Livingstone College inducts ten into the Third Annual Athletic Hall of Fame

Salisbury N.C.  – Livingstone College inducted ten alumni into its third annual athletic hall of fame Friday, June 25, at Ballantyne Resort and Spa in Charlotte, NC. James Bridges ’58, of Greensboro, NC; Robert Burrell ’66, of Forestville, MD; Erica Moore Carter, '97, of Salisbury, NC; Robert Cockerl Jr. '66, of Salisbury, NC; Paul Kluttz Sr., '70, of Albemarle, NC; Former Coach John D. Marshall of Fayetteville, NC; Clifford Phifer, '62, of Plymouth, NC; Dr. David Shinholster, '57, of Jefferson City, MO; Henry Ricardo Smith, '78, of Chesapeake, VA; and Robert Steele Jr. of Salisbury, NC; were inducted during a special black tie ceremony at a dinner gala.

Patrons weathered their first hole of 18 with rain but quickly it dried out and everyone enjoyed the remainder of the golf outing. With winning foursome of Roderick Randolph, Carlos Dowell, Erick Zirkle, and Ryan Sulkowski, shot a captain’s choice 57. Randolph, Dowell, and Zirkle are all members of the athletic department.

Proceeds from all the events will support Livingstone’s athletic program.

The Livingstone College alumni who will be inducted into the hall of fame are:

James Bridges, ’58: James Bridges is a native of Salisbury, NC and resident of Greensboro, NC. He graduated from Livingstone in 1958 and served in the US Army – assigned to the European Theatre with the 3^rd Artillery Division in Germany. He was also assigned special duties at the Post Education Center as the Assistant Education Director. Bridges served as a coach and teacher at Brawley High in Scotland, NC, Carver High in Kannapolis, NC, JC Price High and Salisbury High in Salisbury, NC. Bridges coached in the sports of football and Junior varsity basketball and he introduced the track & field program to Carver High and the community in 1964. Bridges received his Master’s Degree in Education from NC A&T State University. He was the first black administrator at Guilford Technical Community College as the Assistant Dean of Adult Basic Education. James Bridges has coached many neighborhood children including his own at the Greensboro Recreation Program. The sports included football, girls’ softball and basketball.

Robert Burrell, ’66: Robert Burrell is a native of Washington, DC and a resident of Forestville, MD. Burrell was a Blue Bear basketball standout from 1962-66. He started every game as a guard for four seasons, led the team in scoring, co-captained his final two seasons, and led the team to its first ever CIAA Tournament appearance in 1965. He received the College Achievement Award, was an Alpha Kappa Mu Inductee and an honor student from 1963-66. He received his Master of Education Degree from Antioch College in Supervision and Administration. Burrell returned home to DC to teach and helped establish the District of Columbia Elementary School athletic programs where he coached basketball, softball, football, and volleyball. This started out as a league of four schools and now is now a citywide athletic program. He helped coach the boys’ varsity and head coached the girls’ varsity basketball teams at Spingarn High from 1977-84. During his tenure, he was a part of two regular season championship teams, three tournament championships, and two citywide championships. His last team was 310 and ranked number one in the nation in 1985. His top players included Sherman Douglas, Earl Jones, and Michael Graham.

Erica Moore Carter, ’97: Erica Moore Carter is a native Riverside, CA and a resident of Salisbury, NC. Carter was a Livingstone Track & Field standout that earned All-CIAA honors in 1991 and 1992. In the ’92 CIAA Championship, she captured titles in the shot put and discus and was named the championship’s field MVP. Carter still holds the Livingstone record in the shot put with a throw of 43’10”. She was a member of the concert choir and women’s basketball team. Prior to Livingstone, Erica excelled at Essex County Community College where she twice earned All-American honors and placed seventh in the Junior College National Championship in the shot put. Carter is presently working for the Rowan-Salisbury School System as a Behavior Support Liaison. She is associated with the Youth Service Bureau, Big Brother Big Sister, Rhapsody for Youth, and the Rowan Helping Ministry.

