Our next inductee is Adam Clark, Centre graduating class of 2007. Adam is one of the most talented pure athletes to ever play for Centre football. Playing in just 29 games for the gold and white, Adam finished with 20 total touchdowns for his career. In his junior season, Adam earned SCAC Offensive Player of the Year honors after finishing with 50 catches for 700 yards and six touchdowns while also averaging over five yards per rushing attempt. Despite being listed as a wide receiver, Adam carried the ball 45 times in his career and averaged almost six yards per carry.
Adam produced a laundry list of awards and honors during his time as a Centre student-athlete. In addition to his Offensive Player of the Year award, he was a two-time All-SCAC selection in 2004 and 2005. In 2004, head coach Andy Frye presented Adam with the Charlie Moran Most Improved Award. As a testament to his athleticism, Adam was a two-sport star for the Colonels, as he also competed in track & field. During his track career, Adam earned All-SCAC honors three times and was the team’s high point man in both 2005 and 2007.
Our next honorees are being inducted in tandem, as Faculty Emeritus members Eric Mount and Milton Scarborough join the Hall of Fame together.
Many of you know these men well. Those of you alumni in the audience may well have taken one of their classes, as both men enjoyed long and distinguished tenures in the college’s department of religion, Dr. Mount from 1966 to 2002 and Dr. Scarborough from 1969 to 2005.
Our third honoree is Greg Lawson, Centre graduating class of 1989. Greg was a four-year starter at fullback during some of the best seasons of the Joe McDaniel era of Centre football. Those of you who remember Coach McDaniel’s teams remember how important the running game was to their success, and Greg played a huge role in that success all four years as both a runner and a blocker. After being named the team’s most valuable special teams player as a freshman in 1985, Greg’s career took off with three consecutive All-CAC seasons, including first team honors in 1986 and 1987, as he rushed for over 1500 yards across those two seasons. In 1988, Greg ascended to team captain and had another All-Conference campaign, this time earning Honorable Mention recognition.
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Our first inductee is Jessica Chisley, Centre graduating class of 2004. Jessica has been making an impact at Centre College since she arrived as a first-year goalkeeper for the Centre women’s soccer team in the fall of 2000. She was an All-SCAC selection in net all four years with the Colonels, including First Team honors in 2000 and 2001. In her senior year, Jessica served as team captain and had perhaps her finest season, earning SCAC Defensive Player of the Year honors as well as a spot on the All-South Region Third Team.
Of course, what she did on the pitch hardly scratches the surface of everything Jessica has accomplished. She was also a member of the Centre softball team, where she was named All-SCAC Honorable Mention twice and won the team’s Best Teammate Award in 2001 and the Miss Hustle Award in 2002.
Atlanta, GA
Our first inductee is Clay Curry, Centre graduating class of 1998. Centre football has a tremendous lineage of great defensive backs from Hall of Famers Teel Bruner and John Ortega to our current corner tandem of Cal Lewellyn and John Wilson – still Clay Curry is one of the best to play the position for the Gold and White. Clay lettered all four years for the Colonels and was named All-SCAC each of his last three years. As a junior, Clay led the SCAC in tackles with 126. His 92 solo tackles in his senior season are a program record that still stands today – some 20 years later. Clay led the SCAC in interceptions twice in his collegiate career, first in 1995 with five picks for the SCAC champion Colonels, and again in 1997 with four takeaways. Clay’s 1997 season is one for the ages for a Centre defensive back. In addition to the school record for solo tackles and the league lead in interceptions, Curry earned SCAC Defensive Player of the Year honors and a spot on the Football Gazette All-South Region team.
Our next inductee is the late David Epling, Centre graduating class of 1953. David was a three-year letter winner for the Centre basketball team and served as the team captain for the 1952-53 season, but it was on the tennis courts where David truly excelled.
David was a standout on the Centre men’s tennis team for four seasons and was a member of four KIAC Championship squads.
Centre began phasing out playing Division I opponents after World War II, but that transition took longer in tennis. That didn’t stop David and the 1952 Centre men’s tennis team from posting an undefeated season that included wins over Kentucky, Louisville, Eastern Kentucky and Western Kentucky.
Belleville, IL
Our next honoree is Erin Grumley, Centre graduating class of 2005. Erin is, by any possible measurement, one of the greatest pitchers in the history of Centre College softball. A four-year letter winner for the Colonels, Erin’s career numbers include: 44 wins, six saves, 12 shutouts, 350 strikeouts, 561 innings pitched, and an ERA of 2.45 – ALL of these still stand as career records for the Centre Softball program.
As a first-year player in 2002, Erin posted an ERA of 1.51 in 148.1 innings of work, earning her All-SCAC First-Team honors after leading the league in both ERA and strikeouts. This season still remains among the top 25 all-time in the SCAC for lowest ERA by a starting pitcher. In addition, Erin ranks 10th in SCAC history in career wins and 16th in career ERA. At the time of her graduation in 2005, she ranked fourth in the SCAC in wins, eighth in ERA, eighth in strikeouts per seven innings, eighth in winning percentage and third in total strikeouts.
Louisville, KY
Our third honoree is John Lewis English, Centre graduating class of 1960. John was the premier men’s doubles player for Centre tennis during his four years with the Colonels, winning the men’s doubles conference championship in 1958 and 1959.
John has stayed involved with tennis since his time with the Colonels came to an end and has become one of the most prominent tennis figures in Kentucky in the years that followed. Between 1955 and 1992, John won the Louisville Country Club men’s doubles title 20 times. He was the Louisville Falls City Champion in 1958 and 1971 and runner-up in 1962. The love for the sport never left John, as he earned four #1 rankings from the Kentucky seniors 45 and 50 doubles division between 1982 and 1991, winning seven championships.
Fort Thomas, KY
Our final inductee is Matt Nestheide, Centre graduating class of 2008. It seems appropriate to begin with a quote from Centre head men’s basketball coach, Greg Mason: “He’s the best player I’ve coached, or seen, since 1990 here at Centre. His junior and senior years, he was the best point guard in the entire nation in Division III.” High praise from somebody who has coached, and played, with so many great players.
