Gray, Rice, Smith, Ward and Whitfield slated for induction into HRAASHF

Gray, Rice, Smith, Ward and Whitfield slated for induction into HRAASHF

August 10, 2011

NORFOLK, VA Alonzo Mourning, 2000 Olympic gold medalist, a seven time NBA All Star and a member of the 2006 NBA Champion Miami Heat, and seven other South Hampton Roads athletes Darren Perry, Morris Smith, James Church, Ken Whitley, William Shorty Gray, William Lassiter, and Argle AB Whitfield will headline the list of 2011 inductees Hampton Roads African American Sports Hall of Fame (HRAAHF). The class will be feted on November 5, 2011 at the Renaissance Hotel in Portsmouth, VA.

Joining Mourning, Perry, Smith, Church, Whitley, Gray, Lassiter, and Whitfield in the Fifteenth Anniversary Class of Inductees are Terry Kirby, one of the most highly touted football players in the nation during his high school playing days at Tabb High in York County; Lisa Rice, one of the most prolific basketball players in the annals of Hampton Roads sports history; Chris Slade, a standout high school lineman, one of the greatest pass rushers in University of Virginia and Atlantic Coast Conference history, and a Pro Bowl sack leader for the New England Patriots; Ron Springs a two sport athlete who excelled in football and track at Williamsburgs Lafayette High School, a receiving and rushing leader for Ohio State, and a leading rusher and outstanding blocker for the Dallas Cowboys; and Walter Fuzzy Ward, one of the best all-around basketball players in Hampton University basketball history and a All-CIAA first team performer.

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William Shorty Gray is a 2011 Posthumous Inductee into the HRAASHF. He helped lead the 1956 VIA State Champion Booker T Washington Fightin Bookers to an unbeaten and untied season. It was at Maryland State College (now University of Maryland Eastern Shore), as a freshman understudy to the great Johnny Sample, that Grays accomplishments were a harbinger of performances to come.

In Grays first two games as a sophomore starter, he took over the rushing leadership in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) averaging 13.5 yards per carry. He earned All-CIAA honors for the 1958-1959 season and was a key member of Maryland States 1959-1960 CIAA Championship team. By the time William Shorty Gray wrapped up his collegiate career he was known as William The Shadow Gray and as The Gray Ghost.

Following his senior year at Maryland State, Gray was drafted by the NFL Buffalo Bills but he never discussed contracts with them. Instead, he signed with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League. Gray quickly became one of Saskatchewans most potent offensive weapons.

With his dazzling style of running and excellent pass catching ability, he was Mr. Big of the Roughriders backfield. For the first seven games of the 1963 season, he gained almost 600 yards. 316 of these were rushing yards. Later in the 1963 season, he was felled by a crippling knee injury and never fully regained his ability to run with reckless abandon. He played with Saskatchewan until the 1966-1967 season.

After his Canadian League experience, Gray returned to the States and played for the Orlando Panthers of the Continental Football League, where he was an All-CFL defensive back. He ended his playing career with the Norfolk Neptunes as a running/cornerback.

Gray returned to his alma mater in 1973 as an assistant football coach and assumed the responsibilities of the defensive coordinator from 1974 to 1977. He also coached defensive backs at Norfolk State University briefly.

Throughout his career, Gray worked tirelessly to improve the lives of African American youth in his native Hampton Roads region of Virginia. He was a founding member of the Hampton Roads African American Sports Hall of Fame, a nonprofit organization established to encourage youth to pursue personal and collective excellence. In 19930, Gray was elected as its first president.

Gray was inducted into the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982.

William Shorty Gray passed away on June 23, 2002. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Shirley Hounshell Gray, daughters Dr. Valerie Turner and Euler Edler, and son William C. Gray.

