2014 SIAC Centennial Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

If you missed the event, here is an opportunity to view the video of the induction gala.

The SIAC Hall of Fame Centennial Class

In conjunction with the one hundredth anniversary of our conference, and on
behalf of the SIAC Council of Presidents, we were pleased and honored to
induct this Hall of Fame Class which features some of our most renown
former student-athletes who have distinguished themselves both on and off
their respective fields and courts of play.

Shannon Sharpe (Savannah State) and Deacon Jones (South Carolina State), a
pair of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees, along with Major League
Baseball Hall of Famer Andre "The Hawk" Dawson (Florida A&M), and former
Temple University head basketball coach John Cheney, headlined the class of
inductees that was introduced as the SIAC's Centennial Hall of Fame
Class.

The centennial gala was held in the Magic City on March 5, 2014, Birmingham, Alabama.

The inductees were selected by the SIAC Hall of Fame Selection Committee, a
body of athletic administrators representing former and current member
institutions. They are:

Betty Austin, Alabama (A&M): Austin won 11 consecutive SIAC Volleyball

Championships, while posting a 456-177 record as the top SIAC volleyball

coach during her era. Overall, she has compiled a career record of over 600

wins, which made her the 12th coach in all of NCAA history to achieve such

mark. During her career Austin was named Coach of the Year 17 times, while

competing in the SIAC and SWAC.

Hampton "Hamp" Smith (Albany State): In 23 seasons under the helm, Smith

brought the Golden Rams football program into the national spotlight. A

five-time SIAC Coach of the Year, Smith led Albany State to nine SIAC

Football Championships. Smith won SIAC Coach of the Year awards in 1984,

1986, 1994 and 1996, and was named Coach of the Year by the Pigskin club of

Washington, D.C., in addition to the 100% Wrong Club of Washington, D.C.

John Cheney (Bethune-Cookman): John Chaney's legendary college
basketball career started in the SIAC as a standout for Bethune-Cookman
College. Chaney played for the Wildcats from 1951-55, leading the team
to the 1953 SIAC championship and berths in the NAIA national
tournament in 1953 and 1955. His career-high 57 point game against
Knoxville is recorded, but most of his individual records have been lost.
It's believed he scored over 3,000 points and is recognized on the
school's all-time scoring list. After coaching on the high school level,
he received his first college position was at Cheyney State, where he
compiled a 232-56 record, combined with leading the program

to the 1978 Division II National Championship. After a decade at Cheyney,

Chaney moved on to Division I Temple. He took Temple to the NCAA
tournament 17 times, reaching the Elite Eight five times, before retiring in
2006 after 24 years at the former Big East Conference school.

Lonnie Bartley (Fort Valley State): As the head women's basketball coach,

Bartley took the Lady Wildcats basketball program to new heights. In his 28

seasons as head coach, Barley led FVSU to 11 SIAC Championships, which

included a conference record 28 wins in one season. With over 600 wins on

his resume, Bartley is the all-time winning women's basketball head coach in

black college history.

Greg Lloyd (Fort Valley State): A standout at Fort Valley State from

1983-86, Lloyd was a three-time All-SIAC selection and was also named SIAC

Player of the Year in 1986. Lloyd was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in

the sixth round of the 1987 draft, and played 10 seasons with the storied

franchise. During his career, Lloyd was named AFC Player of the Year in

1994, while earning numerous Pro-Bowl selections from 1992-1996.

Tyrone Poole (Fort Valley State): As a member of the Wildcats football team,

Poole was an All-SIAC First Team selection during his junior season and

senior seasons in 1993 and 1994. In addition, he was named SIAC Defensive

Player of the Year in 1994, and was named All-American by the Associated

Press and the American Football Coaches Association. A first round draft

pick of the Carolina Panthers, Poole started 12 out of the 14 seasons he

played in the NFL. The Division II football Hall of Fame member also is a

two-time Super Bowl champion as a member of the New England Patriots.

