Former LC Standout, R-MC Coaching Veteran Amongst Eight Inductees
Portsmouth, Va. --- The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame is proud to
announce the members of the Class of 2010, as chosen by vote of the
statewide Honors Court committee.
The new class features:
- Herman Moore, University of Virginia All-American football player and 1st round draft choice for the Detroit Lions in 1991;
- Whitney Hedgepeth, All-American swimmer at University of Texas and Olympic Gold medalist;
- Alonzo Mourning, Georgetown University All-American, NBA All-Star and Olympic Gold Medalist in 2000;
- Jim Dombrowski, member of the College Football Hall of Fame and 11 year career in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints;
- Dave Robbins, the winningest college basketball coach in Virginia history from Virginia Union University with an overall record of 693-175;
- Larry Peccatiello, William and Mary Hall of Fame football inductee and 40 year professional coaching career in the NFL;
- Helmut Werner, All-American soccer player at Lynchburg College and 43 year coaching career at Randolph Macon College;
- Jim Ducibella, Virginia Press Association Award recipient and over 20 years of coverage of professional football and golf.
"The Class of 2010 brings eight of the most impressive
résumés we have ever seen," says Hall of Fame
President Eddie Webb. "These individuals exemplify the
Commonwealth's diversity in sports from swimming to football, as
well as decades of achievement."
The 39th annual induction ceremony will take place on
April 24, 2010, at the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel &
Waterfront Conference Center, as the crowning event of Hall of Fame
Weekend. Tickets go on sale January 15, 2010. For
more information, call (757) 393-8031.
A closer look at the Class of 2010:
Herman Moore, born in Danville, VA, attended
the University of Virginia where he was a 2 time All-American. In
1991, he was the 1st round draft choice of the Detroit
Lions. He went on to play for the Lions through the 2001 season and
finished his career with the New York Giants. Through his
professional career, he was selected to four Pro-Bowls, from
1994-1997. In 1995, he set a NFL record with 123 single season
receptions. In 1998, Moore received the inaugural All-Iron Award
for his performance in the Thanksgiving Day game. He finished in
the top 10 four times in the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and
receiving touchdowns. His 12 year career included 670 receptions;
9,174 yards and 62 touchdowns.
Whitney Hedgepeth, born and raised in Colonial
Heights, VA, was an All-American swimmer at the University of
Texas. She is a 27 time All-American and 3 time NCAA Champion.
Hedgepeth is a seven time USA Swimming National Champion in seven
different events. She held the American record in the 200 yard
backstroke for 11 years. At the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, she
was the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic Swim Team where she
competed in the 200 individual medley. In the 1996 Olympic Games
held in Atlanta, she received a Gold medal in the 4 X 100 meter
medley. She also took home a Silver medal in both the 100 meter and
200 meter backstroke.
Alonzo Mourning, born in Chesapeake, VA, attended
Georgetown University where he led the nation in blocked shots his
freshman year and was an All-American his last year there. He was
selected second overall in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Charlotte
Hornets. Mourning was named to the league's all-rookie team in 1993
after averaging 21 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.37 blocks. He
became the Hornets' all-time career leader in blocked-shots. After
three seasons with the Hornets, Mourning was traded to the Miami
Heat where he played for the next seven seasons. He averaged 20
points and 10 rebounds per game. He won the NBA Defensive Player of
the Year Award twice and was named into the All-NBA First Team in
1999 and All-NBA Second Team in 2000. After brief stints with the
New Jersey Nets and the Toronto Raptors, Mourning returned to the
Heat in 2005 and claimed the NBA Championship in the 2006 NBA
Finals. During the 2007-08 season, he became the Heat's all-time
scoring leader. Mourning is a seven time NBA All-Star and also won
a gold medal in the 2000 Olympic Games.
