Newspapers / Chowan University Student Newspaper / Dec. 1, 1994, edition 1 / Page 14
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Four enshrined in ranks of Sports Hall of Fame By CAL BRYANT (’73) Sports Editor, The Ahoskie News-Herald Four new members were inducted into the Chowan Sports Hall of Fame at the annual banquet in November. The new inductees joined 32 enshrined persons honored in previous years. Those inducted on November 12 were: • Harry Hill, a retired Murfreesboro business man; • James McGill, a versatile two-way per former on the gridiron during the early ’60s; • Alec Phillips, an All-American golfer; and, • Mary Weiss, Chowan’s Female Athlete of the Year in 1983. Harry W. Hill Although he never attended Chowan College, Hill was praised for his support of the college— especially for his desire to see the school reopened in 1946 at the end of World War II. “Harry Hill was instrumental in getting our athletic facilities back up to par when we reopened in ’46,” recalled Dr. Herb Appenzeller, a former Chowan athletic director and coach. “He was very supportive of our athletic program and of our athletes, but his biggest contfibution was that he got the people here in Murfreesboro to believe in and support what we were doing. You see, Harry knew everybody and he sold our message to his many friends.” Hill thanked those friends first during his humor-filled acceptance speech. “I’d like to thank my friends,” Hill said as he nodded toward a table-full of well-wishers including his wife, Helen, and three daughters— Mary lee Brown, Martha Finder and Betsy Coltrain. “But 1 tell you, after being in the automotive business for 35 years, I didn’t think I had any friends left!” On a more serious note. Hill added, “this has Lady Braves face challenging year Continued from Page Thirteen Five other sophomore performers should also add to the strengths of the Lady Braves’ program. Cindy Bennett (5’6” guard/forward) returns as the team’s leading scorer (10.4 ppg) from last year after recovering from a broken wrist, while 5’7” forward/guard Danyell Harrington is back with the team after leaving three games into last sea son for person reasons. Sophomore transfer Michelle Copeland, a 5’7” guard, has brought her torrid shooting touch to Murfreesboro to join the likes of 5’9” guard Mickey Mitchell and 5’8” forward Judy Wilkerson. “Cindy and Michelle are both outstanding shooters,” confessed Walters. “Judy was at Chowan when it was a junior college and she has returned to further her education at the four-year level. Mickey is just a natural all-around athlete who will really make an impact. Danyell is back with a positive attitude and she will be a scoring threat at power forward.” Five freshman guards round out the Lady Braves roster — Cathleen Braxton (5’3”), Judy Hill (5’5”), Jacqueline Lutz (5’3”), Kristie South (5’6”) and Cathy Taylor (5’3”). Another factor which could contribute to snap ping “the Stfeak” is a much more favorable sched ule. “We played some opponents last season we had no business playing,” admitted Walters. “1 think we’ll be more competitive with the schedule we have this year, although the teams we are playing are veteran teams with juniors and seniors while we are still very young with lots of sophomores and freshmen.” been a great year for me. My wife and I cel ebrated our 50th wedding anniversary, I cel ebrated my 75th birthday, and now I’m being inducted into the Chowan Sports Hall of Fame.” One thing Hill will long be remembered for was his brief stint as a Chowan football player even though he was an eighth-grader at the time. “This came back when Melvin Laton was the coach here,” Hill recall. “He didn’t have enough players to take to a game at Louisburg so he called the (Murfreesboro) high school and asked for five players. I was one of those five and I remember lining up against 250-pound men who were laughing at me and telling me exactly what they were going to do with me. Well, they got their wish by running right over me but it was fun.” Alec Phillips One of the men who benefited from Hill’s dream of reopening the college was Phillips, who arrived in 1967 with an excellent golf game. Undefeated during his Franklin High School career, Phillips continued his superb play at Chowan where he shot a 72-hole score of 289 during the 1969 national Junior College Athletic Association tournament to finish third and earn All-American honors. “To reach All-American status in golf, you have to earn your way on,” stressed Tommy Pitkin, Phillips’ Chowan teammate who in ducted his friend. “It’s not being selected by a panel of sportswriters or coaches. You earn it by your style of play and Alec Phillips is a true All- American.” “Something very special happened to me that year,” Phillips confessed. “I’ve watched individuals and teams elevate their level of play and that’s what happened to us that year. My spark came from my teammates and from coach (Jim) Garrison. “My teammates allowed me to express my individual style of play during the national tournament and when I accepted my All- American honors, I did so on behalf of my coach and my team. I do the same here tonight in accepting this Hall of Fame plaque.” James McGill Hailed as one of the top banking executives in the state, McGill stressed that his success stemmed from Chowan College. “Chowan College was such a tremendous part of my life,” admitted McGill, who serves First State Savings Bank as president and chief executive officer. “Chowan, and Coach Garrison, drove me to succeed in life. Now, whenever 1 think I can slump off a bit and take things easy, I can feel his (Garrison) eyes staring at me and urging me to do better.” “Jim McGill is one of the finest young athletes and leaders I’ve had in my 37 years here at Chowan,” Garrison boasted during his induction speech. “He was a fierce competitor who possessed the will, desire and intelligence to succeed—the same lessons he has used to climb the ladder of being a successful business man.” Mary Weiss For the first time in the history of the Sports Hall of Fame, a father inducted his daughter as Paul Weiss performed the honors for Mary Weiss. “Tonight is family night for us,“ the father noted as he pointed to a table filled with five of his six children along with their own families. “Our whole family is sports oriented and at the age of 12,1 noticed something very special about Mary as she displayed a thirst to learn more about certain games—basketball, soccer and softball—and you didn’t have to tell her more than once what she needed to do.” “It was through the love and support of ray parents that 1 am where 1 am today,” said Mary Weiss, who now serves Campbell University as its assistant women’s basketball coach. “When I was younger, I didn’t realize that. As a matter of fact, I took that love and support for granted, but now I can look back to see it was the best gift they could give me. They, along with the remainder of my family, are the backbone of my success and I dedicate this honor tonight to my mom and dad.” Each of the inductees was presented with a Hall of Fame ring. Those presentations were made on behalf of Georgia-Pacific Resin, Henderson Child Care, King Athletic Supply and the Chowan College Braves Club, sponsors of the Sports Hall of Fame. Newest inductees into the Sports Hall of Fame (from left) Alec Phillips, Mary Weiss, Harry Hill and James f\^cGill. Father inducts his daughter into Chowan’s prestigious Hall of Fame Hill helped to re-open Chowan following World War II PAGE 14 —CHOWAN TODAY. December/994
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