Matt earned All-SCAC honors all four of his years with Centre men’s basketball, including Newcomer of the Year in 2005 and Player of the Year in 2007. He was a D3 News All-American in 2007 and 2008, years that saw Centre post a combined record of 50-8. To this day Nestheide ranks sixth in program history with 1,486 career points and eighth with 361 career assists. His 216 career three-pointers rank fifth in program history and he still holds the SCAC career record for best three-point percentage in a season, connecting on 51.3% of his long range attempts in 2005.
Our next inductee is Jeff Floyd. A fellow 1998 graduate, Jeff earned four varsity letters in both football AND baseball, is one of the most versatile athletes in the modern history of Centre Athletics – and it was a privilege – for those who were his contemporaries – to watch him compete.
In football, Jeff started at five different positions for the Colonels – quarterback, kicker, punter, cornerback, and safety. As a sophomore, Jeff earned Second-Team All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference honors, and then as a junior and senior, registered a spot on the First-Team. At the time of his graduation, Jeff held school records for highest punting average (42.8 yards) and longest punt (77 yards) – not bad considering it took a future four-year NFL veteran to remove Jeff’s name from those specific records some 15 years later.
Our third honoree is Sarah Green-Robinson, class of 2002. Sarah was a three-time All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference performance for the Centre women’s basketball team, as well as earning a varsity letter her senior year as a member of the track & field squad.
As a freshman, Sarah was named to the All-SCAC Second-Team, while garnering First-Team acclaim in her junior and senior seasons. Sarah earned the admiration and respect of her coaches and teammates as she was named the team’s most outstanding player in as a sophomore in 1999-2000 and then again in her senior season in 2001-02. Sarah had a knack for playing her best for the Colonels in big games, earning All-Tournament honors on five separate occasions. Sarah was also a member of the All-South Region Third Team in both 1998-98 and 2001-02.
Our final honoree is Steve Lubbe. On Labor Day weekend of this year, Centre Soccer opened up Amend Field with a 9-1 win over Georgetown College. The new soccer facility is as nice as any in Division III in the nation. With a beautiful new facility, and a run of 26-straight seasons of non-losing seasons, Centre Soccer has positioned itself well on the national landscape. But without Steve Lubbe, this upward climb would have assuredly taken longer.
Steve lettered all four years in soccer and was one of the catalysts of the rise of the Centre men’s soccer program to what it is today. Steve was a team co-captain in 1992 and 1993 and a First-Team All-Conference performer in 1991, 1992, and 1993 as the CAC transitioned to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Posthumous
Accepted by Kathy Iler Botts '83
Our first inductee is the late William “Bill” Botts Jr., Centre graduating class of 1984. Bill was a four-year letter winner for the Colonels in both football and track & field, and he excelled in both sports. On the gridiron, he was a two-time team captain for Centre in 1982 and 1983, earning All-CAC honors each season, including First-Team as a freshman.
In track & field, Bill specialized in the shot put and to this day is the best to ever do it – in the history of the program. Botts finished first in the CAC in the shot put in all four seasons with the Colonels, qualifying for the NCAA Championships in 1981 and 1982 and establishing a school record of 54-feet, 2-inches in 1981 that still stands. (Let that sink in for a minute – few superlative athletic achievements last more than 36 years.)
Brian achieved all-conference recognition and graduated as the holder of school or conference records in football, basketball, and track. In football, Brian was a 3-time SCAC Special Teams Player of the Year and was named to the SCAC’s 15th Anniversary Team. He still holds four Centre season records for punt and kick-off returns. His 3 punt returns for touchdowns in a season still stands as a SCAC record.
He was also an outstanding defensive back, earning all-conference second team recognition as a junior while being named a First-Team honoree as a senior, when he led the conference, and was second in the nation, with 9 interceptions. He also recorded 24 passes defended that season—still a conference record. In his final season, Brian he was named a First-Team All-American and participated in the Aztec Bowl in Mexico City along with other Division III representatives.
Our final honoree is Ed Rall. Continuing a theme for the day, Ed was a multi-sport student-athlete at Centre. He competed in football and baseball at Centre, although an injury forced him from the gridiron to the sidelines as a volunteer coach for his final two years.
On the diamond, Ed excelled in all facets of the game – even from his very first time in the line-up. In those days, conference teams almost never competed against each other during the regular season, with regular season competition coming mostly against regional teams, and conference competition generally limited to the season-ending tournament. In his very first CAC game, Ed played right field, went 5-for-5 at the plate, scoring two runs and leading the Colonels to a 16-7 win over Southwestern at Memphis (now Rhodes College). In his first year, Ed led the team in batting with a .375 average and was named to the all-conference team.
Molly Alvey was a 4-year letter winner in two sports at Centre. In basketball, Molly was a standout point guard who excelled on both ends of the court. She was named Most Outstanding Player in her sophomore and senior seasons while earning Best Defensive Player distinction in her junior year.
In that junior campaign, Molly helped lead the Colonels to a 19-6 record. She was second on the team in scoring at 10.4 points per game while her three-point shooting percentage of 44.8 percent ranked 5th in the nation. She followed that in her senior season shooting 45.6 percent from 3-point range, 4th best in the nation, and still a Centre single-season school record and 2nd all-time in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference history. In that senior season, Molly – named to the All-Conference Second-Team – led the Colonels to the SCAC Championship, advancing all the way to the NCAA Sweet 16.
Our third honoree is Reggie Magnusson, also representing the first international inductee into the Hall of Fame. Actually, “Reggie” is not his given name, but if we waited for me to correctly pronounce his name, we would surely miss our 2:30 kick-off of today’s football game. You should also know that Reggie, who is a native of Iceland but attended high school in Alabama, was originally headed to Birmingham Southern College. After they mistakenly backed off recruiting him following an injury, one of the BSC basketball coaches suggested to Greg Mason that we contact Reggie, and the rest is history. Greg, you should ALWAYS answer calls from that coach.