Robert Cockerl Jr., ’66: Robert Cockerl, Jr. is a native and resident of Salisbury, NC where he is an outstanding community leader and volunteer. Cockerl, a ‘62 graduate of Dunbar High School and a ‘66 graduate of Livingstone, was a football standout. In 1964, he was voted All-CIAA honorable mention and the 1964 Sidney Green Athlete of the Year Award. In 1965, Cockerl received the Most Unsung Hero Award for his outstanding play as a tackle for the Blue Bears football team. He was featured in the Salisbury Post as the most Underrated player of the Year. He currently works with the Allstate Insurance Company where he has over 30 years of experience. In 1986, Cockerl received the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service in recognition of his service to his community and state. His community works includes Boy Scouts, Big Brothers, Adopt-A-School Committee, United Way Fund Drive Chairman, Livingstone College Youth Motivation Task Force, North Rowan High School Ways & Means Chairman, Livingstone College United Negro College Fund Drive, Allstate’s Award and Recognition Award (Honor Ring) and voluntary instructor on insurance classes at Livingstone College and North Rowan High School. Robert Cockerl is a retired teacher after 33 years of teaching Biology and Physical Science. 

Paul Kluttz Sr., ’70: Paul Kluttz, Sr., a resident of Albemarle, NC, received the “Freshman Defensive Player of the Year” award. As a sophomore, he earned All-CIAA Honorable Mention honors and the team's most valuable player his junior season and was a member of the 1968-69 All-CIAA Conference Team. As a senior and four-year letterman, Kluttz was the team captain and named to the All-NAIA District 26, All-CIAA, and Team MVP. He appeared in 1970 edition of Outstanding College Athletes in America. He received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics degree from Livingstone in 1970 and signed as a NFL free agent with the Miami Dolphins. He served a brief stint with the New York Jets before resigning to become a mathematics teacher. He taught and coached at Orange County High School and Albemarle High School Kluttz switched from mathematics to Driver Education and gained a Master's of Science in Industrial Technology (Driver & Traffic Safety) in 1975 from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. Paul received his Principal Certification in 1977 from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and an ABD in Traffic Safety Education and Administration in 1981 from Florida State University. He spent the majority of his time coaching on the track. As the boys' head coach, he led from 1977 to 1982. He served as an assistant on the track from 1982 to 1991 and indoor coach from 1981 to 1991. Klutz took over the girls' indoor track & field program from 1981 the 1991. He was assistant coach to the girls from 1982 to 1985 and 1991 to 1995. The girls program was the Rocky River Conference Champions from 1985 to 1991. They were the Stanly County Champions from 1982 - 1995, Regional and Sectional Champions from 1986-1988. The Albemarle girls track team won the 1986-87 State 2A Championship. Kluttz was the team president and coach of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Stanly Streamers from 1981 to 1991. In 2003, Paul Kluttz, Sr. retired from Albemarle City Schools System after 33 years of dedicated service as a Coach and Teacher.

John D. Marshall, Jr.: John D. Marshall, Jr. is a native of Bowling Green, VA and a resident of Fayetteville, NC. He is a 1952 graduate of South Carolina State College. He later received a Master’s & Director’s Degree in Health and Physical Education from Indiana University. Marshall also served a brief stint in the US Armed Forces (US Air Force). Marshall began his career as head football coach at Hillside High School in Heath Springs, SC. He began his collegiate coaching at Elizabeth City State University and Langston University. In 1966 he accepted the Livingstone position as head coach. Marshall also served as co-chair of Health and Physical Education Department, Varsity Tennis Coach and in 1970 he became Athletic Director. After leaving Livingstone, he served brief stints at Johnson C. Smith University, Virginia State University, Assistant Athletic Director at his Alma Mater - South Carolina State University, and Athletic Director at Virginia Union University. Marshall’s final stint came at Fayetteville State University where he became Athletic Director, Health & Physical Education Instructor, Intramural Sports Director and Varsity Tennis until he retired in 1995.

In appreciation for his service contributions, John Marshall has amassed honors and awards including: First Academic Advisement Program – NC State System, Development of FSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985 where he was later inducted in 1992; member NACDA Hall of Fame in 1987. His player graduation rate was 83% for Livingstone College 1965-1973; Virginia State; 1974-1978; and Fayetteville State 1980-1989.

Clifford Phifer, ’62: Clifford A. Phifer, a native of Kannapolis North Carolina, graduated from Livingstone in 1962. In football, Phifer earned Second Team All-EIAC Honors in 1959. He was a member of the 1960 EIAC Football Championship team, he was ranked nationally as a punter, and he received All-EIAC Honors. During the 1961-62 season, Clifford Phifer was named a co-captain for the Blue Bears. In the sport of track & field, Phifer had a stellar performance at the 1960 and 1962 Journal & Time Norfolk Relays and South Carolina Relays. He set a school record in the men's javelin, which still stands at 234 feet. Twice during his collegiate career at Livingstone, he was named the Sidney Greene Memorial Award Winner as the institution's most outstanding athlete in 1961 and in 1962. After Livingstone, Clifford Phifer furthered his studies at Duke, North Carolina Central and East Carolina University where he received M.A.'s in Administration and Education Specialist. Phifer has served as Principal at Washington County Union School, Crewell Elementary School, and Crewell High School. Phifer is currently the principal of Plymouth High School in Plymouth, North Carolina. He has been a game official for football, basketball, baseball, and softball for over 20 years.

