. “But he was one tough guy and knew how to play the position. He went out there and played every down like it was his last. I’ve never seen a guy “I never played with a guy that had his kind of size and that tough on a football field. He played like he was 275 was as tough as he was. He was pretty light to be playpounds and he made play after play.” Never one to draw extra attention to himself on the ing that position, but his quickness and his strength showed up on every play.” field, Pickett led the Trojans in tackles his sophomore and senior seasons and his 334 career tackles still stand the test of time as they rank as the eighth most in school history. - Perry Griggs Troy football student-athlete (1973-76) “He wasn’t a rah-rah guy that would jump up and Troy University Sports Hall of Fame (2014) celebrate when he made a tackle, he would just come back to the huddle,” Griggs said. “He was very quiet, but he would let his play do the talking on the field. “He was a no-nonsense guy,” Griggs said. “He would go out on the field and do what he had to do and never complained. He was very personable, but when he was on the field it was all work. You knew that when he was in the game something was going to happen.” Pickett’s two 19-sack seasons are tied for second most in a single-season in Troy history, while his school-record 43 career sacks are 12 more than the next closest Trojan on the list. “He was always mentally prepared for every game and every opponent, but his footwork and the way he used his hands to get around people was amazing,” Griggs said. “He was able to push people around with his quickness and that is what really worked for him. He could play that position like nobody I’ve ever seen before.” His football career didn’t end following his playing days at Troy as Pickett would go on to play for four years in the American Football Association where he was named the Defensive MVP in the 1979 Championship Game. His leadership at Troy followed him after football as he opened Pickett Marine Construction in 1980 and still serves as the company’s president.
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2016 Inductee
JOHNNY WILLIAMS Troy Athletics has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success at the Division I level and none of that would have been possible without the vision and tireless work of Johnny Williams. Williams was one of the instrumental leaders in Troy’s move from NCAA Division II to Division I, and his career had impact on not only Troy Athletics, but also collegiate athletics as a whole. He began his career at Troy not wearing a suit, but on the football field as the Trojans’ defensive coordinator for seven seasons under three head coaches – Rick Rhoades, Robert Maddox and Larry Blakeney. Williams was a member of the 1987 staff that won the NCAA Division II National Championship and the 1993 coaching staff that made a run to the NCAA Division I-AA Semifinals. “Johnny was a heckuva of a football coach,” Blakeney, who is a member of the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame, said. “He did some very admirable things here coaching the defense in the years that he and I worked together.” The spring after Troy’s run to the I-AA Semifinals, which just happened to be the Trojans first year at the level, Williams was named Troy’s Athletics Director. Prior to his appointment as Athletics Director, 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. Additionally, Williams also assisted in the “Johnny knew exactly what we needed and knew where Troy Athletics business office and with football promotions. we were trying to go ... and he did everything in his power Williams had the respect of the Troy coaches and staff to make us successful.” from day one and because of that the Trojan athletic programs enjoyed a period of success. The Troy football team advanced - Larry Blakeney to the FCS (I-AA) Playoffs six times in seven years and Troy football head coach (1991-04) began playing at the FBS (I-A) level in 2001. Troy teams Troy University Sports Hall of Fame (2012) won 28 conference championships under Williams’ watch – football (3), baseball (4), women’s basketball (1), men’s basketball (3), men’s golf (4), softball (2), men’s tennis (2), women’s tennis (2), men’s track & field (6) and women’s track & field (1). “Johnny knew exactly what we needed and knew where we were trying to go,” Blakeney said of his relationship with the coaches. “He knew how much work and how much money it would take for us to compete, and he did everything in his power to make us successful. “I’ve always said this about Johnny, if you feel bad call Johnny, because he will brighten your day up. He is very positive and that is something that is paramount in this business. There was never a time that I went to him with an issue and he didn’t listen and try and satisfy what we thought our needs were.” He continued to make his mark on collegiate athletics following his 10-year tenure as Troy’s Athletics Director as he spent three years as the Senior Associate Athletics Director at the University of Alabama before founding Creative Marketing Management in 2007. Williams turned his attention back to football in 2013 when he served as the executive director of the Raycom College Football All-Star Classic. Williams helped turn that all-star game into the Camellia Bowl the following year where he currently serves as the game’s executive director.
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TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
2015 INDUCTION CEREMONY The fourth class of the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame was inducted on April 25, 2015, inside state-of-the-art Trojan Arena. Eight of the greatest men and women in Troy history were part of the fourth annual class. The class included James Batie, Ronny Mobley, Kathy Russell, Virgil Seay, Ronnie Shelley, Robert E. Stewart, Ward Thigpen and Freddie Thomas. 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.
2016 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
BASEBALL
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 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 27 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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2016 INDUCTION CEREMONY AND BANQUET
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S T R O P S Y T I S R E V I E N M U A F Y TRO HALL OF 6 1 0 2 9 -0 4 0 A M A B A L A TROY, Congratulations to the New Members of the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame.
Melanie Garner, Agent Roni Holley, Agent 110 South Commerce Street 2643 Montgomery Hwy Geneva, AL 36340 Dothan, AL 36303 Bus: 334-684-3627 Bus: 334-793-6666 melanie.garner.jxb1@statefarm.com roni.holley.b2dd@statefarm.com
Scott Holley, Agent 440 North Dean Road Auburn, AL 36830 Bus: 334-887-5876 scott.holley.lj28@statefarm.com
Beckett Insurance Agcy Inc Jerry Beckett, Agent 912B Brundidge Street Troy, AL 36081 Bus: 334-566-5433
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Abbie Gardner Ballew, Agent Jenna Mack, Agent 840 Fort Dale Road 209 North Highway 231 Greenville, AL 36037 Ozark, AL 36360 Bus: 334-382-6561 Bus: 334-774-2020 abbie.ballew.frqb@statefarm.com jenna.mack.rx73@statefarm.com
Tim Bryan, Agent 300 E Three Notch St Andalusia, AL 36420 Bus: 334-222-1460 tim.bryan.b2dx@statefarm.com
Mike Shelton, Agent 1009 Hwy 231 South Troy, AL 36081 Bus: 334-566-3486 mike.shelton.l99e@statefarm.com
COnGratulatiOnS JOhnny WilliamS
CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS YEAR’S CLASS FROM THE ENTIRE TEAM AT GMC SPORTS!
WWW.GMCNETWORK.COM
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THIS YEAR’S INDUCTEES ON THIS TREMENDOUS ACHIEVEMENT. YOU ARE EACH TRUE TROJAN WARRIORS!
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TROY, ALABAM A Spend a day within our fair city and you will
We take pride in our location, pride in our
find a diverse group of people. From Division
occupations and pride in business. Discover
1A Athletics to volunteers coaching youngsters
the diverse people of the City of Troy, you will
in recreational flag football to ceremonies
enjoy a pleasant experience.
honoring our military heros, Troy residents celebrate who they are and continually work toward what they can do for the community.
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2016 INDUCTION CEREMONY AND BANQUET
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