Reggie compiled an impressive record on the court at Centre in three seasons, opting to graduate after meeting his degree requirements in only three years. Reggie led the Colonels in scoring every season, averaging 13.4 points per game in his first season, 12.7 points per game in his second season, and 17.3 points per game in his final season.
Karin comes from a long line of Centre alumni and married a Centre alumnus, but her records would indicate that she’s the best athlete in her family—in fact, the best athlete in most families. Long-time Centre coach Herbie McGuire wrote a letter to Karin’s parents when she graduated saying that Karin was “the best all-around athlete that I had the pleasure to work with at Centre—male or female.”
Karin was a four-year letter winner in track and a four-year All-Conference performer in multiple events. She captained the women’s track team in her junior and senior seasons. She was the leading point scorer at the conference meet in her junior season and was named the Most Valuable Athlete at the conference meet in her senior year. In that final meet of her career, she finished first in the conference in the 400-meter dash, and second in the following events: shot put, javelin, discus, 200-meter dash, 400-meter relay, and the 1,000-meter relay. She also finished 5th in the high jump. Her 49 points in that meet still ranks 6th all-time in the SCAC record book.
Astoria, NY
Marjorie Pilkinton is the first softball player from the fast-pitch era to be inducted into the Centre Athletic Hall of Fame, and she came in during her first year of eligibility. She was a four-year starter for the Colonels, playing both third base and first base.
Marjorie had a career batting average of .324 with 122 hits and 73 RBIs. She still ranks as Centre’s career leader for triples and slugging percentage. As a sophomore she was named to the All-SCAC first team at third base. Her junior season she was named to the All-SCAC first team at first base and was also named to the COSIDA District IV Academic All-American First Team.
Leitchfield, KY
Mike Pharris was a 4-year starter in basketball and immediately made an impact. At the conclusion of his freshman year, he was selected as both the team’s Most Valuable Player and as the team’s Most Efficient Player. He was named the team’s Most Valuable Player in three of his four seasons.
Mike led the Colonels to their first CAC championship in his sophomore season and was named to the all-conference team. He had his best statistical year at Centre that season, with 400 points and 230 rebounds in 25 games. In his senior year, he again led the Colonels to a CAC championship and an overall record of 15-9, which was a Centre record for wins in a season.
Montas was an outstanding two-sport athlete at Centre. In track, he was an all-conference performer in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and in the 400-meter relay. As a sophomore, his 400-meter relay team won the SCAC and established a school record of 42.77 seconds, which they broke the following year with a time of 42.46 seconds.
But it was in football that Montas really made his mark. A four-year letterman in football, as a sophomore, he set a school record that still stands with five blocked kicks, and he led the SCAC with a 20.2 yard average on 13 kick-off returns. In his junior season, he established single-season Centre records for number of kick-off returns, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He led the SCAC with 820 receiving yards and was second in the SCAC with 1,200 all-purpose yards. He led the Colonels in those categories, of course, as well as in scoring. He was named to the all-conference first team and was recognized as Centre’s Most Valuable Offensive Back.
Gary Wright came to Centre as an all-state baseball and all-district basketball player from Ashland High School. At Centre, he was also a two-sport athlete. As a guard on the basketball team, he was a four-year letter winner. In his senior season, he was a key member of Centre’s first team to secure an NCAA tournament appearance. On the diamond, he was a shortstop who played every inning of every game for 4 years. He was co-captain of the baseball team in his junior and senior seasons. As an alumnus, Gary has continued his positive impact on our baseball program.
Vergennes, VT
Cam Demmerle was a four-year starter and letterman on the football team. As a defensive lineman, Cam was named to the All-SCAC first team in each of his three final seasons and was named to the SCAC 15th anniversary team in 2006. He was named a team captain during his senior season. As outstanding as he was on the field, Cam was also an excellent student, and that combined record of accomplishment on the field and in the classroom led to a series of national awards. Cam was recognized as a Region IV GTE Academic All-American. He was named a Burger King College Football Scholar-Athlete, resulting in a $10,000 gift to Centre’s general scholarship fund.
Corona Del Mar, CA
Greg Ely was a two-sport standout at Centre on the gridiron and on the diamond. He immediately made a splash as a freshman in the fall of 1969. He led the Colonels’ CAC-championship football team in scoring as a halfback and was named to the all-conference team. Then in the spring, he batted .339 for the baseball team, which was good enough for second on the team and a spot on the all-conference team as a shortstop. By the time he graduated in 1973, Greg had helped lead the Colonels to 2 outright conference championships in football and one co-championship. He was a four-year starter and letterman at halfback and made the all-CAC team in his freshman, junior, and senior seasons.
Hopkinsville, KY
Our next inductee is the late Jack Haddock, Class of 1943. Jack was a multi-sport athlete who lettered in football, basketball, track, and baseball. However, it was as a halfback for the football team that he achieved his greatest distinction. Of course, in those days, Centre was still playing a major college schedule. Jack and his teammates were the last of the Colonels to play against the likes of Army, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Vanderbilt, and Cincinnati. As a starting halfback in his sophomore season, Jack helped lead Centre to a win over Louisville, Centre’s last victory over a major university. Following Jack’s senior season, in which he was elected captain of the team, the Colonels suspended football due to World War II, and when they resumed, they played only other small colleges.
Danville, KY
Joe Martin was an outstanding tennis player on some of the best tennis teams Centre has ever fielded. While at Centre, Joe never lost a match against any player from another school in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. His victories also included wins over players from much larger schools, including the University of Kentucky. He was undefeated for 2 consecutive seasons and won Kentucky state championships in 2 consecutive seasons. As a senior, Joe was named team captain and also was elected president of the “C Club,” the membership organization open to letter winners in all varsity sports. While the Hall of Fame committee limits its consideration of athletic accomplishments to those achieved at Centre, it is worth noting that Joe was a highly-decorated tennis player long after his days at Centre, winning numerous military, club, and other championships.
