For Immediate Release April 12, 2000
Five Inducted Into RC Hall of Fame
Robinson, Belton, Brown, Petersen, and Browder Are Class of 2000
SALEM, VA--The Roanoke College athletic department will induct five new members into its Hall of Fame at the Presidential Banquet held at the school on Saturday evening. Ross Robinson ’76, Ken Belton ’81, Mary Brown ’90, Pete Petersen, and Richard Browder make up the Class of 2000 and will take their spots next to the 185 former student-athletes, coaches, and administrators already members of the Hall of Fame. Ross Robinson ’76 (Men’s Basketball)
A member of Roanoke College’s men’s basketball national championship team of 1972, Robinson is the 10th leading scorer in team history, having accumulated 1,339 career points. After his senior season, in which he scored 592 points (the ninth best single season total in team history), Robinson was named an All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Recruited to several Division I schools, Robinson became one of the best free throw shooters in the history of RC basketball, making 82.6 percent of his free throws in his career, including a school-record 89.8 percent as a senior. In his four years in Salem, Robinson helped the Maroons compile an 89-29 record. After the national championship season of 1971-72, Robinson was the key to Roanoke’s appearance in the NCAA tournament in each of the next two seasons. Robinson was also a four-year letter-winner for the Roanoke College golf team.
Ken Belton ’81 (Men’s Basketball)
A member of Roanoke College’s version of the ‘Four Horsemen,’ Belton is the ninth leading scorer in the history of the men’s basketball team. A key factor in bringing the program back to national prominence, Belton is the best shooter in team history, having made 59.5 percent of his shots from the field. As a junior he made 62 percent of his attempts, while as a sophomore he nailed 61.5 percent of his tries from the field. Both numbers are the top two in school history. As a senior, Belton was awarded the J.S. ‘Buddy’ Hackman Award, presented to the student-athlete that exhibits outstanding ‘desire, determination, dedication, and sportsmanship’ in the game of basketball at Roanoke. In his only season eligible, Belton was named to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference’s Second Team All-Star squad (Roanoke joined the ODAC in Belton’s senior season of 1980-81). Prior to Belton’s arrival in Salem, the Maroons had compiled a 10-43 record in the previous two seasons, but in his four years at Roanoke, Belton helped the Maroons rack up an 88-20 mark. Belton and his ‘Four Horsemen’ teammates led Roanoke to two NCAA tournament appearances in their four-year careers. Belton joins Mike Baker as the two ‘Four Horsemen’ in RC’s Hall of Fame.
Mary Brown ’90 (Women’s Lacrosse)
Mary Brown starred for the Roanoke women’s lacrosse team from 1987 until her graduation in 1990. To this day her accomplishments as a member of the team can still be seen in the record books. Brown is the sixth all-time leading scorer in the history of the program, having scored 162 points on 86 goals and 76 assists. Her 45 assists during her senior season in 1990, to this day, is an all-time school record. Not only his her mark a school record, but it is also the Old Dominion Athletic Conference standard. Brown was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 1990 after leading the team to its third conference championship in four years. Brown broke onto the RC scene in 1987 and as a sophomore in 1988 had a breakout season on the field, scoring 21 goals and handing out eight assists for 29 points. She helped the team earn an NCAA bid, its first ever national postseason appearance. In 1989, as a co-captain, Brown finished third on the team in scoring, putting in 24 goals and handing out 23 assists for 47 points. In her All-American senior season, Brown led Roanoke in the scoring column, finding the back of the net 41 times and dishing out 45 assists. She held the team to its second NCAA tournament appearances in three years, helping the Maroons advance to the Final Four. Brown was named the RC Female Athlete of the Year in 1990 as well. In four years in Salem, Brown helped Roanoke to a 53-12 overall record, a 24-2 mark in the conference, three ODAC championships, and two NCAA appearances.
Pete Peterson (Service - Public Address)
Over the past 29 years there have been four men’s basketball coaches at Roanoke College, but just one “Voice” of Roanoke College men’s basketball. Pete Petersen has been that voice. There have been national championships, there have been 4-23 years. Through all the ups and downs at RC in recent memory Petersen has been the public address announcer. In addition to his work at Roanoke, Petersen has been an active member of the community. Petersen spearheaded the drive to build the Lewis-Gale Hospital, was named the Outstanding Civic Leader in America, and has won several other awards for his dedication to the Salem community. Peterson has served as the president of the Salem Chamber of Commerce, the Roanoke College Athletic Association, and has been on the board of several other community programs, such as the American Cancer Society and the American Red Cross. Petersen, a University of Iowa graduate, came to Salem in 1955 to work for GE. Petersen has also been the voice of Salem High School football, and until last year was the voice of Virginia Tech football and basketball.
Richard Browder (Service - Cross Country Coach)
In 11 years as the head coach of the Roanoke College cross country program, Richard Browder built the Maroons into not only an ODAC power, but also a South Region power. Roanoke joined the ODAC for cross country competition in 1977, and over the next 11 years, Browder would be named ODAC men’s Coach of the Year six times, each of those years leading the team to the conference championship. During Browder’s tenure, the Maroons advanced to the Division III national meet five times (1980, ’81, ’83, ’85, ’86) and three athletes won the individual conference championship. Browder, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech, is currently teaching at Salem High School.
Also on Saturday, there will be a ceremony honoring the 'Big Four.' Lawrence 'Red' Crockett '50, Bruce Davenport '51, Paul McCarty '50, and Alvin Smith '52 dominated the cross country scene during their era, winning 20 consecutive meets and recording an unprecedented four way tie in a race. Former teammate White Rhyne '52 will give the tribute speech.