University Sports Hall of Fame HOMeCOMING 2011 November 4, 2011 Carl Grant Events Center 6:00 p.m.
SIXTH annual Sports Hall of Fame HOMeCOMING 2011 November 4, 2011 Carl Grant Events Center 6:00 p.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks...David S. Dockery President Invocation...Mark Campbell Women s Basketball Head Coach Master of Ceremonies... Steve Beverly Associate Professor of Communication Arts Special Recognitions... Steve Beverly Class of 1962 50-Year Reunion Class Recognition of Alumni Awards Recipients Sports Hall of Fame Honorees: Stan Little, 65 Union University Baseball and Basketball Charlotte Hart Beard, 88 Union University Basketball Rod Hari, 85 Union University Baseball Glen Yancey, 49 Union University Football, Basketball, and Tennis Sam Kern, 96 Union University Golf Closing Remarks...David S. Dockery Benediction... David Niven Men s Basketball Head Coach
sports hall of fame Stan Little, 65 Baseball and Basketball R obert Stanley (Stan) Little was born and raised in Sardis, Tenn. He graduated from Sardis High School where he was an outstanding basketball and football player. In basketball, he scored 20 or more points in 35 of his 37 career games. He was selected as an Honorable Mention on the All-State Basketball team. Upon graduation from Sardis High School, he attended Freed-Hardeman College, where he received his A.A. degree. While at Freed-Hardeman, he was a two-year starter on both the basketball and baseball teams. In 1963 he was named captain and Most Valuable Player and was also named FHC Most Athletic. Little then came to Union, where he played baseball and basketball for two seasons. He was named All-Volunteer State Athletic Conference outfielder and helped the Union baseball team to a 25-0 regular season record in 1965. Little led the team in home runs with 11 that season, third-best in the NCAA; he also set a school record at the time for RBI with 41, which was the second-best total in the NCAA that season. He finished the 1965 season with a.383 batting average. Little signed with the San Francisco Giants and played two seasons of professional baseball. At the age of 23, he was named the Head Basketball Coach at Humboldt High School and led his team to a 25-6 record and a trip to the state tournament that first year. His 1975-76 team won the Tennessee AA state championship with a record of 35-2. In 10 years coaching basketball at Humboldt High, Little s record was 225-78. He was named District and Region Coach of the Year several times and in 1976 was nominated by the state of Tennessee for National Coach of the Year honors. Little left coaching after the 1977 season to move into the business world. From 1983 until June 2011, he served as General Manager of Humboldt Utilities. He was inducted into the Freed-Hardeman University Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Gibson County Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. Little and his late wife Jeanne had two children: Stan, Jr., an attorney in Hernando, Miss.; and Jenny Garrison (David),who resides in Birmingham, Ala. There are also three grandchildren. Charlotte Hart Beard, 88 Basketball C harlotte Hart Beard was born and raised in Lexington, Tenn. She was named to the All-District, All-Region and All-West Tennessee basketball teams three consecutive seasons and was named Honorable Mention All-State during her senior year of play for the Lady Tigers of Lexington High School. She was named to the West All-Star squad in 1984 and played with the 18 and Over Junior Olympic team. Beard made an immediate impact on the Lady Bulldogs when she arrived on the Union campus in 1984. She was named All-Volunteer State Athletic Conference MVP, District 24 Player of the Year and NAIA All-American. She went on to be named All-Conference, All-District and Conference MVP each of her four seasons as a Lady Bulldog. In 1988, she became the second female athlete in the nation to be named to the NAIA All-American team in four consecutive seasons. She was also an NAIA Scholar Athlete in all four years. During her career as a Lady Bulldog, Beard was named District Player of the Week seven times and twice named NAIA National Player of the Week. She ranks third on the all-time Lady Bulldog scoring leader list with 2,339 career points. Beard finished her career with 460 free throws made, 659 rebounds, 368 steals, 572 assists and 928 field goals made. In a 1988 Jackson Sun article, writer Dan Morris quoted Union Head Coach David Blackstock: Charlotte is much more than the star of our team. She is a leader both on and off the court. She is also very unusual for a player of her ability in that she would prefer not to be a star. Charlotte could have been the career leader in virtually every offensive category at Union if she had chosen to be. But that is not Charlotte s style. She is extremely team oriented. She would rather see her teammates do well and win than to do well as an individual. She is an All-American in every sense of the word. Even now, she says the most important things in her life are her salvation and her family. Beard s jersey has been retired at both Lexington High School and Union University. She is married to Floyd Beard and they have three children: Hillary, Trey and Trinity. sports hall of fame