Jim Dombrowski, born in Williamsville, New York,
is known as one of the finest student-athletes in the history of
the University of Virginia where he graduated in 1986. Dombrowski
was the recipient of the NCAA Today's Top Six Award for his
combined athletic ability, academic achievement, leadership
characteristics and campus involvement. He was a unanimous First
Team All-American pick in 1984 and was two-time First Team All-ACC
selection. He also is the three time winner of the Jacobs Blocking
Trophy as the ACC's best offensive lineman. The New Orleans Saints
chose Dombrowski sixth overall in the 1986 NFL Draft. He spent 11
seasons with the Saints and was inducted into the Saints Hall of
Fame in 2003. His jersey #73 is retired at the University of
Virginia and in 2008; Dombrowski was inducted into the College
Football Hall of Fame.
Dave Robbins, native of North Carolina and a
graduate of Catawba College, is the winningest College Basketball
Coach in Virginia history. For over a quarter of a century, Robbins
was the head coach at Virginia Union University where he holds
three NCAA titles, seven NCAA regional championships, seven trips
to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, 12 CIAA championships and a
winning percentage of .785. He has a winning record of 639-175.
Robbins is only the second coach ever to win NCAA Tournament titles
in three different decades. During his tenure at VUU, Robbins has
helped mold the college careers of NBA players Ben Wallace, Charles
Oakley, Terry Davis and Jamie Waller.
Larry Peccatiello, a 1957 graduate of William and
Mary, was named All-American his senior year. He was inducted into
the William and Mary Hall of Fame in 1974. After a two year stint
in the Army, Peccatiello returned to Williamsburg in 1961 where he
began his coaching career that spanned over six decades. The first
part of his career, he enjoyed much success with the Houston Oilers
and the Seattle Seahawks. In 1981, Peccatiello joined the defensive
coaching staff of the Washington Redskins where he remained through
1993 claiming three Super Bowls (1983, 1988, 1992) under head coach
Joe Gibbs. He coached for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1994-1996 and
finished his coaching career with the Detroit Lions before retiring
in 2001.
Helmut Werner, born in Ukraine, Russia, graduated
from Lynchburg College in 1961. During his collegiate soccer
career, he was named All-State and Regional All-American from
1957-60 and All-American in 1960. He also led the U.S. in goals and
assists in 1959. Werner was in the first class to be inducted into
his alma mater's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978. Werner took over
the men's soccer head coaching position in 1962 and remained there
through 2004. During his impressive 43 seasons at RMC, Werner's
teams had 34 winning campaigns, including ten in a row from
1991-2000. Werner ranks in the top twenty in the nation among all
men's soccer coaches. In 2001, he was inducted into the
Virginia-D.C. Soccer Hall of Fame.
Jim Ducibella, born in Washington, D.C., graduated
from Xavier University in 1974. He completed his masters in Print
Journalism, graduating from Marquette University in 1976. Ducibella
joined the Virginia-Pilot staff in 1981 where he covered Old
Dominion men's and women's basketball from 1981-83, Virginia
football and basketball from 1984-85, state golf and the Washington
Redskins for over 20 years. Ducibella was awarded with the Virginia
Pilot's Slover Award for Sports Writing in 1984. He was also the
recipient of the Virginia Sportswriter of the Year for 1985 and
1989 as given by the National Association of Sportscasters and
Sportswriters. He was part of a team of writers who won first place
for Sports Writing in the Virginia Press Association contest in
1995; and second place in 1989. Ducibella also hosted a daily
sports talk show on WGH 1310 and authored "Par Excellence", a look
at the history of golf in Virginia.
About the Virginia Sports
Hall of Fame & Museum
Since 1972, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum
has been proud to honor Virginia's contributions to the world of
sports. We are the Commonwealth's official hall of fame, and
one of only 16 throughout the nation. Our mission is to honor
athletic excellence and serve as a nonprofit educational resource
centered on health, math, science and character development
programs, while inspiring visitors through sports history and
interactive entertainment. For more information, go to www.vshfm.com.