JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri -- A dominant national champion team, two of the finest basketball players to suit up for the Blue Tigers, one of the top quarterbacks in program history, a record-setting wide receiver and a long-time LU staff member comprise the 2018 six-member Lincoln Athletic Hall of Fame class, which will be enshrined in a special ceremony on Friday, Oct. 5.Joining the Lincoln Athletic Hall of Fame this year are the 2005 women's outdoor track & field team; basketball players Terrence Hamilton and Vince Humphrey; football player and athletic trainer Oliver P. Sellers; and football players Ron Stuart and Michael J. West. All six honorees will be inducted in a ceremony at the Scruggs University Center Ballroom on LU's campus on Friday, Oct. 5 at 5:30 p.m. CT. The class will also be recognized during Lincoln's Homecoming football game against Quincy on Saturday, Oct. 6 at 2:00 p.m. CT.
"The legacy that these inductees left behind at Lincoln University is remarkable," said John Moseley, Lincoln's Director of Athletics. "We look forward to celebrating their entrance into the Lincoln University Athletic Hall of Fame during our Homecoming festivities this fall."
The 2005 women's track & field team turned in one of the most dominating performances in the history of the NCAA Division II outdoor championships, becoming the first program ever to win a national title by scoring more than twice as many points as the next-closest competitor. Highlighted by four victories at the national meet, the Blue Tigers scored 108 points to win the championship over California State-Bakersfield, which finished as the runner-up after scoring 53 points. Lincoln was led by Shandria Brown, who won individual titles in both the 100m and the 200m, and teamed with Simmy George, Carla Thomas and Karen Robinson to win the the championship in the 4x100m relay. Kelly Marshall also was an individual winner, taking the crown in the 800m. Lincoln turned in 16 total All-American performances en route to winning its third-straight national title in outdoor track & field and the fourth national championship in Blue Tiger history.
A two-time all-conference and all-district honoree, Terrence Hamilton led the MIAA in rebounding in 1987-88. Hamilton earned All-MIAA second team honors that season before being named to the all-conference first team the following season, and was a National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District V second team selection both years. One of just nine Blue Tigers ever to tally at least 1,000 points and 500 rebounds, Hamilton is currently 13th in program history in points (1,229) and 10th all-time in rebounding (652). Hamilton was named a captain in two of his three seasons at Lincoln and earned four MIAA Player of the Week accolades while averaging 16.6 points for his career, including over 18 points per game his final two years.
Following his career at Lincoln, Hamilton enjoyed a stellar professional career in Australia, averaging 30.1 points per game for the Adelaide Buffalos and 26.7 points per game as a member of the West Sydney Steamers. Hamilton returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach for the men's basketball team from 1991-93, and served as the head coach of the women's basketball team from 1993-96. He later pursued a career as a high school coach, leading teams to two district championships, a pair of sectional championships and three trips to the state tournament, including leading Normandy High to a state runner-up finish in 2013.
Another phenomenal basketball player, Vince Humphrey is the only Blue Tiger ever to finish with over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds for his career. Lincoln's all-time leader in rebounding with 1,033, Humphrey scored 1,340 points to rank eighth in program history and led LU to 76 wins from 1972-76. Humphrey earned All-MIAA honorable mention accolades in 1974, was an all-league second team honoree in 1975 and made the all-conference first team in 1976 while additionally being named to the MIAA All-Tournament team that season.
The MIAA's single-season rebounding leader in 1975-76, Humphrey was also the first Blue Tiger ever to earn an all-district award, as he was named to the NABC All-District V second team that season. Humphrey, who led LU to the 1974-75 MIAA regular season championship, averaged a double-double for his playing career with 13.5 points and 10.4 rebounds, the latter of which is the fifth-best average in program history. Humphrey also ranks seventh among all Lincoln players with 610 career made field goals, and appeared in 99 games, tied for the fifth-most in program history.
A former football player and a long-time beloved member of the Lincoln University Athletic Department, Oliver P. Sellers followed legendary coach Dwight T. Reed from Louisville Municipal to Lincoln in 1949 and became a critical member of the Blue Tiger family. Sellers was the starting guard on the 1951 and 1952 football teams which compiled a combined record of 15-2-1, including the first-ever undefeated season in Lincoln history in 1952. In 1951, Sellers was named as an All-Midwestern Conference honorable mention. Following his playing career, Sellers served as the sole athletic trainer at Lincoln from 1959-1975, where he made an indelible impact on hundreds of LU student-athletes.
The quarterback and kicker for the Blue Tigers from 1966-69, Ron Stuart led Lincoln to a 23-12-1 record. Despite playing in an era when Lincoln ran the ball far more often than it passed, Stuart threw for 2,454 yards, which still ranks as the sixth-most in LU's career history. Stuart was the program's total offense leader in 1968 and 1969, compiling 930 yards and 920 yards, respectively, and was the Blue Tigers' leading scorer with 44 points in 1968. In 1970, Stuart became the first-ever recipient of the Jefferson City Jaycees Outstanding Athlete Award, and was a Dean's List student as well as an ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate. Stuart served with the United States Army for more than 24 years, retiring with the rank of colonel in 1995. In 1994, he was inducted into the Lincoln University ROTC Hall of Fame.
One of the top wide receivers in Lincoln history, Michael J. West signed a free agent contract with the Green Bay Packers following a stellar four-year career at LU from 1974-77. During that time, West caught 72 passes for 1,422 yards, with his yardage total ranking fourth all-time among Blue Tigers. In 1977, West was selected to the All-MIAA first team after tying the conference's single-season record with nine touchdowns. That season, he also tied the MIAA's single-game record with a three-touchdown performance against Southwest Missouri. In 1976, West was named an All-American honorable mention by the Associated Press, and his three-touchdown game remains a Lincoln record to this day.
The Lincoln Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 2008 and will now be comprised of 76 members. Inductees are nominated by their peers and voted upon by a select panel of Lincoln administrators and alumni. A minimum of five years must pass before any athlete, coach, team or administrator is eligible for the Hall of Fame. Athletes must have earned a minimum of two varsity letters at Lincoln while coaches and administrators must have been on the LU staff for a minimum of five years. Qualifications are based mainly upon the nominees' performance at Lincoln, although accomplishments post-graduation may also be considered.
Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY BLUE TIGERS ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
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