Jan. 20, 2010
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Department of Athletics announced its 2010 Hall of Fame class today. The class, made up of five former Hawk greats will be enshrined on Homecoming weekend in a ceremony held, February 19, 2010 in the ballroom of the Student Services Center on the campus of UMES.
The class, featuring four hardwood greats and one track and field legend, will combine with the previous 184 inductees that hang in the foyer of the William P. Hytche Athletic Center. The list includes men's basketball greats Talvin Skinner, Rubeun Collins and Reginald Butler as well as women's hoops standout Sondra Cockfield. Robert "Bob" Brown will represent the Hawk runners.
Talvin Skinner, the Hawk that played in the NBA longer than any other, will be inducted for his individual play in men's basketball. Already inducted as part of the 1973-74 NIT Team, the first team from a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to make the event, Skinner had many solo accomplishments in his playing days. He was a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Hall of Famer in 2002, was an all-conference selection in 72-73 & 73-74 as well as the MEAC Tournament's Most Outstanding Performer in 1974. He led his team in rebounding in his final two seasons, was the 1973 NAIA Tournament's leading rebounder, and totaled nearly 400 points and rebounds the same year. Skinner's final year saw him post 456 points and grab 353 boards. He still stands eighth all-time in NAIA rebounding. Skinner was drafted by the Seattle Supersonics in 1974 in the third round. He was also an ABA draftee the same year by the New York Nets in the 5th round. He later became an assistant coach with the WNBA's Seattle Storm and was on the bench when they won the title in 2005.
Rubeun Collins, also a member of the same NIT Team, will be inducted for his personal accomplishments as well. Collins played basketball at UMES for three seasons, including winning a MEAC Championship in 1974 and the regular season title in 1973 and 74. His team earned an Associated Press ranking of 20th in the national AP poll during the 1974 season and finished leading the nation in points per game with 96.7. That team average was before the three-point line existed in college basketball. Collins was an All-MEAC backcourt selection in 73 and 74 and was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers in 1974 in the second round. He was an All-American in 1974 and a member of the NAIA All-Tournament Team in 1973. He is a member of the 1,000 point club at UMES, posting 1,075 in just his final two seasons.
Reginald Butler played on the Hawk hardwood from the 67-68 season through 70-71. Butler earned his degree in Physical Education in 1971 and was a starting point guard for all four years of his collegiate career. As quarterback of the Hawk offense, Butler's squads won more games over a four year span than any other four year block of Hawk basketball. In a time when assists were not tracked, it is believed that Butler would still stand atop the all-time assists list at UMES. He played on teams with five UMES Hall of Famers which won the NAIA District Championship in 1969 and 1970 was third in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) standings in 1969. A student of Hall of Fame Coach Joe Robinson, Butler went on to a 36 year career with the Department of Defense.
Representing women's basketball is Sondra Cockfield. The Scranton, S.C. native was the 1992 MEAC Player of the Year was a first-team All-MEAC selection in 1991-92 and a second-team selection the previous year. She was also a member of the 1991 MEAC All-Tournament Team. That same year she finished 9th in the nation in steals per game with a 4.0 average over 29 games, good for 117 thefts. Cockfield's teams had performed the best of any recent teams until the Fred Batchelor era. Her 1990-91 squad finished third in the conference with a record of 16-13 and 9-5 in league play. The following year they improved to second place, going 17-10 and 11-3 in conference. Both teams made the semi-finals of the MEAC Tournament, falling just short of the championship game.
The lone inductee from track and field is standout runner and coach, Robert "Bob" Brown. Brown was a member of the track and field team from 1962-1966 and later coached the team for two seasons, from 1978 through 1980. As a coach, Brown was the mentor to current UMES record holders Howard Lindsay in the 400M and Ian Daley in the 500M. As an athlete, Brown was a member of the 1962 and 1964 NAIA District Champion teams for men's outdoor track and a member of the 1963 CIAA Championship squad. One is most important accomplishments however came in 1964 when Brown, along with Hall of Famers, Edwin Skinner, Earl Rogers and Harley Morris broke the world mile relay record. He was coached by the legendary Cappy Anderson, who is a Hall of Fame coach at UMES and whose name adorns the outdoor track and field stadium. Brown went on to coach Track & Field at George Mason University for nine years where his teams won three indoor and seven outdoor ICAAAA team championships. Two of those teams went on to capture third and fifth place respectively at the NCAA Championships. He coached numerous All-Americans, Olympians and World Games participants was well as many Washington Redskins players, including Dexter Manley who worked with Brown during off-seasons conditioning. His daughter, Kharya, an AAU All-American and junior national champion is following in his track legacy. She is a freshman on this year's Indoor and Outdoor squads at his alma mater, UMES.
Tickets can be purchased for the Hall of Fame banquet by calling the UMES Athletic Office at 410-651-6496.