Dr. David Shinholster, ’57: Dr. David Shinholster is a native of Concord, NC where he graduated Logan High School in 1950. He is a resident of Jefferson City, Mo. Prior to entering Livingstone College, Shinholster served two years (1951-1953) of military service with the U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg (near Fayetteville) NC. After completing Parachutist school, he proudly led the 82nd Airborne Division as an Honor Guard in President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 1st Inauguration Parade in 1952 in Washington, DC. Also, in 1952, David Shinholster was a member of the undefeated football team of Division Artillery, 82nd Airborne Division. He was selected to the division All Star team as a defensive back and was also selected to the All-Army Third team. The 82nd Airborne DivArty team of Ft. Bragg defeated soundly the 11th Airborne Division team in the Airborne Bowl played at Fort Campbell, KY. He enrolled at Livingstone in 1954 and participated in football and basketball. Shinholster played three years under Head Coach Edward L. Mitchell; he was selected to the All-EIAC Team in football for each of the three years participation (1955, 1956, 1957). In 1955, Shinholster was the leading ground gainer; in 1956, awarded the Sidney Green Memorial Award given to Livingstone College’s most Outstanding Athlete of the year; and he was Co-Captain of the football team in 1957 along with James “Penny” Bridges. He graduated in 1957 with a B.S. Degree in Biology. Following graduation, Shinholster worked at Upchurch High School, Raeford, NC, during 1957-1959 as a Teacher of Science and Mathematics, Basketball and Track Coach, and Senior class Advisor. In 1963-1964, Shinholster earned the M.S. Degree in Molecular Biology at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA and returned to Livingstone where he served as Instructor and Assistant Professor of Biology for five years. He also served as Head Basketball Coach for the 1964-1965 school year. The team was the first Livingstone team to qualify and participate in the annual CIAA Basketball Tournament where they won the Sportsmanship Trophy. 

Henry Smith, ’78: Henry Ricardo Smith is a native of South Hampton County, VA and a resident of Chesapeake, VA. Smith entered Livingstone in the fall of 1974 and began rewriting the Blue Bears' record book as a sprinter. He was a four-time All-CIAA performer and twice picked as the Most Outstanding Performer in the CIAA Championships of 1977 and 1978. Smith excelled on the national level earning NAIA ALL-American status three times in his career. He participated in two US Olympic Trials. Once he finished fifth in the 100 meters and the second year the Olympics were boycotted by USA. Until recently, Smith held many of Livingstone's sprint and relay records. After College, Smith returned to Virginia where he has been a Customer Service Relational Manager for Mike Duman Auto for the past 11 years. He is currently active is bowling and basketball and is considering the formation of a Youth Track Club.

Robert Steele Jr., ’75: Robert Steele Jr is a native and resident of Salisbury, NC. He is a graduate of East Rowan High School and he earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Livingstone in 1975. He received a Master of Arts Degree from NC A&T State University in 1991. Coach Steele is most known for his tenure at North Rowan High School, which spans from 1986-present. As a teacher in the Public school system, he was chosen as Teacher of the Year at North Rowan High School, chosen twice as one of the top ten teachers in the Rowan-Salisbury School System and was also chosen by the Student Body President at North Rowan High School to be the county teacher to attend the Inauguration of Governor James Hunt. He has coached Football, Basketball, and Track on the High School level and Amateur Athletic Union (AUU) Level. In 1992, he created the AAU Team ~ Rowan Express Track & Field Club. He was head coach of the team for 15 years. Steele has received many accolades as track and field coach. Included are six Gatorade Athletes of the Year, 15 All-Americans, 59 Individual State Champions, one High School National Athlete of the Year in 1998, one National Record Holder in the Triple Jump, and five National Champions. The North Rowan High School Track Team has won the Sportsmanship award on the state level ~ four times and won 12 State Championships, which included seven outdoor and five indoor championships. Coach Steele has had five athletes to make the USA Junior National Track team and compete abroad, where his teams have been competing since 1990. He has been named Conference Track & Field Coach of the Year in various conferences 18 separate times. In addition to numerous awards, Coach Steele has been named National High School Track & Field Coach of the year three times with his latest honor coming this year.