Andre Dawson (Florida A&M): Known as the "Hawk," for his outstanding
defensein the outfield, Dawson, was a three-time All-SIAC baseball player at

Florida A&M University. He finished his 21-year big league career with a

.279 average, 438 home runs, 1,591 runs batted in and 314 stolen bases.

Dawson was the National League Rookie of the Year with the Montreal Expos in

1977 and the NL Most Valuable Player in 1987 with the Chicago Cubs. The

eight-time All-Star finished his career with 438 home runs and 314 stolen

bases, becoming the second player (after Willie Mays) to join the 400 HR/300

SB club.

Clemon Johnson (Florida A&M): Johnson was a All-SIAC and All-American

selection as a senior and finished his career as the all-time leading rebounder,
as well as one of the top scorers in the school's basketball history. Clemons
played 10 seasons in the NBA and won a NBA championship as a member of
the Philadelphia 76ers in 1983. Today, he serves as the head basketball coach
at his alma mater.

Willie Galimore (Florida A&M): One of the greatest running backs of his

time, Galimore was a four-time All-SIAC selection and three-time Pittsburgh

Courier All-American. He also led Florida A&M to four SIAC Football

Championships and one Black College National Championship. Galimore
played six seasons with the Chicago Bears until he died tragically in an auto

accident in 1964.Galimore is also a member of the College Football Hall of

Fame.

William Nicks (Morris Brown): Nicks coached football at Morris Brown
College for a total of 11 years and compiled a record of 66-22-13. He led his
1941team to a perfect season, where they were also named Black College
National Champions. Nicks is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Donn Clendenon (Morehouse): A 12-time letterman in football, basketball, and

baseball at Morehouse, Clendenon is known for his stellar performance in the

1969 World Series as he was named MVP, while leading the New York Mets to
a victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Clendenon had a 12 year career in the

Major League with the Montreal Expos, New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals,

and Pittsburg Pirates.

Harold Ellis (Morehouse): An outstanding NCAA Division II player who led the

Maroon Tigers in scoring in each of his four seasons (1988-92), Ellis became

only the fifth player from a historically black college or university (HBCU)

to have his uniform number retired (#30). Morehouse had a 90-30 record

during his four years as a player there. He also led Morehouse College to

the Division II Final Four in 1991, becoming the first team from the SIAC to

advance the Final Four. Ellis played four seasons in the NBA with the LA

Clippers and Denver Nuggets. He is currently the director of Pro Scouting

for the Orlando Magic.

Shannon Sharpe (Savannah State): A former SIAC Offensive Player of the
Year at Savannah State University, Sharpe became the premier tight end in the

National Football League as a member of the Denver Broncos. A three-time

Super Bowl champion, Sharpe was an eight-time Pro-Bowl selection and named

to the All-Pro team four times in his 14 year career. At the time of his

retirement, Sharpe was the all-time leader in catches, yards, and touchdowns

by a tight end. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

David "Deacon" Jones (South Carolina State): Jones, was an All-SIAC

performer as a defensive end for South Carolina State in 1958. After

transferring to Mississippi Vocational School (Mississippi Valley State),

Jones was drafted in the 14th Round of the NFL draft by the Los Angeles

Rams. From there Jones emerged into the most fierce pass rusher in the NFL.

Jones won unanimous all-league honors six straight years from 1965 through

1970. He also played in seven straight Pro Bowls, 1965-1971, and was

selected to an eighth in 1973. In both 1967 and 1968, he was chosen the top

defensive player in the NFL by one major news service. He was inducted into

the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

Samuel "Herc" Goodwin (South Carolina State): Goodwin was one of the top

athletes in the 1960's, as a linebacker and defensive lineman for South

Carolina State University. Goodwin was a three-time All-SIAC selection, as

well as being named to the Pittsburgh Courier All-American team in 1964.SC

State compiled a 22-14 record during his playing days, including an 8-2

(1963) and 7-2 (1964). In addition, he was inducted into the SC State

University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998, and also to the SC State

Centennial (1907-2007) Football Team.

COURTESY THE SIAC.COM