Murray, KY
Daniel Johnson just might be the best hitter ever to wear a Centre College baseball uniform. As a catcher and first baseman, Daniel set numerous career and season batting records, many of which are still intact. His career records are all the more remarkable when you know he missed the last several games of his senior season because of a fractured hand. When he hung up his cleats, Daniel was the Colonels career leader in home runs with 29, RBIs with 134, and batting average with .403. He still leads in homers and is now second in the other two categories. In his shortened senior season, he set the single season record for homeruns with 12, breaking his own record of 8 as freshman. His RBI total of 41 that season tied the record he set the previous year (Centre’s new record is now 42). Perhaps his best season was his junior year when he set both a Centre and a conference record with a .480 batting average. He was ranked sixth in the nation in Division III in batting and 9th in RBIs with 41, and he was named to the Division III all-region second team.
Oklahoma City, OK
Drew Mildren graduated from Centre in 2002 after a stellar football career. He was a 2nd team All-SCAC performer in 2001 after leading the Colonels to a 9-1 record and was named to the All-SCAC Academic team that season as well as during his junior year. A four-year starter for the Colonels, Drew owned almost every Centre passing record by the end of his senior season. He still holds three career passing records—most attempts, most completions, and most yards, as well as two career total offense records for most plays and most yards. He still holds the single-game record for completions with 34 and is tied for 5 touchdown passes in a single game. He is one of only 2 Colonels to pass for over 2,000 yards in a season, having done it twice.
Falls Church, VA
Hylton was a standout mid-fielder and four-year starter on some of the Colonels most outstanding Centre soccer teams. During his sophomore and junior seasons, Hylton lead the Colonels to consecutive conference championships and an amazing combined record of 33 wins, 3 losses, and 3 ties. His overall record in four years at Centre was 58-14-3. In his junior and senior seasons, Hylton was named to the All-SCAC 2nd team and was an Honorable Mention performer as a sophomore. His senior season he was named a 3rd team Regional All-American and was also named a GTE Academic All-American for District IV. When he graduated, he ranked second in career assists, with 25, and is still ranked 5th all-time. His 11 assists in 1994 are the second-highest in a single season.
Hodgenville, KY
Kelly is being honored today for his accomplishments in two sports. He was a four-year letter winner in both golf and football. As a golfer, he was the individual medalist in four tournaments. He was named the All-CAC team his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. He helped lead the team to conference championships in 1988 and 1990 and was team captain in his senior season. On the football field, he also was a four-year starter as quarterback and led the Colonels to a combined record of 26-11, including back-to-back 8-win seasons conference championships in his final two years. He was named as the first-team all-conference quarterback as a senior. Kelly set several Centre passing records during his four years—and held most of them until Drew Mildren came along. But, Kelly holds one school and NCAA record that can be tied but never broken. His 99-yard touchdown pass to Mark Green against Sewanee in 1988 will stand forever.
Award accepted by his son James D. Converse
The late Roy Converse was a 1935 graduate of Centre who served a long and distinguished career as a Presbyterian minister. But we honor him today for his accomplishments on the gridiron, where he earned a reputation as a tough-as-nails lineman. In those days, the Colonels were still playing against the biggest college football programs in the country. During his four years at Centre, Roy helped lead the Colonels to a combined record of 26-13-1, with wins against the likes of South Carolina, Louisville, Xavier, Morehead, Murray, and UT-Chattanooga. Roy was named to the All-Kentucky and the All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association teams on multiple occasions and was recognized as an “All-Dixie” guard for three consecutive years.
Athens, GA
Shan was an outstanding member of the Centre track program for four years. She led the team in scoring all four years and was named to the Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference all-conference team all four years. She led the team to two conference championships. She was the conference champion in three events in her junior season, and in her senior season, she was conference champion in five events—the 100- and 200-meter dashes, the 400- and 1600-meter relays, and the high jump—and was runner-up in the javelin. She finished 10th in the nation in the high jump in Division III during her senior year. Shan still holds two school records, with a high jump of 5’ 7’’ and an 800 meter-relay time of 1:53:44. Those are 2 of the 3 longest standing records for the women’s track team. At the time of her graduation, Shan was also a member of the relay teams that held school records for 400 meters, 1600 meters and the 800 medley relay.
It is easy to throw around terms like “legendary” or “visionary” or “historic” in ceremonies such as these. But those terms really do apply to our next honoree and the role he played in Centre’s athletic history. In his book, The Wonder Team, Centre alumnus Robert W. Robertson, Jr. aptly describes Robert L. Myers as “the man who made it all happen” with “it” being Centre’s rise to the very pinnacle of college football almost a century ago.
It is an unlikely legacy for a man who graduated from Centre in 1907 with a reputation as the smartest student on campus, the editor of the campus newspaper, and only one year as a member of the football team in a season so undistinguished that he didn’t accumulate enough playing time to earn the coveted “C.” What he did develop, however, was a deep passion for this sport that was rapidly gaining in popularity and an unshakable belief that his tiny alma mater could develop into a national power.
It is always a pleasure to make these introductions, but it is a special pleasure when the person being honored is a friend and a colleague, and I consider myself fortunate to call Steve Powell both. Most of you know Steve as a world-renowned glass artist and as the H.W. Stodghill Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of Art at Centre. But before he rose to international prominence as an artist and a teacher, Steve was a standout athlete at Centre.
The truth is that Steve is still a competitive and capable athlete, and his post-graduate record as an adult tennis player is probably deserving of some kind of recognition, having at one time been ranked first in the state in his age division, but our Hall of Fame Committee confines itself to consideration of accomplishments at Centre, so it is for his time on the courts as a Centre student that we honor Steve today.
Chapel Hill, NC
William “Bill” Kenyon, who is also here this weekend as a member of the 25th reunion Class of 1986, was a standout running back who played a major role in leading the Colonels to three consecutive CAC championships. He still holds two rushing records at Centre.
