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William “Bill” Merner

William “Bill” Merner was born January 31, 1915 in Palmerville, North Carolina moving to Hopewell, VA at an early age and graduated from Hopewell High School in 1934.  He played football for the Blue Devils from 1931 to 1934.  Merner…

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Edwin Merrick

Ed Merrick, both as a player and coach, became a legend at the University of Richmond. He entered Richmond as a freshman in 1936 and started off playing football, basketball and baseball. He was named All-State in football in 1938-1939…

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Wallace Frank Messer

From the very beginning of the romance between microphone and Frank Messer, there was, appropriately enough, a Marine-like precision in the way his sonorous tones came over the airways.  The tall North Carolinian, who served the Marine Corps from 1942-1945,…

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Dr. Richard Humbert

Dr. Richard “Dick” Humbert was a four-sport letterman at the University of Richmond and winner of the National Football League Rookie of the Year Award in 1941 playing for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1941 to 1949.  The Suffolk native earned…

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Rick Hunley

Ricky Hunley was born and raised in Petersburg. He attended the University of Arizona, where he was a two-time All-American linebacker. In 1983, Hunley was also named the PAC 10 Player of the Year. His playing career at Arizona earned…

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Mary-Patton Janssen

From 1957 through 1962, Mary Patton Janssen was the state’s top female golfer.  Short-lived as her reign was, it remains without peer today.  A native Pennsylvanian, Janssen has resided in Charlottesville since she was 15 but didn’t begin playing golf…

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Henry Hucles

Henry Hucles was most recognized as the head coach of the Virginia Union University Basketball “Dream Team” of 1939-1943, which won four Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships, however his athletic accomplishments span over 30 years. Hucles attended Wayland Academy in…

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Granny Hamner

In his playing days with the Philadelphia Phillies, Granny Hamner was known as the “Whiz Kid.” Playing shortstop for the 1950 National League pennant winning Phillies, he hit .270 in 157 games with 11 homers and 82 runs batted in.…

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Whitney Hedgepeth

Whitney Hedgepeth, born and raised in Colonial Heights, VA, was an All-American swimmer at the University of Texas. She is a 27-time All-American and 3-time NCAA Champion. Hedgepeth is a seven time USA Swimming National Champion in seven different events.…

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John Hilton

John Hilton was a three-sport star at Hermitage High School, Richmond. Hilton attended Fork Union Military Academy, and then the University of Richmond, where he played football under Virginia Sports Hall of Fame inductee Ed Merrick and was selected to…

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