2010 Grambling Legend Hall of Famers

2009 Hall of Fame Legends Category 2010 Hall of Fame Legends Category Tommie Agee Baseball Jerry Barr Willie Brown Football Patricia Cage-Bibbs Basketball Football Garland Boyette Football Willie Davis Football Adolph Byrd Football Henry Dyer Football Mary Currie Basketball Ralph Garr Baseball Mackie Freeze Baseball Basketball Eugene "Doc" Harvey Contributor Fred Hobdy Contributor Melvin Lee Football Robert Hopkins Basketball James Hooper Basketball Autry Lane Howell Football Joseph B. Johnson Contributor Stone Johnson Track Jerry Robinson Football Charles Joiner Football Roosevelt Taylor Football Ralph W.E. Jones Contributor Sammy White Football Willie Joseph Football Doug Williams Football Ernie Ladd Football Robert Williams Baseball Legolian "Boots" Moore Football Edward "Bo" Murray Football Collie J. Nicholson Contributor Basketball Helen Richards-Smith Contributor Eddie Robinson Contributor Richard Stebbins Track Hershell West Basketball Willie Young Football Paul "Tank” Younger Football Jerry Barr is a Bastrop, LA native and a platinum-plated Grambling superstar of the late 50’s. Jerry and his teammate, James Hooper, formed the hottest scoring duo in Grambling’s cage history with 110 victories in 118 games. He was a two-time All-American who played for the G-Men from 1956-1959. He is a member of the GSU Hall of Fame. According to his college Coach Fredrick Hobdy, Jerry was uniquely set apart from the average player by a special mix of talent, stamina, and shooting ability. He also played professional golf on the PGA Senior Tour. Jerry Barr will forever be a Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Famer.

Patricia Cage-Bibbs entered coaching to help her alma mater GSU to shore up it’s women’s basketball program. 26 years later, she is credited for helping women’s basketball flourish, especially at HBCUs. Bibbs made history in 2008 by becoming the 38th active head women’s basketball coach to capture 400 wins in a career. Bibb holds a 471-264 record and has coached in seven of the last 12 MEAC Championship games. She is the only coach in HBCU history who has won two games in NCAA post season. Bibbs is the only female coach known to take three different teams to the NCAA tournament by winning the conference tournament championship. Patricia Cage- Bibbs will forever be a Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Famer. Garland Garland Boyette began his stellar athletic career at Emma H. Wallace High School in Orange, TX. Garland participated in several sports, including: football, track, basketball, and baseball. After graduation, he was encouraged by Grambling legend Ernie “Big Cat” Ladd, Garland’s nephew, to attend Grambling. Garland had a highly successful athletic career at Grambling, receiving All-American honors in both football and track and an invitation to the 1960 Olympic trials. After Grambling, Garland had a noteworthy 15-year career in professional football, achieving All-Star status in four different leagues – the NFL, CFL, AFL, and WFL. Garland Boyette will forever be a Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Famer.

Adolph Byrd, Baton Rouge, LA native, played tackle on Grambling’s 1940’s teams before becoming one of the football program’s most important talent scouts in south Louisiana. Among the players he directed to GSU were Leroy Carter, Henry Davis, Henry Dyer and both Doug and Mike Williams. He was a football, track and basketball coach between 1950-1966 at Baton Rouge’s McKinley High. Byrd was inducted into Grambling State University’s Gallery of Distinction in 1984. He was inducted into the GSU Hall of Fame in 1984. Adolph Byrd will forever be a Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Famer. Mary Currie (July 16, 1965 – June 25 2000), is a Dubach, LA native and a former basketball star. This 1987 GSU graduate had a stellar career at Grambling State University. Mary Currie was the first female basketball player to score over 2,000 points in a career at GSU. While at GSU, she was SWAC Player of the Week and Leading Rebounder. She was an All-American and All-SWAC member from 1983-1987. Her greatest accomplishments include: Team MVP and a career high 51 points in the 1987 Dial Classic. Mary Currie will forever be a Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Famer.

Mackie Freeze is a Lumpkin, LA native. Coach Mackie Freeze is the founding Father of one of the most successful high school athletic programs in the State of Louisiana. Coach Freeze started athletic programs at Terzia High School, later to be renamed Richwood High. He won four (4) state football championships and had a record of 119 wins vs. 21 losses as head coach and AD. Coach Mackie Freeze’s head coaching career produced 55 college players and 8 professional players, plus several players with professional camp opportunities and two (2) first-round NBA draft choices, one Super Bowl champion, and one NBA champion. Mackie Freeze will forever be a Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Famer. Berwick, LA native Eugene “Doc” Harvey spent a combined 35 years as an athletic trainer at Grambling State University and also with the Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Club, Inc. He is a Hall of Famer of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (1986), and the Louisiana Athletic Trainer Association. Harvey supervised the athletic training and rehabilitative facility at Grambling State University until retiring in 1998. Harvey exemplified the essence of athletic training – leading an athlete off that road of injury and despair. Eugene “Doc” Harvey will forever be a Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Famer.

