The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/89497
Findley's team to a win over Duke. The next morning, he jetted off to Spain, where he coached the U.S. Under-20 National Team to a pair of victories in the Marbella Cup. "We have always done a good job of keeping our heroes' names alive," Ramos said before he left. "I am incredibly honored to be included among these names." Ted Brown, the ACC's all-time leading rusher, reconnected with Wolfpack friends and told stories about the glory days of coaches Lou Holtz and Bo Rein. As the proud father of a locked-out NHL hockey player, he even talked a little about labor ne- gotiations and life on the ice of his adoptive state of Minnesota. Genia Beasley, who played for Kay Yow in the early days of women's basketball, marveled that so many of the inaugural in- ductees came from her era. "A lot of us got here right after David's career, and we all looked up to him so much," said Beasley, who is now a pediatric ophthalmologist in Charlotte. "But a lot of us used to eat at the same training table. "Jim, Ted, Julie and myself all competed at the same time. It was a great privilege to have known them all when we were all here." Ritcher, now a commercial airline pilot based in Raleigh, was honored to speak on behalf of the inaugural class, mixing his trademark humility with the obvious joy he had for being included. "When I was told I was named for this honor, it was hard to believe," Ritcher said. "Scores of other people came to mind. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been to limit the list to just 10 for the inau- gural class. "The only inductee I questioned was the one they asked to speak." Thompson, still regarded as the ACC's greatest men's basketball player nearly 40 years after his final game, drew plenty of attention. The highlights of his grace and athleticism on the court still evoked oohs and ahs from the crowd, many of whom never saw him play during his record-setting career. But it's significant to note that Thompson himself was awed to be in the presence of the other inductees. One, in particular, drew his admiration. "Roman Gabriel is a legend," said Thompson. "Everybody knows who he is. I watched the movies he was in, and he al- ways got the beautiful lady. I always wished I were Roman Gabriel. " Even heroes have idols. ■ You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu. Nominations for the second class of the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame can be made at GoPack.com. Athletics director Debbie Yow (left) and former All-American player Susan Yow accpeted the Hall of Fame honor on behalf of their late sister, the legenadary women's basketball coach Kay Yow. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS NOVEMBER 2012 ■ 95 Several of the other athletes who were honored spoke in awestruck terms about the impact of basketball legend David Thompson. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS The widow of basketball coach Jim Valvano, Pam Valvano Strasser, ackowledged the crowd's applause on an emotional evening. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS