Ferrum College Alumni Sports Hall of Fame
Updated: Monday, July 16, 2007
 
 
Class of 2002
 

Jim Grobe
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Jim Grobe ’72 received an Associate of Science from Ferrum Junior College.  Grobe was a linebacker on the 1971-1972 football team.  He was a part of the undefeated Coastal Conference Championship Team.  He received the Catlin Citizenship Award and the Big Green Award.  Grobe received his undergraduate degree in education from University of Virginia.  While at UVA he was middle guard in 1973 and linebacker in 1974.  He was a two-year starter and received academic all-ACC selection.  Grobe is currently head coach of the Wake Forest Football Team.  Grobe's career highlights include of 1996 Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year.  He has a 39-38-1 career coaching record, including a 30-25-1 conference slate.
 

Jim Huff
Roanoke, Virginia

Jim Huff played football for 2 years as a place-kicking specialist.  He also participated in baseball for 1 year as a pitcher.  He graduated from Ferrum Junior College in June 1968.  Listed among Who’s Who in American Junior Colleges.  He was awarded a football scholarship to the University of Miami in Florida. Huff played football for 2 years at University of Miami.  He was a placekicking specialist for the 1968 and 1969 football seasons.  The Green Bay Packers selected Huff as a free agent place kicker in 1970.  He was under contract with the Packers for 4 months prior to release in July 1970.  Huff returned to the University of Miami in the fall of 1970, served as assistant trainer on the football team.  He then graduated from University of Miami, January 1971 with a Bachelor of Education Degree.   In 1966 he went to the Shrine Bowl trip in Savannah, GA, to participate in the Junior College National Championship game. Huff has been a life and health insurance sales agent since 1971. His current office, located at National Financial Services, Inc. since 1994.  Huff was owner and president of D&S Life from 1980-1993, and also worked for Mutual of New York from 1971-1974.  Huff was a Physical Education Teacher in the Roanoke City School System from February 1971 through June 1971.  He has built a successful client based life and health insurance business.  He has developed a reputation as trusted financial services professional, serving the Roanoke Valley since 1971.  He has 20 years of membership in the life insurance industries Million Dollar Round Table.  His membership includes the top 3% of the industries life insurance sales agents, recognizing sales achievement and client service.  In April 1982 Huff received the Ferrum College Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of Career Achievement.  Huff has been a member of the Ferrum College Alumni Board of Directors, and Ferrum College Estate Planning Council.  He also serves on Board of Directors Roanoke Better Business Bureau, Board of Directors Roanoke Country Club, member of the Rotary Club and member of the Civitans Club.
 

Eric Owens
Phoenix, Arizona

Eric Owens played baseball and football at Ferrum, where he was a first team All-American in baseball player 1991 and 1992 and led his team into the NCAA Regionals three times, including a pair of South Regional runner-up finishes in ’91 and ’92. He was the 1992 Dixie Conference Player of the Year. He left Ferrum the owner of seven school records, including marks for career batting average (.430), stolen bases (68) and triples (18), batted over .400 in each of his 3 seasons at Ferrum College.  He is Ferrum’s first and only NCAA Division III Player of the Year, earning the award in the spring of 1992.Owens was scouted and signed by Bo Trumbo of the Reds his junior year at Ferrum. He is currently playing Right Fielder for the Florida Marlins.  Previously, he led the Padres with 171 hits, 53 multi-hit games and 29 stolen bases (tied for 8th in the N.L.) in his second season with the club ... tied Ryan Klesko for the team lead with 145 games played and his 87 runs scored were one fewer than team leader Klesko.  Owens finished 2nd in the N.L. with 139 singles.  Appeared in 68 games (61 starts) in right field (.286, 2 HR, 17 RBI) ... played 65 games (45 starts) in left field (.266, 2 HR, 18 RBI... played 34 games (32 starts) in center (.349, 2 HR, 16 RBI) ... played one game at second base.  Owens has made 91 starts in the leadoff position and hit .272 (106-for-389) with 4 HR, 27 RBI, 57 runs and 14 stolen bases. He did not commit an error in 321 outfield chances and has not made an outfield error since July 21, 1999 at San Francisco, a span of 184 games ... last made an error from a corner outfield spot on August 3, 1997 vs. SF, while playing left field for Cincinnati ... led the league with 310 ground balls. Led the club and was tied for 12th in the NL with 53 multi-hit games, including 43 two-hit games, 8 three-hit games and two 4-hit efforts.
 

J. Carol Sandidge
Roanoke, Virginia

J. Carol Sandidge is a former coach for Ferrum College.  She was involved in women’s basketball, tennis, swimming, the first field hockey team, and even volleyball. She sponsored the cheerleaders and worked the concession stand for home football games.  Sandidge played with the Blue Ridge Field Hockey Club and served as nominating chairman and secretary to the Blue Ridge Field Hockey Association.  She received the Alumni Community Service Award from Longwood College.  Sandidge also received special citation for exceptional volunteer service with the American Red Cross.Sandidge served on Ferrum’s Rescue Squad Board of Directors.  She has taught classes for Roanoke Valley American Red Cross learn to swim program.  Sandidge continues to teach water safety instruction and lifeguard training, first aid basic level, and instructor level courses.  She encouraged her students to serve through Red Cross classes and YWCA community projects.  She helped guide former students to a life-long commitment in their community that resulted in helping them to be chosen as Distinguished Alumni at Ferrum.