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Lisa Rice will be remembered in the annals of Hampton Roads sports history as one of the most prolific basketball players in the south Atlantic region. Her legendary ball handling skills allowed her to set records at both the high school and collegiate levels at Gloucester High School and Norfolk State University, respectively. Combining quickness and dribbling skills with an uncanny ability to see the open player, Rice raised the level of play around her. A tenacious defender, her ability to pressure the ball handler created steals and turnovers that altered games. Rice led Gloucester High School to two York River District Championships finals appearances in 1986 and 1987 and to two ensuing York River District Championships in 1989 and 1990. She was a four-time member of the All-York River and All-Region first teams and a selectee to the 1989 and 1990 All-State first teams. Rice also was selected by the Daily Press as the 1989 female Player of the Year. In 1990, she was named Gloucester High School Female Athlete of the year.

She is Norfolk State Universitys all-time career assists leader with 1,067. She finished her NSU career as the all-time leader in assists in NCAA Division II. Rice also shares NSUs single game assist record of 20 set in 1995. She holds the CIAA Tournament assist record (43) that was set in 1993. Rice led NSU to three consecutive CIAA Championships in 1992, 1993, and 1994, and to four NCAA Division II Tournaments. Under Rices leadership, NSU advanced to the national quarterfinals in 1993 and 1994. Rice was named the CIAA Player of the Year in 1995. She captured the CIAA Tournaments MVP Award in 1992, 1993, and 1995. Rice was a four-time All-CIAA selection, a two-time Black College All-American, and a two-time Kodak Division II All- American honorable mention.

Among the other awards/honors earned by Rice were the following: Portsmouth Sports Club Player of the Year (1995); and Peninsula Sports Club Most Outstanding Female Athlete in a Virginia College (1995).

Rice also has been inducted into the following halls of fame: CIAA (1999); Gloucester High School (2005); and Norfolk State University (2009).

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Morris Smith has been a champion, championship developer, and team leader for most of his athletic related career. He was a star on the Booker T. Washington High School of Norfolk 1958 State Championship Football team and a member of the 1959 State Champion mile relay team.

From 1959 to 1963 as a collegiate, Smith continued to excel in track and football at St. Augustines College. He ran track for two years and played football for four years. For three years, Smith was a two-way starter as an end, split end, defensive end, and defensive back. He led the football team in receptions for two years and served as a team captain in 1962.

After graduation, Smith returned to Norfolk and embarked upon an outstanding forty two years of teaching, coaching, and mentoring student athletes.



His first assignment from 1963-1970 was at his alma mater Ruffner Junior High School. During his tenure at Ruffner, Smith led the track team to its first city-wide championship in 1968.

From 1971-1977, he was a counselor and track coach at Mergenthaler Vocational/Technical High School in Baltimore, MD. In 1977, Smith led varsity and junior varsity track and field squads to division and Maryland Scholastic Association (MSA) Championships. As a result of Smiths leadership, Mergenthaler was the first school in the sixty year MSA history to win both championships. In 1976, Smith was recognized as the Track and Field Coach of the Year by the Baltimore Public Schools Coaches Association.

From 1977 to 1990, Smith served as counselor and coach of the volleyball and track and field teams at Southern High School in Baltimore. During the 1979-1980 season, he was the first male coach to win a City-Wide Girls Varsity Volleyball championship. At Southern, Smith was able to develop a track and field dynasty without an outdoor training facility. His teams overcame this and other obstacles and went on to win four cross country and five track and field championships. During the 1980s, Smith coached the fastest relay teams, and the best sprinters and jumpers in the state of Maryland. The following times attained by Smiths team members remain among the fastest in the State of Maryland: 100 meters-10.4 sec.;110 meter hurdles-13.8 sec; 400 meter relay-42 sec.; long jump-246; and high jump-68.

At Baltimore City Community College from 1990 to 1998, Smith continued to develop champions and win team championships. Among the highlights of BCCCs track and field performances during this period are the following: 1992 Womens Cross Country District and Region 26 (MD, NJ, NY) Championship; and Team Indoor District and Region Championships. At BCCC, Smith developed and coached ten National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) male and female All- Americans.

Morris Smith retired from the Baltimore City Public School System in 2006. He has received numerous awards recognizing his accomplishments as a teacher, counselor, and coach.

In October 2009, Morris Smith was inducted into the St. Augustines College Athletic Home of Fame.

