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Truly one of the greatest athletes in Virginia history, Cy Young, a native of Charleston, West Virginia, attended three colleges,…Read More

Clarence “Ace” Parker was truly one of the gridiron greats of all time.  He played offense and defense when specialists…Read More

Robert Woods Spessard was born in Roanoke, Virginia on December 11, 1915. He attended Jefferson High School where he starred…Read More

Joseph C. Palumbo ranks beside Bullet Bill Dudley when naming the all time greats at the University of Virginia.  He…Read More

Bob Aston is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of TowneBank, a bank he co-founded in 1998 with…Read More

Dr. Frank C. McCue III was a doctor and medical assistant for the University of Virginia athletic program from 1961…Read More

Born in Henrico County in 1940, Alley is a native Virginian. He attended Hermitage High School and developed into an…Read More

Marvin Bass is a native of Petersburg, Virginia and was a member of William & Mary’s winningest football team in…Read More

In the world of track, the name Pete Bennett is synonymous with excellence. Bennett distinguished himself as both an athlete…Read More

A true sportsman in every sense, Chuck Boone made a name for himself as a player, coach, and administrator throughout…Read More

Bill Brill was born in Philadelphia, but moved with his family to Middlesex County, Virginia. The Duke University graduate began…Read More

Larry Brooks is a native of Prince George, Virginia and attended Prince George High School.  In 1967, he was selected…Read More

Roosevelt Brown, Jr. is a native of Charlottesville, Virginia and at the age of 13, “Rosey” was drafted out of…Read More

Herbert Bryant was born in Alexandria, Virginia and lettered in four sports at Episcopal High School, graduating in 1928. He…Read More

Harold “Hal” Burrows, Jr. is one of the most revered members of the tennis community of Virginia. It began when…Read More

Over 45-seasons with the Minnesota Twins, Herb Carneal had one of the longest uninterrupted service times of any American League…Read More

Al Casey, born in Portsmouth, Virginia, was confined to a wheel chair and unable to speak clearly when he learned…Read More

“Red” Caughron was born in Sevierville, Tennessee, and came to the College of William & Mary to play football. He…Read More

Joseph C. “Scrap” Chandler was a native of Guinea in Caroline County and later resided in Norfolk, Virginia.  He was…Read More

Lynn Chewning was born in Columbia, South Carolina on February 28, 1926 and moved to Richmond, VA in 1931.  He…Read More

Jack Cloud is a native of Norfolk, Virginia where he starred in football at Maury High School.  He entered the…Read More

Bill Cochran, a lifetime resident of Roanoke, is this year’s media inductee.  Cochran began writing about the outdoors while at…Read More

If any man has ever truly been a living legend it is Julius Conn, Virginia’s premier track and basketball coach…Read More

High school sports in Northern Virginia and Eddie Crane were synonymous over a 30-year period from 1950 until 1980. Crane…Read More

Fanny Crenshaw was born in Richmond, Virginia and is a graduate of Bryn Mawr and Columbia University, where she received…Read More

Ralph Cummins arrived at Clintwood High School as an assistant football coach and girl’s basketball coach in the fall of…Read More

Carroll Wayne Dale attended Virginia Tech from 1956 to 1959 and has been called as one of the finest ever…Read More

Bobby Dandridge is a native of Richmond, Virginia and attended Maggie Walker High School from 1962 to 1965.  He also…Read More

Melvin “Meb” Davis attended Maury High School in Norfolk, Virginia. After graduation he played with a strong Norfolk Collegiate football…Read More

Roland Day was born in Columbus, Georgia on January 12, 1900. He was an honored institution long before his 28…Read More

Steve DeLong is a native of Chesapeake, Virginia who attended Oscar Smith High School.  He played football for the Tigers…Read More

Tom Dolan, originally from Arlington, began his swimming career at age five. Despite struggling with exercise-induced asthma, Dolan aggressively pursued…Read More

