Salisbury, N.C. – The Livingstone College Athletic Department inducted 13 into its fourth annual athletic hall of fame June 17-18. The event, “Celebrity Sports Scholarship Weekend” consisted of a black-tie induction ceremony on Friday night; which was held in the ballroom of the University Hilton in Charlotte, NC at 8:00 p.m. A celebrity golf tournament was held the next morning with a 9:00 am shotgun start at the Rocky River Golf Course in Concord, NC.

Honorees were former coach, instructor, and athletic director Dr. Fred Ponder, former football athlete and interim president Dr. Roy Hudson ‘55, former football and basketball athlete Charles Kirk, Sr. ’60, former football and tennis athlete Dr. James Talley ’63, former football athlete and former coach Thomas “Rudy” Abrams ’64, former football and golf athlete Judge William “Pete” Hunter ’66, contributor William Bunch ’69, former football athlete John Farrar ’73, former football athlete Horace Ballard ’74, former softball and track athlete and Miss Livingstone Jacqueline Kendall ’81, former basketball athlete and former coach Antonio Davis ’87, former volleyball, basketball, and track athlete Sherie Bell ’93, and former volleyball and basketball athlete April Hawkins ’97.

Dr. Fred Ponder, Bartlesville, OK, excelled at Livingstone as a tennis coach from 1973 to 1985. His teams won the CIAA Southern Division Titles in 1973, ’75, ’76, ’78, ’80, ’81, and ’82. Livingstone was the conference Runner-up in 1973, ’75, ’76, ’78, ’80, and ’81. In 1983, the tennis team finished third in the CIAA. Ponder also served as track coach, assistant football coach, PE instructor, and Director of Athletics at Livingstone. Dr. Ponder is now retired and resides in Salisbury, NC.

Dr. Roy Hudson ‘55, Chattanooga, TN, excelled in football while at Livingstone. As a student-athlete on the Blue Bears football team, he was voted team captain from 1953-55 and honored All-EIAC. Dr. Hudson was elected to the All-Time All-Livingstone Football Team; which consisted of 22 men from the first 76 years of football at Livingstone. The team was selected as part of the celebration of the Centennial Year of Black College Football in the United States in 1969. Dr. Hudson served on the Board of Trustees and as a Interim President. He now retired and resides in Kalamazoo, MI.

Charles Kirk Sr. ’60, Albemarle, NC, received numerous awards in athletics. He earned First Team All-EIAC and Player of the year in 1956-57. Kirk was awarded the Sidney Green Memorial Award as Livingstone’s most outstanding student-athlete. During the 1957-58 season, he was the co-captain of the football and basketball teams. Charles Kirk earned All-EIAC honors all four years. Kirk resides in Temple Hills, MD where he and his family are members of the “From the Heart Church Ministries”.

Dr. James Talley ’63, Spartanburg, SC, was a four-year starter and captain in football as a half-back, defensive back, defensive end, punter, and kicker. He excelled on the gridiron on the school’s first EIAC Championship team and as a member of the All-EIAC team in 1960. He was also a member and four-year captain on the Blue Bears Track Team. On the track, he was a sprinter, hurdler, and long jumper. Dr. Talley volunteered his services to the tennis team as their 7th man. He worked with the team as a practice and conditioning player. He coached in the 2003 and 2004 Division II All Star Football Game – The Cactus Bowl in Kingsville, TX. Dr. James Talley, is the former mayor of his hometown Spartanburg, SC.

Thomas “Rudy” Abrams ’64, Charlotte, NC, was a member of the Livingstone 1960 EIAC Championship team. Abrams returned to his alma-mater in 1994 after retiring from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system as a successful football coach at West Charlotte and East Mecklenburg High Schools. As the head of the football team, Coach Abrams guided his 1997 squad to an undefeated season and back-to-back CIAA championships in 1998. The Blue Bears played in the first and second annual Pioneer Bowl. Abrams was named the CIAA Football Coach of the Year three times out of his five seasons at Livingstone. He was awarded the CIAA Coach of the Year by the Pigskin Club in Washington DC in 1995, ’96, and ’98, as well as the CIAA Coach of the Year by the “100% Wrong Club” in Atlanta, GA in 1996 and ’97. Thomas Abrams is retired and resided in Charlotte, NC.

Judge William “Pete” Hunter ’66, Charlotte, NC, was recruited to Livingstone by the late Coach Charles Cox. Judge Hunter excelled with the Blue Bears as a dual-sport athlete as a tailback and linebacker on the football team and a member of the golf team. In 1966, his golf team finished second in the CIAA Championships. Judge Pete Hunter currently presides in High Point, NC.