His career average of 4.9 yards per carry is still the best ever by any Centre runner with sufficient carries to qualify, and his 4 rushing touchdowns against Rhodes in 1983 is a single-game record he holds with several other players. He ranks third all-time among Centre running backs (with a career total of 2,511 yards. And all of that is in spite of some nagging injuries during the latter part of his career and with opposing defenses keying on him.
Hyden, Kentucky
Cheryl Lewis started strong on the basketball court for the Lady Colonels and never let up for four years and 87 games. At the conclusion of her freshman season, she was named the team's Most Valuable Player after leading the team in both scoring and rebounding, and was the only Centre player selected to the all-tournament team of the Kentucky Women's Intercollegiate Conference Small College Tournament. Things just improved from there.
Asheville, North Carolina
Frank yeager came to Centre as a high school all-state offensive lineman and a standout baseball catcher. From the beginning, he made an impact on both fields. As a football player, he played center, guard, and tackle on the offensive line. As the starting center on the undefeated 1955 team, he anchored the line that set national records for yards gained per game and still holds several Centre records for offensive productivity. But his skills on the football field weren't limited to blocking. He was also a standout defender. Coach Briscoe Inman once described Frank as "an excellent defensive linebacker, a keen student of the game, and a fine offensive blocker - one of the best players I have ever coached." His leadership was recognized by his election as a co-captain his senior season.
Duncan, Oklahoma
Joe Sandy was a leader and a repeat all-conference performer on both the basketball and baseball teams. Always a fiery competitor, Joe was one of those players who elevated the play of his teammates. A four-year starter on both teams, Joe led the basketball team to an all-time record of 16 wins his junior year, and then topped that as co-captain his senior year by leading the Colonels to an NCAA Division III Final Four appearance and a 25-5 record. Joe's career numbers on the court speak for themselves. His 1,013 points, 460 rebounds, 408 assists, and field goal percentage of 53% still rank him among the leaders in all four categories. He ended his career as Centre's all-time leader in assists and field goal percentage.
Danville, Kentucky
Keith Tarter turned down a Division I football scholarship to attend Centre. By the time he graduated in 1991, Keith owned almost every receiving record in the books. He was a four-year starter and letterman and was elected a captain during his senior year. He was named a first-team all-conference performer in his last three years, once as a tight end and twice as a wide receiver. He led the conference in both receptions and receiving yards his junior and senior seasons. He set the Centre career record for receiving yards - and did it half-way through his junior season. Among the single-game receiving records he set or tied during his career, were 3 touchdown catches in a single game, which he still holds with three other players, and 10 receptions in a single game. He helped lead the Colonels to back-to back conference championships and a combined record of 16-3 in his last two years.
Butler, Kentucky
Norm was another two-sport standout and yet another offensive lineman for the Colonels. Norm was a four-year letterman for the Praying Colonels and starter as a guard. While Norm labored in the trenches for the football Colonels for four years and most of the glory went to the backs who ran through the holes he opened, he was definitely in the spotlight on the diamond.
He was a star infielder and always one of the team leaders in both hitting and fielding. But Norm's exploits went beyond his talents with the bat and glove.
Atlanta, Georgia
Paul graduated from Centre in 1946. Like many of the young men of his era, his academic and athletic career at Centre was interrupted by military service. Prior to his enlistment in the Air Force, Paul was a standout on the football field and on the track, receiving two varsity letters in each sport. On the gridiron, Paul competed for the Praying Colonels as a starting offensive lineman. You have to remember that these were the last of the Centre teams to play a schedule that included teams like the University of Georgia, Vanderbilt, and Virginia Tech. Weighing in at all of about 150 pounds, Paul earned a reputation as a tough-as-nails guard who was able to open holes for the Centre backs against much bigger opponents.
Louisville, Kentucky
Basketball standout on two Final Four teams in 1989 and 1990
Holds career record for most games (118) and most blocked shots (372)
Holds single season record for rebounds (229)
(Posthumous - Award accepted by Doris and Ed Farley)
Superstar in track
Set state records for the half mile (1:57.2) and the mile (4:31)
Won the first cross country race ever held in Louisville
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Standout in football - started every game his four years at Centre
Held single game school record for most tackles versus Maryville in 1966
Led team in tackles his sophomore year
Team captain in 1967
Alexandria, VA
Jon Oldham is one of five male Centre swimmers or divers who have received All-American recognition. As a freshman, he finished in third place at the 1994 Nationals in the 200-butterfly, the event that became his specialty. However, Jon’s excellence was not limited to just one event.
As a freshman, he was undefeated against non-scholarship competition and set four Centre individual records and was part of four relay records. He qualified again for nationals as a sophomore and was named Honorable Mention-All American in both the 100- and 200- butterfly. His junior season, he set school records in four events other than the butterfly—the 1,000-free, the 50-free, the 100-back, and the 200 individual medley. He was the high-point scorer at the SCAC meet that season. His senior season, he again received Honorable Mention All-American status with his performance at Nationals in the 200-back.