While standing 6 foot 8 inches tall, Anne Donovan dominated the basketball court while Old Dominion University dominated college teams…Read More

Otis Douglas, a graduate of William and Mary who had no previous football experience at the time he enrolled, developed…Read More

James Driver was a native of Harrisonburg.  He won letters in four sports at William and Mary and at the…Read More

There has been only one football player in the history of the sport to win Most Valuable Player honors in…Read More

A scholar in English and Latin at the University of the South, Chauncey Durden was a sports editor of the…Read More

Suey Eason was born on April 19, 1907 in South Norfolk, Virginia and enjoyed a successful sports career at South…Read More

A native of Newport News, Virginia, Faison attended Huntington High School where he starred in football, basketball and track.  He…Read More

William Beattie Feathers is considered a legend at the University of Tennessee, where he was named All-American in football. He…Read More

Dr. Harrison Fitzgerald Flippin was born October 26, 1906.  He attended the Episcopal High School in Alexandria, where he was…Read More

William Fuller retired as one of the top 20 all-time sack leaders with four Pro-Bowl selections, and it’s no wonder the NFL…Read More

Vinny Giles, a native of Lynchburg, has placed his name with the elite by winning the amateur championships of America…Read More

Walker Gillette was born in Norfolk, Virginia and attended Southampton High School.  He went on to become a football All-American…Read More

William “Pappy” Gooch was a native of Roanoke, Virginia, where he was born in 1895.  Gooch played four sports at…Read More

Archie Hahn came to Virginia as Head Track Coach in 1929. He succeeded the legendary “Pop” Lannigan. Hahn was also…Read More

In his playing days with the Philadelphia Phillies, Granny Hamner was known as the “Whiz Kid.” Playing shortstop for the…Read More

Frank Havens, an Arlington native and a graduate of Washington & Lee High School, played on his high school football…Read More

Yogi Hightower Boothe attended Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach where she emerged as a multi-sport star excelling in basketball…Read More

Robert Lee ”Bob” Holland, of Virginia Beach, is the only surfer to win the coveted United States Surfing Championships on…Read More

H. Lester Hooker, a native of Stuart, at that time was the standout captain twice at Richmond’s Thomas Jefferson High…Read More

Rondé Barber, a native of Roanoke, VA, graduated from Cave Spring High School in 1993 before heading to the University…Read More

George S. Hughes is a former William & Mary and National Football League star lineman.  When notified he had been…Read More

Ricky Hunley was born and raised in Petersburg. He attended the University of Arizona, where he was a two-time All-American…Read More

A native of Norfolk, Calvin Jacox served for 25 years as a columnist and later sports editor for the Journal…Read More

Betty Jaynes, a native of Covington, Georgia, came to Madison College (now James Madison University) in 1968 as an assistant…Read More

Art Jones was an all-around athlete at Suffolk High School, lettering for three years in football, track, and tennis and…Read More

Henry Jordan began his outstanding athletic career at Warwick High School. He lettered in three sports, football, track, and wrestling.…Read More

A native of Newport News “Bucky Keller” was a star basketball player at Newport News High School, leading the Typhoons…Read More

Junius Kellogg made his way into the national limelight in 1951 when he exposed a national basketball gambling scandal.  This…Read More

Leroy Keyes was a graduate of Carver High School in Newport News where he was a three-sport star in football,…Read More

Considered one of the finest athletes in the history of William and Mary, Glenn Knox was one of the most…Read More

Willie Edward Lanier was born August 21, 1945, in Clover, Virginia.  He graduated from Maggie Walker High School in 1963…Read More

Frank D. Lawrence, born in Portsmouth, Virginia on March 15, 1891, was a guiding force in professional baseball for half…Read More

Described as a sportswriter with legendary concern for objectivity, integrity, sportsmanship, and the feelings of the people about whom he…Read More

A lanky country boy from Covington, Virginia turned his ability to hit a baseball a country mile into a more…Read More

William H. Lewis was born in Norfolk in 1868.  He first played football as a center at Amherst College where…Read More

