Volume 7, Number 1, 1997
UD Athletics Hall of Fame
A University of Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame has been established to salute outstanding athletes, coaches and administrators who have contributed to UD's athletic tradition of excellence."We are very proud of our athletics heritage, and this Hall of Fame will forever honor those who have brought prestige to the University of Delaware. It's important that we remember those who have preceded us in building our great athletics tradition," Edgar N. Johnson, director of athletics, says.
Plaques were awarded to the inductees at a November ceremony and also will be permanently displayed on the MBNA America Concourse of the Bob Carpenter Sports/Convocation Center.
Those inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame are:
- Anne Brooking, HN '84, field hockey and women's lacrosse All-American and UD's 1982-83 outstanding senior female athlete;
- The late R.R.M. Carpenter, UD trustee for 45 years, Blue Hen supporter and benefactor;
- Karen Emas Borbee, HN '85, three-time women's lacrosse All-American, most prolific scorer in women's collegiate lacrosse history and UD's 1983-84 outstanding senior female athlete;
- The late Chuck Hall, HN '70, 1970 Associated Press All-American football fullback, 1968 East Coast Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, who led Delaware to three Lambert Cup trophies;
- Ken Luck, AS '82, All-American honorable mention in men's basketball, holder of 13 records upon graduation and UD's record holder for outdoor triple jump in track and field;
- Vincent "Winnie" Mayer, AG '33, outstanding football and baseball player, named to Delaware's All-Time Football Team in 1989 and longtime Blue Hen fan and supporter;
- The late Bill Murray, former head football coach who, in 1946, led the Blue Hens to their first national title and to a UD record 32-game winning streak, member of the College Football Hall of Fame (1974) and executive director of the American Football Coaches Association (1966-81);
- The late David M. Nelson, head football coach and originator of the Wing-T offense, led 1963 team to small-college national title, foremost authority on National Collegiate Athletic Association football rules, member of College Football Hall of Fame (1987), full-time commissioner of the Yankee Conference, director of athletics (1951-84) and dean of the College of Physical Education, Athletics and Recreation (1980-90);
- Janet Smith, three-time women's lacrosse national champion head coach, led Blue Hens to three straight national titles and four East Coast Conference titles, member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame and currently associate professor in physical education; and
- Irvin "Ace" Taylor, EG '30, football team captain and basketball, baseball and soccer standout, UD's first outstanding senior male athlete (1929-30) and member of Delaware's All-Time Football Team.
The inductees were selected by a nine-person committee, chaired by Johnson and including UD athletics staff and coaches, as well as alumni and Board of Trustees members.
For information and nomination forms for the Hall of Fame, contact the Delaware Sports Information Office at
(302) 831-2186.