The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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his fellow inductees special, from their vol- unteer work in their communities, to their work with young athletes, to their inspira- tional stories of overcoming adversities. "These nine Hall of Famers are famous because of their achievements in athletics," Ritcher, the 1979 winner of the Outland Trophy while at NC State and a four-time Super Bowl participant while with the Buf- falo Bills, said of his fellow inductees. "But they are significant because of the difference they've made in the lives of others. "These nine have demonstrated great leadership and citizenship in their lives, and the 10th is inspired by them." The inaugural class was indeed special, as was the induction ceremony itself. Reynolds Coliseum — the grand old home of Wolf- pack athletics — was dressed up nicely, with a bright red carpet leading into the lobby and the north end of the floor. Two-thirds of the floor was set up for the pre- and post- ceremony receptions and the rest reserved for the stage and seating for the nearly 1,000 spectators who attended the event. For athletics director Debbie Yow, who That's the thing about the 10 people who were inducted into the newly formed NC State Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 5, dur- ing a black-tie ceremony at Reynolds Coli- seum: They not only achieved things — they changed things. They each recognized the greatness and importance of their fellow inductees, not just for what they did, but for how they did it be- fore, during and after their athletics careers. Jim Ritcher, the two-time All-American center for the Wolfpack football team, was chosen to speak on behalf of the 10 class members, and he made a point of mention- ing many of the things that made each of was key in making the long-discussed idea of an NC State sports hall of fame a reality, the night was a dream come true, with her younger sister Susan, the Wolfpack's first female All-American, accepting the honor on behalf of her older sister, Kay, whose pioneering coaching career earned her a spot in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. "The idea of NC State having an athletic hall of game is a no-brainer," said Yow, who is in her third year as NC State's athletics di- rector. "We could have, and probably should have, had one 30 years ago. But we didn't, and that is why it was such a big night. "The first 10 inductees are amazing. And there will be more to follow." The inductees were honored with videos that not only showed highlights of their ca- reers, but also put into perspective why each was so important in their respective sports. The three late basketball coaches were particularly important to NC State's legacy as an innovator in the sport. Though not NC State Athletic Hall Of Fame Inaugural Class Genia Beasley Women's Basketball, 1977-80 Ted Brown Football, baseball, basketball (freshman only), 1958-62 Tab Ramos Men's Basketball Coach, 1946-1964 Roman Gabriel Football, 1975-78 Everett Case Men's Soccer, 1984-87 Track & Field/Cross Country, 1977-81 David Thompson Football, 1976-79 Julie Shea Jim Ritcher Men's Basketball Coach, Athletics Administration, 1980-90 Kay Yow Men's Basketball, 1972-75 Jim Valvano Women's Basketball Coach, 1975-2009 All-American quarterback Roman Gabriel, who later starred not only on pro football fields, but also on Hollywood movie sets, ap- preciated the chance to be back on campus. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS NOVEMBER 2012 ■ 93 physically in attendance, their spirits occu- pied the empty chairs that displayed relics of their accomplishments. Everett Case brought big-time basket- ball to the South. He arrived at a school with a struggling athletics department in 1946 and changed the fortunes of the entire university. He was immediately success- ful, which allowed the college to complete Reynolds Coliseum, perhaps the most im- portant multi-purpose on-campus facility in the country. He brought recognition, glory and cham- pionships to an athletics department that had seen little success in its first 50 years, putting Raleigh on the map as a destination for top-notch sporting events, such as the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, the Dixie Classic and the NCAA Tournament. One of his greatest success stories, di- minutive point guard Lou Pucillo, who was both the 1959 ACC Player and Athlete of the Year, accepted on Case's behalf. "We owe him everything," Thompson said of his fellow inductee, who shares a home with Thompson and Yow in the Bas- ketball Hall of Fame. Kay Yow was a pioneer of women's ath- letics, a coach who was so good at what she did that she was not only successful as a basketball coach, but also accomplished as a volleyball and softball coach, the two sports she led in addition to basketball in her first two years at the school. "Coach Yow did so much more than just coach women's basketball," Thompson said. "The way she ministered to young people.