Nancy Lieberman is one of the most accomplished and recognized individuals in the history of women’s basketball. The New York…Read More

Henry “Monk” Little, a William & Mary track legend from Norfolk, Virginia is probably the greatest all-around track man Virginia…Read More

Frank Loria, Virginia Tech’s first consensus football All-American gained this honor in 1965 and 1966 as a safety man.  He,…Read More

Thad Madden was born in Culpepper County, Virginia in 1916, where he participated in track because his high school did…Read More

Thompson Mann was born in Hickory, Virginia in 1943. He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame at…Read More

John A. Mapp born in Portsmouth, Virginia but raised in Norfolk gained prominence in track at Granby High School.   He…Read More

Born in Richmond, Virginia in 1921, Marshall began his athletic career playing baseball for Manchester High School and with the…Read More

Billy Martin, Sr. was a native of South Creek in Beaufort, North Carolina. Martin led Granby High School to 21…Read More

Penelope Anderson McBride’s love affair with the game of tennis began at the age of eight. She started hitting a…Read More

McCullough began his baseball career as an infielder with his hometown Nashville American Legion Team at the age of 17. …Read More

Our next inductee was born and raised in Lawrence, Massachusetts. He went on to Villanova University, where he was a…Read More

Born, raised and educated in Roanoke, Virginia, Bob McLelland worked for the Roanoke Times & World News from 1949 to…Read More

Paul Mellon was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attended the Universities of Yale, Oxford, and Cambridge, where he received many…Read More

Ed Merrick, both as a player and coach, became a legend at the University of Richmond. He entered Richmond as…Read More

Though born in St. Louis, Missouri, Metheny’s entire career centers around the Old Dominion.  Metheny starred in baseball at the…Read More

Clarence P. Miles, a native of Hanover County and a graduate of Richmond High School, now John Marshall High School,…Read More

Bob “The Emory Express” Miller was originally from Portage, Pennsylvania, and in 1948 took his talents to play running back…Read More

A native of Francisco, North Carolina, Moir attended Appalachian State University where he was a star in basketball and baseball. …Read More

A commitment to quality and equality in women’s athletics has been the focal point for Dr. Lonnie Leotus “Lee” Morrison…Read More

Bob Moskowitz has come a long way from his hometown of New York City to become a seasoned veteran in…Read More

Alonzo Mourning was born in Chesapeake, VA and graduated from Indian River High School. As a senior, he was named…Read More

Al Nemetz was born in Prince George, Virginia in 1922.  He played football for Hopewell High School and upon his…Read More

Johnny Oates is an exemplar of a true dedicated baseball man.  A player, coach, and manager in Major League Baseball…Read More

Frank Peake was a star at Hampton High School before going to Blacksburg where he was a standout in Virginia…Read More

Charles “Bolo” Perdue was born May 10, 1916 in Thomasville, North Carolina. He graduated from Duke University with a B.S.…Read More

Malcolm “Mac” Pitt, served as the University of Richmond’s Baseball Coach for 36 years and its Athletic Director for 25…Read More

Porterfield, a native of Newport in Giles County, was signed off the Radford semipro team by New York Yankee scout…Read More

In four years at Virginia Tech, George Preas helped turn the Hokies from a winless football team into an undefeated…Read More

Dick Price, a Norfolk native, graduated from Hampton Institute (now University) in 1957 and became been a coaching and administrative…Read More

George S. “Gummy” Proctor was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on September 30, 1907. At the early age of 15, he…Read More

Buster Ramsey played high school football for Knoxville High School in Tennessee where he was named to the All-Southern and…Read More

Vic Raschi, one of baseball’s all-time great pitchers with the New York Yankees, was born in Springfield, Massachusetts.  He is…Read More

Paul Rice of Roanoke, Virginia graduated from Roanoke College in 1939 where he played basketball and was a member of…Read More

Although plagued by injuries throughout his career, Roach compiled an impressive record of athletic accomplishments spanning high school, college and…Read More

