In what is planned to be an annual event, the University of the Virgin Islands will induct the first group of men and women into the UVI Athletic Hall of Fame at an invitation-only dinner at 7 p.m. Friday in the new UVI Sports and Fitness Center.
This illustrious group of inductees either played, coached or worked at UVI and made a contribution to the athletic program at the University. The inaugural inductees will be recognized for their sports accomplishments and will be presented with a plaque to be kept on display at the Sports and Fitness Center.
UVI Athletic Director Peter Sauer said the idea for the UVI Athletic Hall of Fame came from UVI President Orville Kean.
"Dr. Kean wanted to make sure that we recognize the great athletes who have been affiliated with the University and that proper respect be paid to those people because they are part of the foundation of the new Sports and Fitness Center," Sauer said.
The inductees are: The Honorable Alphonso G. Andrews, Elridge W.
Blake, Nellon L. Bowry, Juan Brannigan (deceased), Glenworth A. Byron, Cletis A. Clendinen, Jr., Dr. Ronald E. Harrigan, Dr. Osbert Liburd, Rudolph A. Milligan, Maureen Wynter-Moorehead, Glen F. Monticeux, Richard Skerritt, Elaine James Springer, Oscar Wells, Eugene Werts and Wallace D. Williams.
– Alphonso Andrews, a native of St. Croix, was one of UVI's all-time volleyball greats during his college days.
– Elridge Blake, a great three-sport athlete at Fisk University, was the first Virgin Islander drafted by a major league baseball team (the Chicago Cubs.) He started working at UVI in 1974 and coached UVI's championship men's and women's volleyball teams from 1976-99.
– Nellon Bowry was one of the greatest soccer players in UVI history. Under Bowry's captaincy, the UVI soccer team became a potent force in the local leagues.
– Juan Brannigan (deceased) was a star on the UVI baseball, football, soccer, track and field and wrestling teams.
– Glen Byron was an excellent basketball player and was captain of the CVI baseball team from 1964-1966.
– Cletis Clendinen played on the CVI basketball team from 1968-1970 and starred on the CVI volleyball team that competed in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. He also helped coach the CVI Bucs baseball team in the late 1960s.
– Ronald Harrigan played on the CVI basketball team in the 1960s and spearheaded the movement to make UVI a powerhouse in sports among institutions of higher learning. He was a founding member of the Caribbean University Sports Association and was directly involved in planning for the construction of the new UVI Sports and Fitness Center.
– Osbert Liburd was one of the best track athletes to ever attend UVI. He was a champion in the 100 meters and the long jump and also ran the 200 meters for UVI.
– Rudolph A. Milligan was an outstanding basketball player on the UVI team from 1969 to 1973.
– Maureen W. Moorehead, a former CVI female athlete of the year, excelled in volleyball, tennis, softball and badminton.
– Glen Monticeux was a key player on the UVI soccer team throughout the Bucs' championship 1982 to 1986 seasons. A mathematics teacher and soccer coach at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, Monticeaux is general secretary of the VI Soccer Federation and commissioner of the High School Soccer League.
– One of UVI's two Rhodes Scholars, Richard Skerritt was a tremendous volleyball and soccer player for the University. He is president of the West Indies Cricket Association.
– Elaine James Springer was one of the College of the Virgin Islands' all-time volleyball, softball and basketball champions.
– Wallace D. Williams, a marathon runner who taught library skills at UVI for several years, has traveled the world as a runner and race official. He taught a course on marathon running in the Division of Continuing Education on the St. Croix campus and was selected by students as the part-time Instructor of the Year.
– Oscar Wells was a CVI volleyball MVP and was MVP of the Caribbean Championships.
– Coach Werts was UVI's first Athletic Director and a long-time basketball coach at UVI. He also served as Head Coach of the Virgin Islands Olympic Basketball Team from 1966-69, 1971 and 1978.
For more on the University of the Virgin Islands, visit the Web site at www.uvi.edu.