Xenia, Ohio
All-time leading scorer in SCAC and Centre history
1998 SCAC Player of the Year
Four-time SCAC scoring champion
Three-time All-South Region
Four-time 1st Team, All-SCAC
Cheryl’s is a story that has been told by ESPN, CNN, USA TODAY, and others
Enrolled at Centre to complete her college education as a 37-year old mother of two
Was the SCAC cross-country champion two years in a row
Was Regional Champion both years
Competed in the NCAA nationals both years, finishing 27th overall in 1991
Austin, Texas
One of the best soccer players ever to attend Centre College
Named to the All-Conference 1st team all four years
Named to the All-Region team all four years
Named an All-American in his junior and senior seasons
Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Three-sport standout at Centre in the early 1950s
Lettered in football, basketball, and track
Was known as a tougher-than-nails defensive end
Helped lead the football team to an overall record of 19-9-1
Cincinnati, Ohio
Best remembered for his 41-point outburst that led Centre to a double-overtime victory over Cal State Stanislaus and on to the Division III Final Four in 1989, which was his senior season
Amassed 1,266 career points, placing him 11th on the all-time list of Centre scorers
Pulled down 647 career rebounds
Both a team captain and a member of the All-SCAC team in his junior and senior seasons
Mount Sterling, Kentucky
Best known in the Commonwealth for her exploits on the court as a member of the University of Kentucky’s women’s basketball team where she was named All-SEC
Honored for her accomplishments on the sidelines as coach of the Lady Colonels basketball team
Has the highest winning percentage of any basketball coach – men’s or women’s – in the history of Centre basketball
Her teams won a remarkable 73 percent of their games
A four-year starter at Centre
Started a remarkable 99 consecutive games
An integral part of the College’s first two NCAA tournament teams in her junior and senior seasons
Led the Colonels with her passing and free throw shooting
Led the team in assists all four years
Four-year letterman as an offensive tackle
Named first team all-conference at his position his last three years at Centre
Named to both the Kodak and Pizza Hut All-American teams for Division III in his senior season
In that season, he was captain of the team and led the Colonels to an 8-1 record and was ranked 13th
Cleveland, Ohio
Ranked among the top 10 Colonels in nine different statistical categories at the end of his senior season
Highlights of those statistical achievements that still rank him among Centre’s career leaders: 1,247 career points, 52.3% career field goal percentage, and 651 career rebounds
Helped lead the Colonels to the school’s first NCAA tournament and Final Four appearance in 1979
Member of the winningest team in school history at 25-5
Cawood, Kentucky
Deceased
The most famous member of the Centre College Hall of Fame is an alumnus who never sank a free-throw, gained a yard, or a threw a strike on behalf of the Gold & White
Best known to generations of Kentuckians as the voice of the University of Kentucky Wildcats football and men’s basketball teams for almost 40 years
Known around the world as one of the greatest sports announcers of his day
Regularly announced the Kentucky High School “Sweet 16”
Washington, D.C.
Lettered in three sports and was captain of all three of those teams
Played halfback and end on the football team
Led the team to two Kentucky state championships, with a combined record of 11-3-2
Colonels outscored their opponents by a cumulative score of 196 to 12 in his final year
Chester, Virginia
Youngest member of the Hall of Fame in 2006
Two-sport athlete at Centre
Started every game at running back during his four years on the football team
Named Centre’s most valuable offensive back as a freshman
Arlington, Virginia
A two-sport standoutLettered in volleyball and track
Named to the All-Conference volleyball team all four years at Centre
Led the conference in hitting percentage as a sophomore
Led the conference in total aces and aces per game as a senior
2005 marked the 50th anniversary of their undefeated 1955 season, when they finished 8-0
Most recent Centre football team to record an unbeaten season.
That season, they set a small college record by averaging over 430 yards in offense per game
Outscored their opponents by a combined score of 235-53
Had no game closer than 14 points
All-American swimmer in 1992
Finished fifth place at the 1992 National Championships in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:25:74
1992 Honorable Mention All-American in 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard breaststroke
Lexington, Kentucky
Only the second Centre soccer player in the Hall of Fame in 2005
Centre’s all-time goal-scoring leader with 45
Ranks second in points scored with 109
A four-year letterman
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Outstanding track and cross country runner
One of ten national finalists for NCAA Woman of the Year in 1991
Named Kentucky Woman of the Year in 1991
Franklin, Tennessee
Centre’s all-time leading scorer with 1,921 points
Second team Kodak All-American in 1991
Two-time conference Player of the Year in 1990 and 1991
Marco Island, Florida
Started the soccer program at Centre in 1970
Lettered in 1971, 1972, and 1973
Selected All-Conference all four years
Selected to several all-tournament teams
Outstanding basketball and baseball player
Captain and team MVP of both teams
Second-team All-American in basketball
Captain of the football, basketball, and baseball teams at Centre
Played tennis
Received 14 letters in athletics
Burgin, Kentucky
Outstanding basketball player
Named NCAA All-American in 1994
Two-time SCAC Player of the Year in 1993 and 1994
Selected All-Conference three years
Centre’s all-time assist leader in basketball with 451
Lettered four years
First-team All-Conference three years
MVP at NCAA South Regional Tournament in 1985
Versatile athlete and legendary coach at Centre
Played on 1955 undefeated football team
Lettered in football, golf, and track
Coached 40 years at Centre
Phoenix, Arizona
One of Centre’s finest all-around athletes
Lettered four years in football and tennis
Lettered two years in basketball
Fort Thomas, Kentucky
Outstanding athlete who played basketball, softball, and field hockey and ran track
Lettered three years in basketball and field hockey
Lettered two years in softball and track
Regional All-American in field hockey
Famous Centre football coach from 1980-1997
Winningest football coach in Centre history compiling a record of 101-63-3
His 166-122-5 career mark ranks him 7th in wins among Division III coaches
A three-time SCAC Coach of the Year selection
Kodak First-Team All-American in 1989
Centre’s fourth all-time leading scorer despite playing only three years (1553 points
)Led Colonels to a Final Four appearance in 1989
All-Conference three years
Kodak first-team All-American in 1988
AP Little All-American 3rd team in 1988
Pizza Hut All-American
Three-time All-Conference player
Kodak first-team All-American in 1990
All-Conference first team all four years
Centre participated in back-to-back Final Fours her junior and senior years
