The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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NOVEMBER 2014 ■ 23 All, however, were represented by fam- ily, some of which were four generations removed from their honored ancestor. McDowall's three grandchildren brought their families from various parts of Florida and Tennessee to see the late football, basketball, track and baseball standout remembered for his athletic exploits. They will also make a lasting legacy to the school by contributing a football he was presented with after helping Gus Tebell's team beat Florida in 1927 and his College Football Hall of Fame plaque for display in the Walk of Fame. McDowall, who in 1927 led Tebell's football team to the school's only South- ern Conference championship, was voted the top athlete of NC State's first half century in 1937. Dickey's seven children came from as far away as California to be part of the ceremony to honor their father, who died in 2006, though his widow, Jean, was un- able to attend at the last minute because of a flight difficulty. Byrd's family was also well-repre- sented by two of his sons, his daughter and his widow, Kim Byrd. They brought his retired No. 77 football jersey, his All- American certificate and the 1967 Play- boy magazine in which he was named a defensive All-American. Esposito was represented by his son Sammy, a former assistant at NC State, and former Wolfpack baseball player and head coach Ray Tanner. Both are now at South Carolina, where Sammy is an as- sistant coach and Tanner is the athletics director. They were proud to represent Esposito, who not only ended his career as the Wolf- pack's winningest baseball coach, but helped 2013 Hall of Fame inductee Norm Sloan win three ACC championships as an assistant basketball coach. Esposito won the first three ACC baseball tournaments (1973-75) and took his second team to the 1968 College World Series. Esposito now lives in a convalescent home in the North Carolina mountains and was unable to travel to Raleigh for the ceremony. Tanner said the coach was typically low-key about the award. "He said: 'bout time,'" Tanner said, smiling. The six living members who partici- pated in the event brought close and ex- tended family. Longtime donor Wendell Murphy — a 51-year member of the Wolf- pack Club, current member and past chair of the NC State Board of Trustees and the namesake of the Murphy Football Center adjacent to Carter-Finley Stadium — was still incredulous that he is now placed alongside prominent athletes like Ronnie Shavlik, Roman Gabriel, David Thomp- son and the most decorated performers in Wolfpack athletics history. "These are all people who have made NC State proud," said Murphy, a 1961 NC State graduate from Wallace, N.C. "There is no way to properly respond to being in- cluded in this elite group. I never thought I would be in this position. I'm not an athlete. All I've done is support athletics over the years. "All I can say is that I am forever grate- ful." Former Everett Case-era basketball player Lou Pucillo — the 1959 ACC Bas- ketball Player and Athlete of the Year — walked across the stage for the second time. He accepted on Case's behalf when the legendary coach was inducted in the inaugural class in 2012. The Philadelphia native, who has lived in Raleigh now for 59 years, spoke on behalf of everyone in the current class, thanking NC State fans for sharing their passion and showing their support for all Wolfpack athletes through the years. "To have this now is a great honor," Pucillo said. Rerych, a general surgeon in West Vir- ginia, is now the second physician to be enshrined in the hall. Inaugural member Class of 2014 honoree Chasity Melvin led NC State women's basketball to its only NCAA Final Four appearance in 1998 and was named a first-team All-American. PHOTO BY RYAN TICE Longtime donor Wendell Murphy, the name- sake of the Murphy Football Center adjacent to Carter-Finley Stadium, was honored as part of this year's Hall of Fame class. PHOTO BY RYAN TICE