sports hall of fame Rod Hari, 85 Baseball A s a 5-foot-10, 165 pound outfielder, Rod Hari was not heavily recruited when he came out of high school at Cissna Park, Ill. He turned down a few chances to play college baseball in the north, choosing to walk on as a freshman at Union University. He saw Union as a place where he had friends, warm weather and a strong baseball schedule. He received a baseball scholarship after an outstanding freshman season in which he hit.412. He followed that season with averages of.345,.379 and.431, giving him the second-highest batting average for a Union career at.388. He was the career leader in stolen bases in a season (31), career stolen bases (76), singles (65) and runs scored (68). Hari also set the mark for consecutive steals in 1984 with 26. In his senior season, he hit nine home runs, delivered seven game-winning hits and made only one error. He was named the District 24 Most Valuable Player and was runner-up for Area 5 Player of the Year. He became the first Union player to be named to the first team NAIA All-American Baseball Squad. He was also named the team s Most Valuable Player and served as co-captain of the squad. This is a true success story, said Union Coach Linn Stranak in a Jackson Sun story about Hari at the end of his senior season. With lots of hard work, he just kept getting better and better. A person like Rod comes along once in a lifetime. Hari is presently the Vice President, Information Technology, AIG/ American General in Brentwood, Tenn. He and his wife Robyn Agee Hari (a 1986 Union graduate) have two daughters: Savannah and Madison. Glen Yancey, 49 Football, Basketball, and Tennis G len Yancey is a native of Savannah, Tenn. He graduated from Central High School in Savannah in 1943 and served in the armed forces from 1943-1945. During that time he spent 21 months in combat in the European theater. Twice wounded in combat, he was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. When he returned to the states, he enrolled Union University and graduated in 1949. While at Union, he played football, basketball and tennis. Yancey began his coaching career at Howard College (now Samford University) in Birmingham, Ala. After one season at Howard, Yancey moved to Cordele, Ga., where he coached both football and basketball. His 1951 Cordele team went 13-0 and won the Georgia State Football Championship; Yancey was named Georgia Coach of the Year. Yancey then moved to Vigor High School in Prichard, Alabama for 12 seasons as Head Football Coach and Athletic Director. His 1960 team went 10-0 and won the State High School Football Championship; Yancey was named Alabama Coach of the Year. He was also selected to coach the Alabama All-Star game in Tuscaloosa. Before retirement in 1992, Yancey coached at four other Mobile-area high schools. He coached 109 players who went on to sign athletic scholarships. Nine of those players were named high school football All-Americans. Four of those were quarterbacks, including future University of Alabama and NFL standouts Scott Hunter and Richard Todd. In 2006, Yancey was inducted into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame, and one year later he was inducted into the Prichard Sports Hall of Fame. He was nominated in 2011 for the Alabama State Hall of Fame. Yancey is married to the former Betty Ann Lawler of Birmingham, and they have four sons. sports hall of fame
sports hall of fame Sam Kern, 96 Golf S am Kern was born in Nashville, Tenn. but grew up in Collierville. He graduated from Collierville High School in 1992. Kern helped Union University win four conference golf championships while he was a student athlete. The squad also swept the Tennessee Intercollegiate Tournament those same four years. During his senior season, Kern was named to six different all-tournament teams. He was instrumental in leading Union to an eighth-place finish in the NAIA National Golf Tournament. He was named an NAIA All-American in 1994 and 1996. After graduation, he played on the professional mini-tour for two years while completing his M.B.A. degree from Union. The Class A PGA professional competed in the 