CIAA Announces its 38th Class of Inductees into the John B. McLendon Hall of Fame

HAMPTON, VA – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) in conjunction with the CIAA Executive Committee welcomes six individuals and one team into the John B. McLendon, Jr. Hall of Fame.  Honorees will be enshrined on Friday, March 2, 2012 at the Charlotte Convention Center at 11:00am.
 
The McLendon Hall of Fame’s newest neophytes have earned top recognition on the playing field, in their communities and have been staunch supporters of the CIAA.  
 
Donald Evans, Winston-Salem State University- Football

Evans

Donald Evans holds the status of being the highest drafted player in WSSU history. Evans was drafted in the second round of the 1987 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams and played for Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and the New York Jets from 1987-1996. He is a member of the Big House Gaines Hall of Fame (’04) and has acquired the naming rights of the Donald Evans Training Facility in the Thompson Center on WSSU’s campus.

Dr. Claudie J. Mackey, Elizabeth City State University- Basketball, Track, Professor

Mackey

Dr. Claudie J. Mackey, Faculty Athletic Advisor for Elizabeth City State, competed in Men’s Basketball and Track for the Vikings from 1961-65.  He then entered the National Football League as a free agent for the Dallas Cowboys from 1965-1966. Mackey spent two years in semi-pro football with the Charleston Rockets and the Brooklyn Dodgers of the Continental Football League.  He completed his active football life with the Golden Knights of Brooklyn, New York.  In addition, Mackey played pro basketball for one year with the Trenton Colonials of the Continental Basketball Association.
 
Mackey began his collegiate coaching career in the CUNY system, where he won a national championship in the early 70’s.  He later returned to his alma mater, ECSU, where he coached from 1977-1995.  Dr. Mackey has served on several sports committees and currently sits on the NCAA Championships Committee.
 
Ralph Tally, Norfolk State University, Men’s Basketball

Tally

Ralph Tally, a three-time consecutive CIAA Player of the Year (’85-87) and Tournament MVP (’84-86), ranks fifth all-time in scoring for the conference (2,575) and is tied at second all-time in the steals category with 314.  This former Spartan also holds the record for most steals in the CIAA Tournament with 30.
 
Warren Bruce Spraggins, Virginia Union University- Men’s Basketball

Spraggins

Warren Spraggins was a first team All-CIAA star for the Panthers (1959-61), held the CIAA scoring title from 1959-61 and led the NCAA Small College listing as the top scorer. Spraggins logged 54 pts. against St. Paul’s College in the 1959-1960 season.
Warren was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors in the fifth round of the NBA Draft and also played for teams in the ABL and ABA leagues. Spraggins is a member of the VUU Athletic Hall of Fame (’08) and Rucker Hall of Fame (’99) and is the Co-Owner of Appletown Sporting Goods in Harlem, NY.
 
Deidra (Fields) Hines, Bowie State University- Women’s Basketball, Volleyball

Deidra (Fields) Hines, a dual sport student-athlete for the Lady Bulldogs, was a member of the volleyball team where, in 1999, she earned the CIAA Player of the Year and All- Conference recognition in 1999 and 2000.  In addition to her accomplishments in volleyball she was also a part of the 1999 CIAA Championship team and 2000 Runner-Up team for women’s basketball.  Fields earned All-CIAA and All-South Atlantic Region recognitions in 2000 and represented the CIAA at the Black College All-Star Game.

Hines

Since her days at Bowie State, Deidra has played professional women’s football for the Detroit Demolition; where they have won five National Championships.  She has coached junior college basketball at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, MI where they were the 2010 Division II National Runner-Up, won two state titles, one Region XII Title and three conference titles. Currently, Deidra is wife and mother of a 17 year old son and resides in Romulus, Michigan.  She is the Owner of The Frosted Oven Cake Studio.
 
1950 CIAA Tournament Championship Team, North Carolina Central University, Men’s Basketball

 Coached by legends Dr. Leroy Walker and John B. McLendon, this team was the State Invitational winner in 1950.  In celebration of this accomplishment, Dr. Leroy Walker received a congratulatory telegram from then Senator John F. Kennedy.  This team was Coach McLendon’s last championship team.
 
Vic Fulp, Progress Index and Richmond Times-Dispatch, Sports Reporter
Postumous

Fulp

Vic Fulp began covering the CIAA in 1957, while serving as a sports reporter for the Progress Index in Petersburg, VA.  Vic continued to faithfully cover the CIAA when he accepted a new position with the Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, VA) in 1967.  Fulp retired from sports writing in 2006 and was nominated for induction into the McLendon Hall of Fame by Head Football Coach Lou Anderson of Virginia State University.  Fulp has been honored as a CIAA Sportswriter of the Year and was given the 1994 VaSID Distinguished Service Award by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association.