West Virginia State University’s (WVSU) athletic booster organization, the National “W” Club, will induct nine new members into the University’s Sports Hall of Fame with a brunch at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, in the James C. Wilson University Union.
The Hall of Fame induction ceremony is taking place as part of WVSU’s annual Homecoming activities. Following the brunch, where the new inductees are given gold jackets to wear, they will walk to the nearby Canty House, home of the Hall of Fame, and be led through a cheering lineup of previous Hall inductees.
The new “W” Club Sports Hall of Fame members are: George Crummel (class of 1976) for track; Charles Wayne “Steak” Ingram (class of 1974) for basketball; Mario Xavier Lewis (class of 1994) for football and track; Charles Edward Smith (class of 1998) for football; and Donald L. Riley (class of 1970) for track. Honorary “W” Club Sports Hall of Fame inductees are Frank Beach, John L. Davidson III, Thomas D. Orcutt and Lester Raines.
Crummel was a four-year letterman on the Yellow Jackets track team from 1971-1974. He was named to the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) all-conference team four times, and was recognized twice as the outstanding athlete of the WVIAC meet. He was the co-captain of the track team in 1973 and 1974 and was a two-time participant in the NAIA national meet in 1971 and 1974.
Ingram was a four-year letterman with the WVSU men’s basketball team, and served as the captain of the freshman team in 1970 that went undefeated at 14-0. He was a member of the 1973 nationally ranked Yellow Jacket squad, and in 1974 was named captain of the men’s team. Following graduation from State, Ingram remained active in athletics as an AAU basketball coach and as president of the Dunbar football league for several years.
Lewis was a standout on the football field and in track for the Yellow Jackets, setting many pass receiving records that still stand. In 1992, Lewis set the WVSU record for touchdowns in a season with 20, and also for most points in a season with 122. That same year he also set the record for most touchdowns in a game with four, accomplishing the fete in three different games. Lewis was named WVIAC first team all-conference in 1992, and was an NAIA second team All-American. In track, in 1992, Lewis finished second in the 200 meters at the Marshall Relays with a time of 21.5 seconds. Following college, Lewis signed with the Augusta Stallions of the Arena Football League in 1999.
Smith was an outstanding linebacker on the Yellow Jackets football team, and was named a team captain in 1996, 1997 and 1998. In 1997, he was named the WVIAC defensive player of the year, and was also honored as an All-American by both Daktronics and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He was twice named to the WVIAC first team all-conference team in 1997 and 1998. He currently works for Shelby County Schools as a special education teacher, and serves as the head wrestling coach and assistant football coach at Memphis East High School.
Riley was a standout on the Yellow Jackets track team during his two years in Institute. During the 1969 and 1970 track seasons Riley was a member of the one-mile relay team and in both seasons the team won WVIAC championships. In one meet against Concord College, Riley competed in four events and earned more points than the Concord team.
The “W” Club is recognizing Beach with honorary induction into the Hall of Fame. Beach was the first white student to graduate from the former West Virginia State College High School in 1957. He went on to compete in basketball, baseball and boxing at West Virginia State College. After college, Beach coached football and track at Southwestern High School in Ohio and was a school teacher for 13 years in various schools between Ohio and West Virginia. He trained amateur and professional fighters in Ohio and West Virginia for 45 years, producing many national Golden Glove champions.
Honorary inductee Davidson is a 1974 graduate of WVSU and played on the Yellow Jackets football team. He retired after 39 years of federal law enforcement service as a special agent for the Department of Justice and U.S. Parole Board. He has been active in support of his alma mater through his service as President of the WVSU National “W” Club Shenandoah Valley Chapter for eight years and by making gifts of support of the construction of the Gregory V. Monroe Athletic Complex.
Honorary inductee Orcutt enjoys being a part of the WVSU community while attending various sports events. He said he is grateful for all he has attained in life and finds great joy in giving back to his community and state in small ways such as supporting student-athletes at WVSU and South Charleston High School. He is an active member of the Presidents Circle at WVSU as well as being a member of the Chambers of Commerce for Charleston and South Charleston.
Honorary inductee Raines is a lifelong resident of the Kanawha Valley who in 2016-2017 will begin his sixth season as assistant coach of the West Virginia State University men’s basketball team. In addition to his work on the basketball court, Raines has been a leader in fundraising efforts to support Yellow Jacket athletic programs, including leading successful sponsorship drives for the scoreboards and scorer’s table in the new D. Stephen and Diane H. Walker Convocation Center. Raines is a long-time booster of athletic programs throughout the region. He was a sponsor of the former WVIAC basketball tournament, as well as a sponsor of youth sports programs throughout the Charleston area.
Admission to the Sports Hall of Fame Induction brunch is $10, and tickets will be available at the door.
The WVSU Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony is part of Homecoming activities at WVSU. For more information, and a complete schedule of Homecoming events, visit http://connect.wvstateu.edu/homecoming or call (304) 766-3387.
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