1999 FedEx St. Jude Classic and in the 2010 Chattanooga Classic on the nationwide tour. After playing professionally, he focused his love of the game on golf instruction. While cultivating his own teaching style, he worked under Golf Digest Top 50 Instructors Rob Akins, Tom Ness, Mark Wood, Randy Smith and Stan Utley. In 2004 and 2008, Kern was named Golf Teacher of the Year for West Tennessee. He is currently ranked in the top 40 among instructors under age 40 by Golf Digest. For the past 12 years, he has taught golf at Ridgeway Country Club in Memphis In 2002, Kern obtained his general contractor s license, and he builds custom homes. Kern and his wife Missy have four sons: Seth, Gabe, Luke and Drew. Past Hall of Fame Recipients 2010 Bob R. Agee, 60 Kenneth B. Hawkins, 55 James Casey Jones, 42 Lauren Nicole Hayden Martin, 02 Warren Olden, 98 Gerry Neese 2009 Gil Gideon, 49 Denise McCarty, 73 Micky Wolfe, 98 Robert Victor Sullivan, 42 Billy E. Murphy, 59 Robin T. Muggs Coffman, 58 Union University 1963 Baseball Team 2008 James A. Jimmy Bryant, 63 Ronnie G. Giddens, Jr., 87 Joe Guyon Lisa C. Hutchens, 83 Keith Reynolds, 77 Jim Swope 2007 M. C. Joyner, Jr., 36 Michelle Street-Czapp, 97 Buford Matlock, 50 Luis Ortiz, 04 Jeff Richey, 66 The 1967-68 Bulldogs Basketball Team 2006 David Blackstock Sandra (Sandy) Lewis Fitzgerald, 79 Robert (Bobby) Jelks, 38 Donald R. (Don) Morris, Sr., 62 Charles Homer Spain, 62 Mr. and Mrs. Bennie (Norma) Fesmire
criteria for induction Primary Criteria Athletic participation and athletic honors 1. Student-athletes - Former Union University student-athletes who recorded outstanding achievements in connection with the varsity athletics are eligible for nomination, selection, and induction into the Hall of Fame. Outstanding achievement in competition is recognized as well as academic, spiritual, and community based accomplishments. A student-athlete is eligible for induction in the Hall of Fame after a minimum of five years have passed following their last season of eligibility. The individual must be a varsity letter-winner at Union University. 2. Coaches and Administrators - Union University coaches, administrators and others who play pivotal roles in the day to day operations of the department of athletics are eligible for nomination, selection, and induction in the Hall of Fame. Those who have had distinguished careers of service, who have made significant contributions to the growth and prosperity of athletics, and who are held in high esteem in Union s community of athletics are duly recognized in this category. These individuals have exemplified Union s standard of excellence and have exhibited leadership qualities that are worthy of praise and recognition. A waiting period is not required for individuals in this category for nominating, selection and induction. The induction can be during or after their tenure at Union. 3. Team Nominations - In exceptional cases, an entire team may be recognized for achievement in post-season play or by garnering regional or national recognition for significant achievements. Teams that have achieved distinguished or outstanding feats in the field of competition are eligible for nomination, selection, and induction in Union University s Athletics Hall of Fame. The Selection Committee will also review contributions and achievements of past Union University athletic teams, awarding distinguished and qualified teams, an Honorary Hall of Fame Team Award for exhibiting excellence in team achievement, character and community service. These teams may not be considered for induction until five years after their athletic eligibility has expired and only one team may be considered for induction each year. Secondary Criteria Non-Athletic College Activities and Post College Contributions Meritorious Service - Persons who have made impressive, significant, and lasting contributions to Union University s athletics program are also eligible for nomination, selection, and induction in Union University s Athletics Hall of Fame. Individuals in this category are those that may not be an athlete, coach or administrator in the department of athletics, but an active member of the athletics community that has impacted the success, growth and prosperity of Union University athletics programs. These individuals are recognized for their contributions and distinguished honors that have benefitted Union s athletic community. The Selection Committee may present an Honorary Hall of Fame Award to an individual who has distinguished herself/ himself through exemplary service and commitments to Union University s athletic program. This person need not be a prior member of a Union University athletic team, nor a graduate.