Made the Final Four All-Tournament team in 1989 and 1990
An All-American running back and star track performer
Football conference Player of the Year twice (1989 and 1990)
Finished in the top ten in the nation in rushing and scoring in 1990
Indianapolis, Indiana
Played tennis, soccer, and volleyball
Number one singles player for four straight years
Twice posted a 14-0 record in a single season
Competed in the NCAA Division III National Tennis Championship as a junior
Elida, Ohio
Captain of the 1948 and 1949 football teams
Played football and ran track for four years
Played both ways as a tackle
Named All-KIAC in 1948
Charleston, West Virginia
Lettered in track 1977-1980
Captain of track team in 1979 and 1980
Held 15 school records
Star running back on Centre’s undefeated 1955 football team
Averaged 9.5 yards a carry in 1955, which was second in the nation
Led 1954 team in scoring
Lettered three years
Played varsity football for three years
Ran track for two years
Captain of the track team
Extremely versatile player in football, excelling as a runner, passer, and kick returner
Westerville, Ohio
Kodak All-American linebacker in 1989
Voted the College Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1989
Started every football game from 1986-89
Received GTE Academic All-American honor
Played four years of football
Played both offense and defense as a guard
Star player of 1931 team that played six games in 24 days
Multi-star athlete excelling in football, basketball, and baseball
Captain of the 1928 baseball team
Elected Carnival King which was the highest honor for any Centre athlete
Member of physical education and athletics staff at Centre from 1959-2000
Instrumental in the development of women’s varsity athletics program
Coached basketball, field hockey, and tennis
Served as women’s athletics director, associate director of athletics, chair of physical education, and director of intramural sports
Goshen, Kentucky
Centre’s all-time leading scorer when he graduated with 1,814 points
Centre’s all-time leading rebounder with 854
Co-MVP of the Conference in his junior and senior year
1987 Kodak All-American Third Team
Lettered four years in golf and three years in football
Captain of football team in 1984
Led football team to conference championships in 1983 and 1984
In 1984, voted Most Valuable Offensive Player on team and named First Team All-Conference
Threw for 3,914 yards in his career and 24 touchdowns
Morehead, Kentucky
Played football four years, serving as captain his senior year
All-Conference performer
Named Best Male Athlete as a senior
Played basketball for two years and ran track for two years
Greencastle, Indiana
Lettered four years in basketball, two years in track, and two years in cross country
Leading scorer on basketball team all four years
Averaged 11.4 points per game prior to the three-point shotHeld school record for the mile run
Outstanding player in football, basketball, and baseball
Played tackle on undefeated 1910 football team and served as captain of that team
Played on the basketball team that was 20-3 in 1910
One of the best football players in Centre history
Played varsity football four years as a halfback
Leading scorer in Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Dixie Conference in 1934
Named All-Conference in 1932, 1933, and 1934
Jacksonville, Florida
Outstanding athlete who played football, basketball, track, and baseball
Quarterback and co-captain of the football team in 1941
Centre’s weight room is named in his honor
Centerville, Massachusetts
Football player on the famed 1921 Praying Colonels team that defeated unbeaten Harvard 6-0
One of the “seven immortals” in 1924 who refused to quit the Centre team following resignation of Coach Charlie Moran
Played on three Southern Championship teams, including the 1924 5-1-1 squad that defeated Rose Bowl-bound Alabama 17-0
Football team captain in 1984
All-American football player in 1984 as a linebacker
Led team in tackles four straight years
Three years All-Conference
Marion, Kentucky
First woman at Centre to be named All-American in basketball
Led the Lady Colonels team to first-ever appearance in NCAA Division III Final Four
Four-time All-Conference player
Led team to three conference championships
Outstanding track performer from Horse Cave
First basketball coach ever at the University of Kentucky and the first Athletic Director 1902-1912
Founded and was president of the Kentucky Association of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation
Undefeated in 10 games
Gave up only one touchdown all season
The “Praying Colonels” defeated Harvard 6-0 in a contest billed the “Game of the Century” by the Associated Press
Centre’s win, before 45,000 fans in Cambridge, Massachusetts, broke Harvard’s five-year winning streak
West Point, New York
Standout in track & field, swimming, and field hockey
Four-year letter winner in two sports – track and swimming
Held school records for 100- and 200-meter dashes
Won conference championships in the high jump and the 50 freestyle, 100 breast stroke, and 200 breast stroke
A loyal and selfless supporter of all the athletic programs at Centre
Served as the College’s athletic trainer and equipment manager
Served in this position over four decades, beginning in the 1920s
West Chester, Ohio
Four-year football letterman
Served as captain his senior year
First African-American to play football for Centre
Participated in track & field
Pisgah Forest, North Carolina
Played tennis at Centre before the school sponsored a women’s team
Outstanding athlete
Competed on the men’s team
Captured a KIAC Doubles Championship in 1959 with partner John English ’60
Three-sport star, lettering in football, basketball, and baseball
Named to the All-Kentucky First Team in football during his three seasons and captained the 1910 team to the state championship (A 12-6 win over the University of Kentucky)
The 1910 team was undefeated and Co-Champions of the South
Memphis, Tennessee
Top scorer for the Centre basketball team
Averaged double figures for three straight College Athletic Conference basketball champions
Played in the national quarterfinals as a senior
Centre’s Most Valuable Player and Co-MVP of the Conference
Centre College men’s basketball coach for 28 years
Retired in 1996 as the school’s all-time winningest coach with 382 victories
Led Centre to the NCAA Division III playoffs on nine occasions
Twice guided the team to the Division III Final Four 1978-79, 1988-89
Colorado Springs, Colorado
All-American diver 1984-87
Qualified in both one and three meter competition
Qualified for NCAA post-season competition in each of her four years at Centre
Earned honorable mention as a freshman
Earned varsity letters in football, basketball, and track
Served as captain of the southern champion football team in 1923
Twice named an honorable mention All-American and twice All-Southern
Led Centre to three southern championships
Prospect, Kentucky
A standout football and track & field star
Named to the All-Conference team in football
Most Valuable Player on offense in 1972
Won the Collegiate Athletic Conference high jump championship in 1973
Lettered in football, basketball, baseball, and track & field