Dr. William Bunch ’69, Durham, NC, was a contributor to Livingstone athletics as a student and as an alumnus. Dr. Bunch supported athletics and represented athletics as the senior class president in 1969. He has served as the president of the Durham Alumni Chapter for 12 years. He has supported the college as Executive V.P. for the National Alumni Association and President. Dr. Bunch chaired three campaigns that generated $100,000 for Livingstone in a six month period. He helped to establish his ’69 Class giving program that resulted in gifts escalating from $1,800 in 1974 to $50,000 in 1989, and from $69,000 in 1994 to $100,000 in 1999. Dr. Bunch has been a leading supporter of athletics as one of the first Life Members of the Blue Bears Club, Inc. He has served 12 years on the Board of Trustees. Dr. William Bunch resides in Durham, NC and his entire family has attended Livingstone College.

John Farrar ’73, Mt. Holly, NC, earned a starting role on the football as a freshman and only missed one game during his four-year campaign. He has voted Rookie of the Year and Coca-cola Golden Helmet Award winner. In 1973, he was selected team captain and earned All-CIAA, and All-District 26. He was the team’s MVP and rated one of the top five linebackers in the nation by the St. Louis Sporting News. John Farrar signed with the Houston Oilers and then with the San Francisco 49ers. He has been in the Automobile Industry for the past 15 years in Hopewell and he works in his community with high risk boys in the local school system.

Horace Ballard ’74, Gates, NC, entered Livingstone as student concentrating on academics. Ballard did not stay in the stands long, for he joined the team as a walk-on, two weeks into the season. Horace Ballard worked his way up through the ranks becoming a three-year letterman and team captain in 1973. He was also named to the All-CIAA Defensive team in ’73. He is the current president and life member of the Blue Bears Club, Inc. Ballard is the founder and presenter of the Baxter D. Holman Memorial Award that is given annually to the male and female student-athlete with the highest grade point average. He currently resides in Charlotte, NC and works as the Carolina Regional Truck Tire Manager with Michelin America Truck Tires.

Jacqueline Kendall ’81, Hampton, VA, was very active at Livingstone and in the community. As a student-athlete, Kendall lobbied for the Livingstone to reinstate women’s track and field program. Along with track, she was a member of the softball team and featured member of the marching band. In 1980, Kendall was the first of four future track athletes to be elected as Miss Livingstone College. She currently resides in the Hampton, VA area and plays a vital role in the track & field program in the area. She is an assistant track coach for Bethel High School.

Antonio Davis ’87, Sunbury, NC, was a basketball stand-out at Livingstone. He earned Rookie of the Year honors and as a sophomore; he was one of the leading scorers in the nation with a 30.3 points per game average. Davis earned All-CIAA, All District 26, and All-American honors. He was given the Sidney Green Award as Livingstone Athlete of the Year. Davis returned to college in 1987 and again led the nation in scoring in ’87-’88. In three seasons, he led the nation in free-throws, was the team’s captain, and named Most Valuable Player. He currently reigns as Livingstone’s all-time leading scorer with over 1,600 career points. Antonio Davis took over the women’s basketball program in 1990 and turned a 0-23 team into a winning 15-12 team. He currently resides in Raleigh, NC and is the Head Coach of Saint Augustine’s women’s basketball team.

Sherie Bell ’93, Charlotte, NC, transferred to Livingstone from Queen’s College on an academic and track & field scholarship. Bell was a three-sport athlete, participating in volleyball, basketball, and track. She was a co-captain on all three teams and excelled most in track & field. Bell earned numerous awards including Student Athlete of the Year honors and the 1993 Class Valedictorian. She resides in Charlotte, NC where she is a Police Sergeant for the Providence Division. She is completing her MBA studies at Pfeiffer University in Charlotte with a current GPA of 4.0.

April Hawkins ’97, Spencer, NC, was a team captain on the women’s basketball team. She was a two-time team MVP and in 1996, she became the CIAA Three-point Shoot-out Champion. During her senior season, she surpassed the 1,000 point plateau and was named to the First Team All-CIAA and winner of the Baxter Holman Memorial Award. She resides in Rowan County and works in the community with the Rowan-Salisbury Parks and Recreation.

The induction ceremony, at University Hilton (Harris Blvd.), is open to the public at $100 per plate. The Celebrity Golf Tournament, at Rocky River Golf Course – Concord, NC, is also open to the public at $85 per individual golfer or $325 per foursome. All Profits will benefit the Livingstone College Athletic Scholarship Foundation.