Glenn Roberts revolutionized the game of basketball at Emory & Henry College during the 1930’s.  He is credited as the…Read More

Bob Rowland won as many speed boat races as any person of his era, but was well known for his…Read More

Warren Rutledge graduated from the College of William & Mary where he was an All-State baseball pitcher.  He eventually served…Read More

Sanford graduated from the University of Richmond in 1929, having earned letters in football, basketball, baseball and track—thirteen in all. …Read More

Antonio Freeman, native of Baltimore, MD, attended Baltimore Polytechnic High School, named the Baltimore Sun’s offensive player of the year…Read More

Thomas C. “Tommy” Scott Jr. is considered one of the University of Virginia’s all time greats in football.  He played…Read More

Wendell Scott of Danville, Virginia was the first black man to compete in the all-white sport of stock car racing…Read More

The sport of soccer began in Virginia under the direction of legendary Hall of Fame Coach Bill Shellenberger in 1954…Read More

Paul Shu was a star athlete at George Washington High School in Alexandria, Virginia before attending Virginia Military Institute. Shu…Read More

Dr. Caroline B. Sinclair was head of women’s athletics and intramurals at Madison College.   She was chairman of the physical…Read More

Alphonso Smith won the Boys National Singles and Doubles Tennis Titles in 1924, accomplishing the feat without losing a single…Read More

Smith, a native of Norfolk, first drew national attention at Virginia Tech when he won the 1985 Outland Trophy, awarded…Read More

J.C. Snead, nephew of the legendary Sam Snead, made his commendable mark in professional golf after giving up a promising…Read More

Although Frank Soden is not a native of Virginia, during his career he became the most versatile and recognizable voice…Read More

Wynsol Spencer was born in Mays Lick, Kentucky, but at the age of 5 moved to Newport News. Spencer was…Read More

Dawn Staley of Philadelphia came to the University of Virginia women’s basketball program in 1989. That year, she won the…Read More

Dwight Stephenson is a native of North Carolina, but resided in Hampton, Virginia where he graduated from Hampton High School. …Read More

Before his long career on the diamond in Major League Baseball, Chuck Stobbs became a legend at Norfolk’s Granby High…Read More

Tom Strange got his start in golfing as a caddy in his native city of Cincinnati.  An accomplished amateur in…Read More

In his hometown of Dublin, Virginia, our final inductee was a high school football star. He attended the College of…Read More

Bob Thalman has already distinguished himself as an outstanding figure in Virginia sports history. A 47-year sports veteran as a…Read More

William Talley Thomas was born in Richmond, Virginia on May 15, 1909 where he attended McGuire Prep School, winning All-City…Read More

From the time of his playing days at Randolph-Macon College, where he earned All-State honors, Syd Thrift was always thinking about ways “to do things better.”  After an injury abruptly ended Thrift’s short professional career as a southpaw pitcher and first baseman, it was his visionary innovations to the game that would make him a legend.

Throughout his career, Thrift has worked with the Oakland Athletics as Director of Player Personnel, the New York Yankees as Senior Vice-President of Baseball Operations, the Chicago Cubs as Assistant General Manager, and the Baltimore Orioles in various positions.  He is probably best known for his success as General Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In Pittsburgh, Thrift performed one of the great franchise-rebuilding jobs in major league baseball, bringing the team from dead last in 1985, to a pennant contender in just three seasons.  In 1988, the Pirates finished second behind the New York Mets and set an all-time Pittsburgh attendance record.  In that same year, he was honored with two prestigious awards, becoming the first non-player to receive the Dapper Dan “Man of the Year” award.  Then, Thrift was chosen Baseball’s General Manager of the Year” for his role in the success of the Pirates.

