Florida A&M selects 11 for induction
Women's basketball duo of Cathy Robinson and Natalie White heads Silver Anniversary class to be enshrined into Sports Hall of Fame

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Florida A&M Sports Hall of Fame committee has selected 11 persons for induction during ceremonies Friday, August 31 at the Silver Slipper Restaurant at 6.30 p.m.

This year's group, which will be the 25th class of inductees since the FAMU Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 1976, will also be saluted at halftime of the season-opening football game against Delaware State on September 1. Kickoff will be at 7:00 p.m. at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

Heading the class of 2001 will be forward Cathy Robinson and guard Natalie White, the dynamic duo that carried the Florida A&M Rattlerettes to three conference titles and a school-best 24-6 record in 1994-95.

Robinson stands as the school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder in women's basketball history, while White, who twice led the nation in steals, presently reigns as NCAA Division One's career steals leader in women's basketball.

Joining this scintillating basketball duo will be the "FAMU Famed Final Four," the quartet of John Cuyler, Charles "Trick Shot" White, Willie Irvin and Thomas Hogan, who banded together to win the 1952 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament. This foursome, played a man short (due to foul trouble) through five minutes of regulation play and two overtimes, to edge Alabama State, 71-67, in that now fabled final game on Alabama State's home court.

Also selected for induction was Floyd Kelly (baseball), Rudy Givens (football), Bill McCray (swimming), Bennie Moore (football) and Nehemiah Chambers (supporter of athletics).

NEHEMIAH CHAMBERS (Supporter of Athletics 1963-Present) - Has been a loyal supporter of FAMU Athletics and a top fund-raiser for the FAMU Boosters, Inc. Chambers was Vice President of the Boosters from 1973 to 1978 and President of the organization from 1978 to 1983. He has raised over $300,000 for the organization and additionally has rendered service to Athletics through his Chambers' Floor Covering, Inc. In 2000, Chambers did $5,000.00 of carpeting work in the Gallmore-Powell Football Fieldhouse. He received the 1984 FAMU Athletic Department Service Award, for services rendered to the department.

FAMU'S FAMED "FINAL FOUR" (Basketball, 1952) - The foursome of Thomas Hogan, Willie Irvin, Charlie White and John Cuyler helped FAMU win the 1952 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference basketball tournament title. They played the last 13 minutes of the title games (including two (2) overtimes) without a "fifth" man, winning over Alabama State, 71-67. The last eligible player fouled out with three minutes left in regulation, leaving Hogan (2 points), Irvin (15), White (12) and Cuyler (3) in the game.

RUDY GIVENS (Football, 1961-65) - A star prep lineman out of Miami, Givens was a stalwart on the Rattler defensive line from 1961 to 1965. He was named Defensive Player of the Year as a senior (1965). Due to his leadership abilities, Givens was also named Co-Captain of the Rattler Football team in 1965.

FLOYD A. KELLY (Baseball, :1965-69) - An outstanding teacher and coach in the Polk County area, Kelly was a topflight diamondeer for FAMU. In the late 1960s. Kelly lettered three years (1967-69), owning a .320 career batting average. He captured first team All-SIAC honors In 1967 and 1968.

WILLIAM "Bill" MCCRAY (Swimming, 1967-71) - McCray was a standout performer for the FAMU swimming and diving team in the late 1960s and early 1970's. He lettered four seasons, winning the SIAC diving championship as a freshman, while also making an impact in various events as a swimmer, most notably In the medleys. He is now a FAMU administrator.

BENNIE MOORE (Football, 1950-53) - A former prep star who was a standout linebacker for the Rattlers in the early 1950s, Moore was a founding father of the FAMU Varsity "F" Club. He was cited by the Miami Herald "as one of two of the best linebackers to play in the Orange Bowl Stadium," in 1952. Moore has fashioned a superb record in the Miami-Dade County area in education and community service.

CATHY ROBINSON (Women's Basketball, 1992-96) - The school's all-time scoring and rebounding queen, Robinson. a former All-State performer from nearby Quincy (Fla.) Shanks High, scored 2,040 points while grabbing 1,028 in 113 games over a four-year career. The 1996 MEAC Player of the Year for Women's Basketball, Robinson is the only Rattlerette to surpass the 2,000 point and 1,000 rebound barrier in a career and is just the second FAMU basketball player (male or female to accomplish both feats. The willowy forward was a three-time All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference pick (1994, 1995, 1996). Robinson earned Black College All-America honors in 1996. after helping lead FAMU to its' third straight regular season title (1994. 1995, 1996).

NATALIE WHITE (Women's Basketball, 1992-95) - A native of Fort Valley, Ga., White played point guard for the Florida A&M Rattlerettes, helping them to two regular season Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles (1994, 1995) and the 1995 MEAC Tournament title. FAMU earned its' first-ever NCAA Tournament bid in 1995 thanks to the exploits of White and her teammates. She still reigns as NCAA Division One's all time steals' leader (624) and she is second all time in FAMU history in assists (497), sandwiched in between two current Hall of Famers, April Manning (521) and Shelly Boston-Parker (490). White led the nation in steals as a freshman (143 in 1992), a junior (172 in 1994) and as a senior (191 in 1995) and still holds the NCAA record for most steals as a freshman (143). White was the MEAC Player of the Year in Women's Basketball in 1995 and was a three-time All-MEAC (1993, 1994, 1995) selection, She also earned Black College All-America honors all four years (1992-95).

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