A hero, according to Webster’s Dictionary, is a man of extraordinary courage, one who performs great deeds. Dick Shea was a hero in every sense of the imagination. Portsmouth-born, Churchland High and Virginia Tech educated, and West Point trained, Dick…
A two-time All-American at Old Dominion University, Dave Twardzik’s teams made 6 play-off appearances during his 8 year professional basketball career. Twardzik played 4 years for the Virginia Squires of the American Basketball Association and 4 years for the Portland…
Gray Simons a native of Norfolk, Virginia had a brilliant-wrestling career that began at Granby High School. He wrestled for four straight years under Coach Billy Martin and became a state champion. He attended Lock Haven State University and had…
Charles "Dink" Vail of Norfolk, Virginia is the first sailing inductee voted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. Vail has been recognized as one of the outstanding sailors in the nation. He began his sailing career at the early…
Dr. Caroline B. Sinclair was head of women’s athletics and intramurals at Madison College. She was chairman of the physical education department at James Madison University, then Madison College, from 1950-66 and was a strong proponent of intercollegiate sports for…
As a player and coach, Gracie Lee VanDyck has been an incredible athlete and true pioneer in the rise of women’s athletics. She excelled on the playing field and then brought those same standards of excellence to coaching, making a…
Ida Simmons Slack is considered one of the greatest women duckpin bowlers of all time. On seven occasions, she was ranked No. 1 bowler in the nation, an honor based on comparison of all bowlers’ scores in sanctioned league play. …
Smith, a native of Norfolk, first drew national attention at Virginia Tech when he won the 1985 Outland Trophy, awarded to the outstanding collegiate defensive lineman of the year. He was a consensus All-American that season. Picked first in the…
Norman Snead was an outstanding football, baseball and basketball player while at Warwick High School. He grew up in the Marshall Courts section of Newport News, Virginia. At one time he struck out 16 batters in a baseball game, averaged…
Wynsol Spencer was born in Mays Lick, Kentucky, but at the age of 5 moved to Newport News. Spencer was a dominant amateur golfer, both on the peninsula as well as state-wide, winning five Virginia Amateur championships covering a span…