Due to the vision of Ewing Kauffman, owner of the Kansas City Royals, a baseball academy was created where Thrift served as founding director of the recruiting and training operation.  Much of his success was due to Thrift’s uncanny skill at evaluating and signing talent as well as his unorthodox methods of training players.  Thrift and the Kansas City Academy staff discovered the now famous time-measured lead, and applied the aerodynamics of a baseball in flight to pitching and hitting.  He used special equipment to train players for improved depth perception, and customized nutritional and conditioning programs for players both during the season and in the off-season, which enabled them to improve their performance level.  The theories and techniques once considered off-the-wall by Thrift’s contemporaries are now standard practice throughout baseball at all levels, from amateur to professional.

In 1999, Orioles’ ownership designated him to direct the selection and training process of baseball players in Greece for the Olympics to be held in Athens in 2004.  As the host country, Greece is required to field a team.  Currently, there is no baseball program in Greece and Syd will be instrumental in the planning and formation of a team and a baseball facility in time for the Olympics.

John Todd was a four-sport star at the College of William and Mary from 1921 to 1925. He served as…Read More

A two-time All-American at Old Dominion University, Dave Twardzik’s teams made 6 play-off appearances during his 8 year professional basketball…Read More

Robbye King Unger was an outstanding amateur golfer in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic circles.  For ten years she dominated women’s…Read More

As a player and coach, Gracie Lee VanDyck has been an incredible athlete and true pioneer in the rise of…Read More

Jesse “Sonny” Wade was born on April 1, 1947 in Martinsville, Virginia where he attended Martinsville High School. After graduation,…Read More

Joe Herbert Weatherly attended Norview Elementary, James Madison, and Maury High School in Norfolk and at the age of fifteen…Read More

George Welsh, born in Coaldale, Pennsylvania, graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in 1956, where he was an All-American…Read More

Originally from Petersburg, Virginia, Mark West first made his name in sports while at Old Dominion University. There he was…Read More

Buzzy Wilkinson set the All-Time Season record for scoring in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the University of Virginia for…Read More

Charles Holston Williams is credited with being one of the original founders of the present Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).…Read More

A legend in his home state of North Carolina, Wilson lived in Virginia more than 60 years. He received his…Read More

In 1947 Lew Worsham became the First Virginian to ever win the U.S. Open Golf Tournament. Having begun his career…Read More

Jeff Rouse, born in Petersburg, VA, started swimming at the age of 5 and set national age group records at…Read More

Dr. Jim Jarrett joined the Old Dominion University staff in 1967 as Associate Professor of Health and Physical Education and…Read More

Johnny Newman, born in Danville, VA and a 1986 graduate of the University of Richmond, led the Spiders in scoring…Read More

Eugene “Pappy” Thompson, attended Virginia High School in Bristol, VA and started at Emory & Henry College in 1925 but…Read More

Ray Hendrick, native of Richmond, VA, was known as “Mr. Modified” during his 36-year career in motorsports. He passed away…Read More

Al Pearce, native of Rocky Mount, NC, graduated from Presbyterian College in 1965 and taught high school in Jacksonville, FL…Read More

Billy Wagner, native of Tannersville, VA, played baseball for Ferrum College from 1991-93. He earned All-Conference, All-Region and All-America first-team…Read More

Cornell Brown, a native of Lynchburg, VA and graduate of Virginia Tech, is considered by many to be the first…Read More

Dean Ehlers was the first director of athletics for James Madison University, a position he held for 22 years. When…Read More

Bill Roth, a native of Pittsburgh, PA is most famous for the refrain, “From the blue waters of the Chesapeake…Read More

Fletcher Arritt was born into a family that was serious about athletics, academics, and their Christian faith, learning the value…Read More

Sean Casey is a graduate of the University of Richmond, where he was a three-time All-CAA selection and captured the…Read More

Ticha Penicheiro was a standout women’s basketball player at Old Dominion University from 1994-1998 and led the Lady Monarchs to…Read More

David Teel graduated from James Madison University in 1981 with a degree in communications before becoming one of the most…Read More

Cherie Greer Brown is a former Virginia women’s lacrosse All-American. A three-time first-team All-American for the Cavaliers, Greer was the…Read More

