Former NC State athletics standouts were enshrined in the Wolfpack Hall of Fame in a ceremony held at the Talley Student Center on Friday. This was the third inductee class to the Wolfpack Hall of Fame.
This class included Dennis Byrd, Dick Dickey, Sam Esposito, Charmaine Hooper, Jack McDowall, Chasity Melvin, Wendell H. Murphy, Danny Peebles, Lou Pucillo and Steve Rerych.
Dennis Byrd was a member of the “White Shoes” defense from 1965-1967. He helped lead the football team to a third place ranking in the nation, the highest in NC State history. The Boston Patriots in the 1968 draft drafted him in the first round. His number 77 jersey was retired in 2001.
Dick Dickey was a member of the basketball team from 1946-1950. He is one of three players in NC State history to earn All-American honors three times. Following his career with the Pack, he was drafted into the NBA as a third-round selection by the Baltimore Bullets in 1950 and played one season with the Boston Celtics during the 1951-52 season.
Sam Esposito coached the Pack baseball team to 513 career wins, the highest in program history. During his 21 years at NC State he coached 69 All-ACC players and seven All-Americans. He is the only coach to take a team to the College Baseball World Series.
Charmaine Hooper was a key player during the Wolfpack’s “Golden Age” of women’s soccer. She earned back-to-back All-American honors for her play in 1989 and 1990. The teams she played on had four straight NCAA tournament appearances, a spot in the national title game in 1988 and an ACC title in 1988.
Jack McDowall is mostly known for playing football, but he also lettered in track, baseball and basketball. He played halfback on the conference championship team in 1927. In 1929, he was a captain for the “Red Terror” basketball team that won a Southern Conference title.
Former women’s basketball player Chasity Melvin went to the NCAA Tournament each season she played. She holds tournament career records for most games played (11), most points (230), and most rebounds (82). She was elected to the NCAA All-Final Four team her senior year and was named a Kodak All-American.
Many know Wendell H. Murphy for his name being on the Murphy Center at Carter-Finley Stadium. Murphy has been a lifelong supporter of both athletic and academic programs at NC State and for his service to the University. In 1999, he was awarded the prestigious Watauga Medal, the school’s highest award, given for outstanding and distinguished service.
Danny Peebles, who competed in football and track, was voted as NC State’s most valuable athlete his senior year and was the ACC’s track and field athlete of the year his junior and senior years. As a football player, he excelled and was drafted in the second round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also played with the Cleveland Browns before his career ended due to injury.
Lou Pucillo won a men’s basketball ACC title with the Pack in 1959, and he won the ACC’s athlete of the year for his efforts. He was put on the All-ACC First Team in 1958 and again in 1959.
Steve Rerych is a three time All-American swimmer who won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1968 at the Mexico City Games. He was also a World Record holder for the Men’s 4×100 meter relay that, as a team, had a time of 3:31.7.
This year’s inductees were honored with videos and memoirs of their accomplishments at the induction ceremony. They join previous inductees which include Jim Valvano, Norman Sloan, Kay Yow, Roman Gabriel, David Thompson and others.
