Kentucky Wesleyan will induct ten Panther legends plus a long-time staff member and a noted fan group into their third Athletic Hall of Fame Class on May 16. Tickets to the Hall of Fame are on sale now and can be purchased by calling Jenifer Heady at 270-852-3330
The inductees are:
Kenny Alward, golf (1989-93)—First All-American in history, 1993…1993 NCAA Championship participant…1993 National Coaches All-Star Tournament participant…two-time All-Great Lakes Region selection.
Norman Christopher, basketball (1949-52)—First four-time all-conference honoree in any sport—All-Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection…scored 928 career points.
Virginia “Shorty” Combs, women’s basketball (1918-22)—All-state forward on the Panthers 1921 state championship team…1997 Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame inductee as a women’s pioneer in basketball as a player and coach.
Bob Daniels, basketball coach (1967-72)— Won back-to-back NCAA Championships 1968 and 1969…1971 National Coach of the Year…posted a five-year record 110-36 for a 75.3 winning percentage.
Walter Lee, tennis (1972-75)—First to play in the NCAA Singles Championship, 1975…compiled a 44-14 record at the No. 1 singles position and a 45-12 record at the No. 1 doubles flight in four seasons.
Chad Lyons, football (1988-92)—First two-time All-American in history, 1991 and 1992…second in career total tackles with 310…holds the season total tackle record with 127.
Carl “Buddy” Mahan, golf (1946-50)—First Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Champion in any sport, 1948 and 1949…three-year letterwinner on golf and basketball teams.
Roy Pickerill, SID—Longest tenured sports information director in KWC history… first and only SID from the state of Kentucky inducted into the national College Sports Information Directors of America Hall of Fame.
Kristin Reynolds Hawkins, softball (1992-96)—1995 United States Olympic Trials selection…first four-time All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honoree in history…holds the career record for runs batted in with 115.
Joe Roop, basketball (1952-56)—1956 Honorable mention All-American…two-time All-Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honoree…scored 1,127 career points.
Mike Williams, basketball (1970-73)—1973 NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player…won 1973 NCAA Championship…1972 All-Great Lakes Region selection…scored 1,568 career points.
The Panther Express (1984-present)— Long-time basketball fans who followed the Panthers on chartered buses across the country…also known as the Bus People…led by co-founders David Chandler and Bill O’Bryan.