WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State University C.E. "Big House" Gaines Hall of Fame will welcome its 2012 class of inductees when eight individuals along with the 1999 and 2000 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Champion Rams basketball team will take their place among the WSSU greats. The individual inductees and the team will be inducted into a ceremony on Friday, August 31st at the Anderson Conference Center located in the McNeil Banquet Room in Winston-Salem, N.C. and will be honored at halftime of the Winston-Salem Football Classic, featuring the Winston-Salem State University Rams versus UNC-Pembroke on Saturday, September 1st.
"To an athlete, being enshrined into your university's athletic hall of fame is reaching the mountaintop. There is no higher honor," WSSU Director of Athletics, William "Bill" Hayes said. "On behalf of the entire WSSU Department of Athletics, congratulations to all inductees for reaching this milestone."
The Clarence E. "Big House" Gaines Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2012 will include some of the top student-athletes in school history. The class will include three football players (Dr. Randy Bolton, Willie Crite, Jr. and Dwayne Finch), one wrestler (Bennie Carver), one baseball player (Paul Hayes, Sr.), one member of the Rams golf team (Alvin Queen, Sr.), two for meritorious service (Peyton Hairston, Sr. and Dr. Clarence "Jeep" Jones) and the 1999 and 2000 CIAA championship Basketball Teams.
"We enshrine these individuals amongst the elite past and present hall of famers as we move to enhance the vision and growth of our future student-athletes," said C.E. "Big House" Gaines Athletic Hall of Fame Chair, Tim Grant. "Let this greatness not be forgotten by our hall of famers, faculty, staff, students and friends of this great university. We must remember our financial commitment and physical support of the C.E. "Big House" Gaines Athletic Hall of Fame."
DR. RANDY C. BOLTON – FOOTBALL
A four year letterman in the sport of football from 1975-79. Led the team in touchdowns scored in 1976, and was the Gold Bowl Player of the Game recipient.
BENNIE LEE CARVER – WRESTLING
A two time CIAA wrestling champion and co-captain of the WSSU wrestling team. Carver was a member of the 1989 CIAA Wrestling Championship team. He was also a two time All-CIAA selection (1987/1989).
WILLIE JAMES CRITE, JR. – FOOTBALL
A three year letterman during his playing days at WSSU, Crite, Jr was a member of the 1999 CIAA Championship team and was named All-CIAA in the same year. Crite had nine career interceptions.
DWAYNE C. FINCH – FOOTBALL
A four year letterman in the sport of football. A member of the undefeated 1977 CIAA and Gold Bowl Championship Teams. Finch was named the Most Outstanding Lineman on the 1977 Championship team and was also a two year member of the WSSU JV basketball team.
PEYTON T. HAIRSTON, SR. – MERITORIOUS SERVICE
1st National Alumni President at WSSU and lifetime alumni member, Peyton Hairston was a two-term President of the WSSU National Alumni Association, and has the WSSU Visitor's Center named on his behalf. A consistent donor to the WSSU Department of Athletics.
PAUL R. HAYES, SR. – BASEBALL
Hayes was an All-CIAA selection at centerfield in baseball for the WSSU Rams during the 1956 and 1957 seasons.
DR. CLARENCE "JEEP" JONES – MERITORIOUS SERVICE
A four year letterman in basketball during his playing days, Dr. Clarence "Jeep" Jones was a member of WSSU's very first championship team in any sport, as he was a member of the 1953 CIAA Champion basketball team. Jones was also a two-year track and field letterman, and served as the manager of the WSSU football team for three years.
ALVIN PAUL QUEEN, SR. – GOLF
A four year letterman in the sport of golf from 1974-78, Queen was a three time All-CIAA selection (75-77). Runner up finish at the Shaw Invitational and played in the 1976 NCAA playoffs. Recorded the CIAA's lowest 9 hole score for 20 years (30). Also played on the WSSU football team in 1975.
1999/2000 WSSU BASKETBALL TEAM
The 1999 & 2000 WSSU Men's Basketball Team was back to back winners of the CIAA Tournament. The 1999 team finished the season with a 23-6 record and was the NCAA South Atlantic Region Tournament Runner-Up. The 2000 WSSU hoops team finished the year with a 26-4 record and a third place finish in the NCAA South Atlantic Region Tournament. Head Coach Rick Duckett was named CIAA Men's outstanding Coach, CIAA Men's Tournament outstanding Coach, South Atlantic Region Coach of the Year and Black College Coach of the Year.
Coaching Staff: Rick Duckett (HC), Phillip Stitt, William McNeil, and Floyd Butler
Team Members: Marcus Best, Keith Breland, Russell English, Kevin Henry, Chea Johnson, Jonathan McIntyre, D'Angelo Mitchell, Kamal Oliver, Windell Owens, Larry Patterson, Tyrone Robeson, Vincent Sessoms, Bradley Taylor, Tyrone Thomas, Corey Thompson, Sherman Ward, Tony Williams, and Torrian Wynn
Support Staff: Ann Little, DeValdean Penn and Farrar Fryar
For more information on Rams and Lady Rams athletics, contact the WSSU Department of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143/2152 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.
