WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- The Winston-Salem State University Athletic Hall of Fame Committee has announced the 2015 inductees into the Clarence E. "Big House" Gaines Athletic Hall of Fame. Seven individuals and one team will take their place among the WSSU greats. The individual inductees and the team will be inducted in a ceremony on Friday, October 9th at the Benton Convention Center located in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C. and will be honored at halftime of the Winston-Salem State versus Johnson C. Smith football game on Saturday, October 10th at Bowman Gray Stadium."To an athlete, being enshrined into your university's athletic hall of fame is reaching the mountaintop. There is no higher honor," WSSU Director of Athletics, Tonia Walker said. "On behalf of the entire WSSU Department of Athletics, congratulations to all inductees for reaching this milestone."
"We enshrine these individuals amongst the elite past and present hall of famers as we move to enhance the vision and growth of our future student-athletes," said Winston-Salem State University Clarence E. "Big House" Gaines Athletic Hall of Fame Chair, Robert Weeks. "Let this greatness not be forgotten by our hall of famers, faculty, staff, students and friends of this great university. We must remember our financial commitment and physical support of the Winston-Salem State University Clarence E. "Big House" Gaines Athletic Hall of Fame."
2015 WSSU HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Mae Godette – Meritorious Service
Mae Godette is a lifetime member of the WSSU national Alumni Association and an athletics liaison to the NAA. She is a member of the WSSU Board of Visitors, WSSU Grassroots Volunteer, WSSU Amon Booster Club (1st President & Advisory Board Member), Team Captain for WSSU Athletic Department's – She's got It Covered, A Classy hat Affair, WSSU Heritage Society, Member of WSSU Athletics Horn$ Club, HOOPs, Inc for WSSU Athletics, WSSU Athletic Advisory Committee and NCAA DI Steering Committee. Godette is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She is currently a Supervisor for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services in Guilford County, NC.
Linwood Jerald – Meritorious Service
Linwood Jerald holds a position as a Winston-Lake Family YMCA Board Member and the National Football Foundation as a Board Member. He is also a member of the Winston-Salem Sportsmen Club, a member of the WSSU Football Game Day operations and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Jerald is currently the Director of Athletics at Parkland Magnet High School.
Bobby Garner – Football/Basketball
Bobby Garner was a member of the 1970 CIAA Championship Basketball team, as well as a member of the 1971 CIAA Football Championship team. Garner was named Outstanding Player of the Week once during the 1971 season. He was named to the All-Tournament team (Basketball) in 1972. Garner was a 17th round pick of the New Orleans Saints in the 1973 NFL Draft. He was also named one of the Outstanding College Athletes of America in 1973 for his football acumen.
Melvin Fair – Coach
Melvin Fair was a four-time CIAA Coach of the Year (1987-1990) and coached the WSSU Rams to three consecutive CIAA Wrestling Championships (1988-90). His Rams teams are a two-time Mid-South Wrestling Association Team Champions (1989-90).Had three individual NCAA Division II All-Americans, and one guided his team to a national ranking of 15th in the nation. Fair is a member of the NC Teachers Retirement Association, High Point YMCA, High Education Committee of Holmes Grove United Methodist Church, and is a member of the Holmes Grove United Methodist Church, as well as being a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
Pete Richardson – Coach
Pete Richardson was the head coach of the WSSU Rams from 1988 through 1992. During that time his Rams team amassed a record of 41 wins, 14 losses and one tie. They won three CIAA Championships (1988, 1990, 1991). He went on to coach 17 years at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., where he won five Southwestern Athletic Conference titles, including a three-peat from 1997-99 (the school's first consecutive SWAC titles since 1959-60), four black college national titles (1993, 1995, 1997 and 2003) and four Heritage Bowl titles. Richardson was 12-5 in the Bayou Classic and is the only SWAC coach never to have lost to the legendary Eddie Robinson. His winning percentage of 68.4 percent in 17 seasons (134-62) at the school is second in Southern history. Richardson was a seventh-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills in 1968, and he played defensive back from 1969-71. He had eight interceptions and five fumble recoveries in 39 career games. He was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. Richardson is currently retired from coaching and he and his wife Lillian, reside in Baton Rouge, La.
Freager Richard Sanders, Jr – Football/Boxing
Freager Richard Sanders, Jr was a four year letterman on the WSSU football team from 1946-50. He was also a four year letterman on the boxing team, and earned All-CIAA honors in both sports. From 1946 to 1950 Sanders was also a member of the University choir, before going on to become a member of the US States Army Boxing Team from 1950-52. Sanders was a former educator, before his passing.
Valonda Bruinton Calloway – Cheerleading
Valanda Calloway was a four year letter-winner and varsity cheerleader for the WSSU Rams from 1990-94. She is a member of a number of public service organizations, including the Raleigh Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the Wake County Chapter of the Winston-Salem State University Alumni Association. Whether mentoring middle school girls, serving as a volunteer cheerleading coach or participating in fundraisers, Valonda embraces the verse, "To whom much is given, much is required." In 2013 Valonda was inducted into the first class of Winston-Salem State University's 40 under 40 club in recognition of her public service and career milestones. A dancer and cheerleader since her early years, Valonda went on to cheer professionally for the Washington Redskins. She loves fashion and in 2013 Carolina Style Magazine named Valonda one of the 25 Most Stylish People In The Triangle. She is currently the host of My Carolina Today on WNCN, the NBC affiliate in Raleigh, a dance teacher at North Carolina Dance Institute and Emcee and Day-Of Wedding Coordinator for 360 Elite Entertainment.
1984-86 WSSU Softball Team
The 1984-86 Winston-Salem State University Softball team was one for the ages. Nicknamed the "Red Machine", the1984 team won the 1st CIAA championship in WSSU School history, and then went on to win three consecutive CIAA Titles. These teams accomplished the first three-peat in WSSU women's sports and also won the CIAA's inaugural fast pitch championship. The team, coached by Tim Grant, had a combined record of 70-18 while also having four consecutive Conference Player of the Year Awards.
COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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