Ferrum College Alumni Sports Hall of Fame
Updated: Tuesday, November 04, 2008
 
 
Class of 2008
 

Jesse (Bill) Bennett Jr. ‘57
Ringgold, Virginia

Played baseball and basketball at Ferrum in 1955-56 and 1956-57 … In basketball, averaged 14 points as a freshman and 19 points as a sophomore, both as a guard … Had batting averages of .412 freshman year and .356 sophomore year … Earned associate’s degree from Ferrum Junior College in 1957 … Enrolled at Lynchburg College, where he lettered twice each in basketball and baseball … Served as team captain in both basketball and baseball at Lynchburg … Earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Lynchburg in 1959 and 1966 … Has taught physical education and served as an elementary school principal … Received Outstanding Young Educator Award in 1967 .. Member and served on the Board of Directors of the Dan River Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa … President of Pittsylvania County Education Association … Vice-President of Danville Education Association … Chairman of Pittsylvania County Principals Association … Served on State Department of Education Committees … Southern Association Accreditation Committees of Virginia … President of Danville Retired teachers Association … Served a term on Ferrum’s Alumni Board.
 

James Hambacher ‘69
Charlotte, North Carolina

Played offensive guard on the 1967 and 1968 Ferrum Junior College football team … Helped Ferrum win 1968 NJCAA football national championship … Went on to play football two years at the University of North Carolina, where he started every game … Helped the Tarheels win 12 of their last 16 games … Played in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta senior year … Captained senior game against Virginia and named ACC Player of the Week following a game vs. Clemson … Earned bachelor’s degree from UNC in 1971 … Served as a graduate assistant coach in 1971, helping UNC to a Gator Bowl berth … Earned master’s degree from UNC-Charlotte in 1978 … Served as a teacher, coach and administrator in Charlotte County School System 30 years … Coached South Mecklenberg High School to state title in 1981 … Closed out career with most football coaching wins in WMHS history … Had an undefeated team in 1988 and was named Observer Coach of the Year in 1988 … Named principal in 1994 and retired in 2001 … Club Director for Foxfire East Racquet and Swim Club for 25 years.
 

Hubert “Danny” Hodges ‘65
Hardy, Virginia

Played football at Ferrum Junior College in 1963 and 1964, playing offensive tackle and defensive tackle … Served as team captain and earned All-America in 1964 … Went on to play football at West Virginia University … Served as team captain at West Virginia during senior year … Served as high school teacher at Franklin County High School … Coached baseball and football in Franklin County … Member Franklin County Planning Commission ... Franklin County Recreation Baseball … Franklin County businessman (farm & lumber) … Helped establish the Benjamin Franklin Middle School football program ... Active in Burnt Chimney United Methodist Church.
 

Keith Mayhew ‘95
Lynchburg, Virginia

Played baseball at Ferrum from 1992-95 … Ferrum’s only three-time All-American … 3^rd-Team All-America in 1993 … 2^nd-Team All-America in 1994 … 1^st-Team All-America in 1995 … Closed career with a 34-5 pitching record, with five saves … At the close of his career, set the NCAA Division III career strikeout record with 350 and single-season strikeout record at 149 in 1995 … Three-time 1^st-Team All-Region … Three-time 1^st-Team All-Conference … 1st-Team All-State and Player of the Year in 1995 as named by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association … USA South All-Tournament Team in 1995 … 1^st-Team All-State in 1994 and honorable mention All-State 1993 … Helped Ferrum reach the NCAA Division III playoffs in 1993, 1994 and 1995 … Mayhew holds Ferrum’s records for season and career wins, season & career strikeouts, season & career innings pitched, and season & career starts … Mayhew is also #2 on Ferrum’s career lowest ERA list … Drafted in the 31^st round of the 1995 Major League Baseball amateur draft by the Atlanta Braves.
   

Abe Naff

Ferrum, Virginia

Coached Ferrum College baseball team 23 years (1985-2007) … 643-236-3 career coaching record … USA South Athletic Conference regular season or tournament titles in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007 … Naff’s teams earned NCAA Division III playoff berths in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2005, 2007 … His 2007 team won the USA South regular season and tournament titles, and was two outs from advancing to the College World Series … Naff ranked among the top five in NCAA Division III winningest active coaches, holding as high as the #4 spot under the highest “winning percentage” category … He was 7th among Div. III coaches in winning percentage in the past five seasons, and 14th among Div. III coaches in victories … Holds the #26 spot on the all-time winning percentage list (all divisions) … One of only two coaches from the Commonwealth of Virginia listed in the all-time top-50, #32 Gerry Thomas (Naff's college coach at Lynchburg) is the other … Coached 20 All-Americans … 22 of Naff’s players went on to play some form of professional baseball … Among those are New York Mets closer Billy Wagner, a six-time Major League Baseball All-Star, and Eric Owens, who spent eight years in the pros and is currently a hitting instructor with the Anaheim Angels … Coached 67 Academic All-Conference and three Academic All-District selections during his tenure as head coach … Member Lynchburg College Sports Hall of Fame and Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame … USA South Coach of the Year in 1989, 1992, 2003, 2004 … Virginia Small College Coach of the year in 1990, 1992, 1993, 2003, 2007 … Ferrum’s Director of Athletics since January of 2004 … In his four-plus years in this role, the College’s athletic facilities have seen tremendous improvements.
 

Lucy Anne Robertson Norton
Deltaville, Virginia

Graduate of Brenau University … Educator in both Lynchburg and Franklin County … Retired with 25 years service to teaching … Married Coach Hank Norton in 1961 and has been an avid supporter of Ferrum football for as many years … Mother to Pattie, Will, and Jack … Raised two families—her own children and her Ferrum football family of over 1000 students and alumni … Worked concession stands and athletic fundraisers for over 30 years while living on campus … Member of the Ferrum College Hilltop Gang … Devoted mother, wife, grandmother, and advocate for Ferrum College … Known for her selfless loyalty to family and friends … Worked football camps in Deltaville with Coach Norton … Mentored Ferrum staff and coaches … Spirit and soul behind Ferrum Football from 1961-1993 … Known as “Ms. Lucy” to her Ferrum family.
   

Frank Coleman Starnes ‘59
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Played football and basketball at Ferrum Junior College in 1957 and 1958 … JUCO All-American in 1958 … First alternate for 1958 JUCO All-Star Game … Started at guard in basketball two seasons, team captain in 1959 … Went on to play football and baseball at Western State College … Made All-Rocky Mountain Conference and All-America honorable mention in football in 1960 … In baseball at Western State, led the nation in hitting  with a .628 batting average … Made All-Rocky Mountain Conference in baseball in 1961 … Earned bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Western State in 1961 and 1962 … Served as teacher and coach at Halifax County High School in 1962 … In 1963, moved to Phoenix, to take position as a high school teacher, assistant football coach and assistant wrestling coach … Named head football and head wrestling coach in 1966 … Coached three district wrestling champions … Coached Jim McCann, a punter who would go on to play for the San Francisco 49ers ... Returned to Halifax County in 1967 as head football coach and athletic director … In 10 years, posted 10 winning records … Halifax County won Western District and Northwest Region championships in 1969, finishing third in the state … He coached Don Testerman, who would later play five seasons with the Seattle Seahawks … Coached football at Stafford High School and served as principal at Manteo Middle School and Quantico Middle/High School on the Marine Corps base … Earned doctorate from the University of Virginia in 1982.