FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gary Holden, Sports Information Director
(540) 365-4306

November 11, 2002


Ferrum Inducts Four into Sports Hall of Fame
Ceremony Held November 9th in Roanoke

Roanoke, Va. – Four individuals were inducted into Ferrum College's Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2002 Saturday, Nov. 9, in a ceremony held at the Wyndham Hotel in Roanoke, Virginia. (see more pictures)
 
Serving as master of ceremonies was Jud Mason, a 1967 graduate of Ferrum and the College's Sports Hall of Fame Committee Chairman.  The committee includes Mason, Kenneth Journell '57, Kevin Dill '79, Shelby Irving '84, Lisa Pendleton '95, Robert Knotts '03, Alumni Relations Director Donita Hooker, Athletic Director Ted Kinder, and President Dr. Jennifer Braaten.
 
Jim Grobe, J. Carol Sandidge, Jim Huff (pictured here left to right) and Eric Owens, comprise the Class of 2002. Owens was unable to make the ceremony, and was represented by Ferrum Baseball Coach Abe Naff, who introduced Owens and accepted the award on Owens' behalf.

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 also served on Ferrum’s Rescue Squad Board of Directors. She has taught classes for Roanoke Valley American Red Cross learn to swim program. She 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.

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.

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. In April of 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.

Grobe received an Associate of Science from Ferrum Junior College in 1972. He was a linebacker on the 1971-1972 football team, the undefeated Coastal Conference Championship Team. Grobe received the Catlin Citizenship Award and the Big Green Award from Ferrum. Grobe received his undergraduate degree in education from University of Virginia. While at Virginia, he played middle guard in 1973 and linebacker in 1974. He was a two-year starter and received Academic All-Conference honors in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Grobe is currently head football coach of the Wake Forest University. His 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. For more information on the Ferrum College Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2002, please contact the Ferrum College Sports Information Office at (540) 365-4306.

# # #