Paul Hatcher, a native of Bassett, Virginia, attended Bridgewater College before becoming the winningest basketball coach in Virginia High School…Read More

For more than three decades, Mike Stevens has been working to put Virginia’s athletes and the sports they play in…Read More

Rich Murray, a 1971 graduate of Washington and Lee University, served in the sports information industry for nearly 40 years…Read More

Dave Rosenfield served as General Manager of the Tidewater and Norfolk Tides for 48 years, having started the job in…Read More

Charlie Stukes, a native of Chesapeake, Virginia, was one of the greatest athletes ever at Crestwood High School, starring in…Read More

Beth Anders started her coaching career at Old Dominion University in 1980 after being a member of the 1980 and…Read More

C.J. Woollum, a native of Alexandria, was a powerful figure who built a legacy at Christopher Newport University that could…Read More

Jack Bogaczyk spent 28 years in the sports media business in Roanoke, nearly 27 of those in the newspaper business,…Read More

Claudio Reyna was born in Livingston, New Jersey, where he learned the game of soccer from his father. Reyna graduated…Read More

Frank Beamer, a Hillsville, Virginia native, graduated from Virginia Tech in 1969, where he was a three year starting cornerback…Read More

A basketball legend in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, Megan Silva Schultz was a four-year starter at Randolph-Macon College after…Read More

During his time at Powell Valley High School, Thomas Jones, a Big Stone Gap Native, rushed for 7,793 yards, and…Read More

Doug Doughty is a 1974 graduate from the University of Virginia, and upon graduation joined the Roanoke Times as the…Read More

A native of South Boston, Virginia Jeff Burton has never served as mayor of his hometown; however that did not…Read More

Mark Lenzi grew up in Fredericksburg, Virginia attending Stafford High School. Inspired by Greg Louganis’ performance at the 1984 Summer…Read More

Virginia Beach native, William “Buster” O’Brien, starred as a quarterback for Princess Anne High School in the 1960’s, and his…Read More

Tom Yeager served as the only commissioner in Colonial Athletic Association history from the conference’s inception in 1985 through his…Read More

A native of Danville, Virginia, Dennis Carter’s broadcasting career began back home when he took a job working for WBTM/WAKG…Read More

Lawrence Johnson began his track and field excellence in Chesapeake, VA at Great Bridge High School. Originally a hurdler, Johnson…Read More

Tracy Saunders success on the basketball court at John F. Kennedy High School in Suffolk, Virginia, led to a scholarship…Read More

In 14 seasons of Major League Baseball, Chesapeake native David Wright carved out a career that was one of the…Read More

From Oakton High School, in Fairfax County, Jon Lugbill is widely considered to be one of the greatest canoe slalom…Read More

Growing up in metropolitan D.C., Chris Warren began a stellar football career in Fairfax, VA for the Robinson Rams. After…Read More

Sheila Trice-Myers out of Louisa County High School in Mineral, Virginia is one of the most decorated athletes in NCAA…Read More

Jerry Ratcliffe has been a media fixture covering sports in Central Virginia for almost half a century and has established…Read More

From Lynchburg, VA, Joe Montgomery was a standout center along the offensive and defensive lines for Brookville High School before…Read More

Originally from Hamilton, VA in Loudoun County, Jimmye Laycock attended Loudoun Valley High school where he earned 12 varsity letters.…Read More

From Woodbridge, VA, Monica Wright Rogers, put a stamp on her legacy at an early age. While attending Forest Park…Read More

From Roanoke, VA, Dave Smith attended Virginia Tech and began his career in athletics as Ferrum College’s first Sports Information…Read More

Lashawn Merritt is not just a sprinting legend but a symbol of dedication and excellence in the world of track…Read More

A native of LaMott, PA, Craig Littlepage began his sports journey at Cheltenham High School, outside of Philadelphia. Later he…Read More

From Fairfax, VA, Jill Ellis showed her love for soccer at an early age back in her native country, England.…Read More