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Walter Fuzzy Ward also is a 2011 Posthumous Inductee into the HRAASHF. Ward will be remembered in the annals of Hampton Universitys sports history as one of its best all-around basketball players. He was outstanding on offense and defense. Ward played 86 consecutive games and closed out his collegiate career in brilliant style by scoring 23 points to break Hamptons all-time scoring record. He finished his four-year stay at HU (then Hampton Institute) with 1574 points.

Ward began his basketball career playing with the "Baby Pirates" at Hamptons George P. Phenix High School (1954-1957). It was there that he gained popularity and fame for his keen competitive spirit and superior sportsmanship. Ward led Phenix to some memorable victories against teams comprised of future HRAASF inductees such as Earl Faison-Huntington and John Hobbs-Booker T. of Norfolk.

Ward was a three-year captain of Hamptons basketball team. During his senior year he was selected as the teams MVP and earned All-CIAA first team honors. Joining Ward on the All-CIAA first team were such CIAA legends as Bruce Spraggins and Jackie Jackson from Virginia Union, Lawrence Hancock from Howard University, and Cleo Hill from Winston Salem.

Ward was the first player ever drafted into the NBA from Hampton University when the Detroit Pistons selected him in the 8th round of the 1961draft.He was simultaneously drafted by the Washington, DC franchise of the now defunct American Basketball League. Walter was unable to accept either offer as he was required to comply with the military draft. From 1961 to 1963, Ward served in the United States Army as a Physical Activities Specialist and Athletic Coach in Wildwood Station, Kenai, Alaska. While on active duty, he played basketball for the Wildwood Station Post Basketball Team and was recognized as "being virtually a one man scoring machine". In the Elmendorf Tournament in 1963, Ward unanimously won MVP honors and triggered the tournament's biggest upset. The Cheechako Alaska News claimed that he had an unstoppable jump shot and was murder on the boards.

After his tour of duty with the Army, he continued to play his favorite sport with the Courtsmen in the Rucker Professional Tournament and other tournaments throughout New York City and the Tri-State area. Ward also played for the Allentown Jets in the Eastern Professional Basketball League.

Ward earned a B.S. degree in Physical Education from Hampton (Institute) University and a M.S. degree in Special Education from Manhattan College. He dedicated his life to excellence in education for over 35 years. He taught, coached, and mentored hundreds of students in New York City and Westchester County public school systems.

Walter Ward passed away on November 28, 2007. He is survived by his wife of 43 years Lorraine Scott Ward, and sons, Kenneth and Donald.

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Argle B. Whitfield (A.B.) was a highly accomplished scholastic and collegiate athlete. He enjoyed a distinguished high school career at I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, VA. Inspired by his high school mentor and football coach, Horace Savage, Whitfield lettered in football and track and field. He was a member the 1961 VIA State Championship football team and the VIA State Champion discus thrower.

Whitfield went on to star at Elizabeth City State University where he was a four-year starter on the Vikings football team, four-year star of track and field team and captain of the wrestling team. Since he did not wrestle in high school, his excellence in this sport at the collegiate level is a testament to his intelligence and athleticism.

Whitfield set a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) pass receiving record as a freshman and in 1964, as a senior, broke the then receiving record. He was the first ECSU CIAA heavy weight wrestling champion. Whitfield also was the CIAA discus champion for two years. In his junior year, he earned All-CIAA honors in football, wrestling, and track and field. Whitfield also received All-American recognition in these sports. He was selected as Elizabeth City States Most Outstanding Athlete in 1964 and 1965.

Upon graduation, Whitfield played professional football with the Montreal Alouettes, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, and the Denver Broncos.

A. B. Whitfield has been inducted into the I. C. Norcom High School and Elizabeth City State University Halls of Fame. He was inducted into the CIAA Hall of Fame in 2007.

The Hampton Roads African-American Sports Hall of Fame recognizes African American athletes who were born, spent formative years, or participated in athletics in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. For more information concerning the November 5, 2011 HRAASHF Induction Banquet, contact Yvette Todd at (757) 404-1755.