Melvin Lee, New Orleans, LA native was a tri-captain of the Undefeated National Championship team of 1955. He earned two (2) years od Mid-Western Conference honors. He played Grambling Tiger Football from 1952 to 1955 and was on the coaching staff from 1960 to 1997. He is a Bayou Classic XXIII Honoree from GSU. As offensive coordinator, he participated with the late Eddie G. Robinson in an “All Sports Coaching Clinic” discussing Grambling Football, sponsored by Dick Mansperger. Melvin Lee will forever be a Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Famer. James James Hooper (November 6, 1935 – May 21, 2008) is considered one of the best Grambling Tiger basketball players. After his freshman year at GSU, the team record was 79-13, with three (3) straight playoff appearances. During this span, Hooper was a two (2) time NAIA All-American, UPI and AP All-American, and All-SWAC team member. Hooper ranks among the top scorers in Grambling basketball history with 1,946 points. He also spent the 1961-1963 seasons with the New York Tuck Tapers team of the American Basketball League. Because of his achievements on the basketball court, he became a “Living Louisiana Legend”. James Hooper will forever be a Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Famer.

Joseph B. Johnson, a New Orleans native, is a distinguished university president. As president of Grambling State University from 1977-1991, he brought a new dimension of progress and enhancement to the university. He was also president of Tallegda University from 1991-1998. This 1957 alum attended GSU on a 4 year athletic scholarship and was captain of the GSU Tiger basketball 1954 team. After graduation, he coached the LIALO AAA Championship team with a 33-2 record. He was inducted in the Louisiana Black Hall of Fame, GSU Hall of Fame, and the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame. He has multiple honorary doctorate degrees from Western Michigan, Gandhigram Univ. of India, and GSU. Joseph B. Johnson will forever be a Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Famer. Jerry Robinson, from Dobson, LA is a former NFL wide receiver. He played on the 1963 AFL World Champion San Diego Chargers and the 1964 NY Jets AFL Division Championship Teams. He had a stellar career at GSU which included: being a 3 time All American, MVP, and SWAC Scoring Leader for 2 straight seasons. He was drafted by the New York Yankees out of high school and was a high school basketball and baseball champion. Jerry Robinson will forever be a Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Famer.

Roosevelt Taylor, New Orleans, LA native, is a former All Pro, Pro Bowl, and champion NFL safety who played for the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He led the NFL in interceptions in 1963 and is a member of the 1963 NFL Champion Chicago Bears. He played college football at Grambling State University. He recognized the lack of opportunities for African Americans in New Orleans and founded and financially supported the first residential camp for African American boys in New Orleans. Roosevelt Taylor will forever be a Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Famer. Sammy White, Jr. is a former NFL wide receiver and a Monroe, LA native. He was the 1976 NFL Rookie of the Year. He is a 2 time Pro Bowler and a member of the Viking’s Silver Anniversary All Time Team. He played and scored in Super Bowl XI. In 1983, he was awarded the NFL Man of the Year award. He spent 12 years as a coach at Grambling State University. As a player and coach, Sammy White, Jr. was a part of seven (7) National Black championship teams at Grambling State University. He held the Vikings all-time receiving yardage record. He is a member of the Louisiana Sports’ Hall of Fame and a member of the SWAC Hall of Fame. Sammie White, Jr. will forever be a Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Famer.

Douglas L. Williams, Zachary, LA native, is best known for his MVP performance in Super Bowl XXII against the Denver Broncos. He is, to date, the only African American quarterback who has won the Super Bowl. He led the Tigers to an 11-1 record as a freshman and the first of three SWAC championships during his four seasons as a starter. In 1977, he led the nation in touchdown passes (38) and passing yards (3,286). He was named an AP All- American and finished 4th in the Heisman Trophy voting. Williams is a two-time Black College Player of the Year. Doug Williams became the head football coach at GSU in 1998, succeeding the legendary Eddie Robinson. He led the Tigers to 3 straight SWAC Conference titles. Douglas L. Williams will forever be a Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Famer. Robert Williams was a standout pitcher as Grambling completed a run of four straight SWAC titles in 1960-64. Williams started Games 1 and 3, and was the closer in Game 2 and the junior won them all to win the 1963 championship against rival Southern. The Tigers were also national runners up in the 1963-64 NAIA championship tournament. Williams was a star relief pitcher in the ’63 tournament, and was approached about a contract by Gene Autry, owner of the Los Angeles Angels. He ultimately signed with the Cleveland Indians, but his pro career was cut short by a rotator cuff injury in 1968.. He is the elder brother of 2010 Legends inductee Doug Williams, who has always called Robert Williams his greatest inspiration. Robert Williams will forever be a Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Famer.