Became one of the few athletes who lettered in four separate varsity sports
A two-way player on the 1930 Centre football team that captured the Southern Intercollegiate Conference
Played semi-professional and professional baseball
The outstanding track and field athlete of his era at Centre College
Considered the best in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference during his three year career
In 1959, he won three field events in the KIAC meet at the conclusion of the season – the broad jump, discus, and shot put
Placed second in the 220-yard dash and third in the 100-yard dash
Amassing 20 of the Centre team’s 21 points, his shot put effort established a new conference record
Cottonwood, Idaho
Excelled both athletically and academically
As a junior and senior, he was a first-team selection to the Kodak All-America and the GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America squads
A talented defensive back, Bruner earned four football letters at Centre
Tied an NCAA record with five interceptions in a single game as a senior
Was a three-time All-College Athletic Conference choice
Midway, Kentucky
A pioneer in Kentucky women’s sports
Played basketball, field hockey, and volleyball
Her influence on women’s sports grew after she left Centre and began a teaching and coaching career that spanned more than three decades
After receiving a master’s degree from the University of Kentucky and completing her graduate work at Indiana University, Parrish taught physical education and coached all sports at Midway College until she retired in 1979
Nicholasville, Kentucky
Four-year letterman in two sports
An All-College Athletic Conference selection in basketball for three years
CAC Most Valuable Player in 1966
Over his final two years, he averaged more than 24 points per game bringing his career average to 185
Between the years of 1952 and 1977, Thomas Briscoe Inman coached football, basketball, wrestling, golf, and baseball for Centre
Selected by the Washington Touchdown Club as Small College Coach of the Year in 1955, following an undefeated season
His football teams established a school record for consecutive victories at 17 in 1954-56
His teams set national records for rushing yardage and total offense by the conclusion of his football coaching career
Bowling Green, Kentucky
A standout for four years in football and basketball
Member of the famous Praying Colonels as a blocking back in the 1917-1920 seasons
A star on Centre’s unbeaten Southern Championship basketball team in 1919
Frankfort, Kentucky
Qualified for the National Championship track meet for the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women in three events
Competed in the 400-meter hurdles and the 880-yard fun (dropped out of the 440-yard dash due to scheduling conflict)
Finished ninth in both events
Known as a phenomenon in Kentucky women’s track
Known as one of the finest all-around athletes in Centre’s history
Outstanding football, baseball, and track athlete
Named All-SIAA tackle and All-Dixie in 1931
Winner of 12 varsity letters
Excelled in football, baseball, and basketball
Quarterback for the Championship of the South game won by Centre 14-7 over Georgia
Participated in the 6-0 football victory over Harvard in 1921
The heart of Centre’s football and track teams from 1937 to 1939
Named All-KIAC guard in 1938 and 1939
Captain of the football team
Tennis player and coach during his years at Centre
Had an undefeated season and won the singles crown in the KIAC in 1949
Led the team to three KIAC Championships
Pikeville, Kentucky
Four-year letterman in basketball and track
Named captain of both teams in 1963 and 1964
Named to the All-Conference and All-Tournament teams for the CAC and the Little All-Phi National Fraternity team
Winchester, Kentucky
A standout five letter athlete
Excelled in football, basketball, track, tennis, and baseball
Played on Centre’s undefeated 1955 grid team
During his freshman and sophomore seasons, he kicked 32 out of 36 extra-point attempts
Pensacola, Florida
Four-year letterman in basketball and baseball
Named KIAC All-Conference in both sports all four years
NAIA All-American in basketball
Walter-Camp All-American
Played fullback and defensive end during his college career
Recognized as the man who made the block to spring Bo McMillin for the winning touchdown against Harvard in 1921
Four-year letterman in football
As a center for the 1921 football team, he was named to Walter Camp’s All-American Team
Held the distinction of being the smallest lineman ever to make All-American
Holds the NCAA record for 99 consecutive points after touchdowns 1919 and 1920 seasons
Four-year letterman in football and basketball
Earned All-KIAC honors in 1918, 1919, 1920, and 1921
Named to the All-South Football Squad in 1921
Earned four varsity letters in men’s tennis
Lettered on the first undefeated Centre women’s tennis team that was organized during her senior year
Advanced to the semi-finals in the Men’s College Athletic Conference
Champion of the Consolation Bracket at the Women’s National Championships
Five-year letterman in football
All-American First Team 1919
All-American Second Team 1920, 1921
All-Southern Quarterback 1918-21
Nicknamed “Rock”
All-Conference 1968-71
Little All-American 1971
Three-year letterman in swimming
One-year letterman in football
Six-time All-American in swimming
NCAA Champion in 400 Individual Medley 1980
Enjoyed an unusually productive career in athletics
Coached Centre College football from 1917 to 1923, including the famous win over Harvard in 1921
Pitcher and catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals
Spent 23 years in the National Baseball League as an umpire
Four-year letterman in baseball
Continued his baseball career as a semi-pro after college
Offered the job of baseball commissioner, which he turned down
Shreveport, Louisiana
Track and football co-captain 1955
Little All-American in football 1955
Led the nation’s small college backs in ground-gaining 1955
Lettered in football in 1947 and 1948
Named Collier’s All-America in 1948
Achieved outstanding success in coaching and administration at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels
Served as head coach for the University of Cincinnati, Rice University, and the Cincinnati Bengals
Fort Mitchell, Kentucky
Four-year letterman in track
State records in high jump and pole vault
Member of the one-mile relay team which held the state record
Known as Centre’s “one-man track team”
Football co-captain 1950
Honorable Mention Little All-American in football 1948
All-KIAC in football in 1948 and in basketball in 1949
Omaha, Nebraska
Four-year Centre tennis champion
Won the coveted Miniature Gold Basketball Award
Nebraska State Tennis Champion 1920-27
Held the Midwest title in tennis
Dallas, Texas
Earned All-Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors while playing five positions
Lettered in baseball, basketball, and track
Served as football coach for the Haskell Indian Institute, Carroll College, Texas Christian University, Texas A&M University, and Southern Methodist University
Novato, California
Four-year letterman in basketball
Held the scoring record – 1660 points in 85 games – until 1987
Was All-KIAC four years