— By Bill Cornwell
Marshall has had an Athletics Hall of Fame since 1984, but the university made an announcement Tuesday to further honor Thundering Herd legends.
Marshall is establishing an athletics Ring of Honor and the initial class was announced Tuesday.
A statement from Marshall said the purpose of the initiative is to preserve Marshall’s storied past, honor the legends who serve as Marshall’s foundation and reconnect generations of Thundering Herd student-athletes to serve as inspiration for greatness for the future of Marshall athletics.
“Marshall Athletics has one of the most remarkable stories in all of college athletics,” Marshall Vice President/Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison said. “The Marshall Athletics Legacy Initiative is our commitment to preserving that story — not simply by remembering our past, but by ensuring it continues to inspire every student-athlete, coach, alumnus, and fan who proudly wears the Green and White. Championships define seasons, but traditions define institutions. This initiative is about building traditions that will strengthen Marshall Athletics for generations to come.”
President Brad Smith is supportive of the new initiative.
“The Ring of Honor is a powerful reminder that Marshall’s story has always been shaped by the people whose impact reaches far beyond simply a season, a scoreboard or a single moment,” Smith said. “At Marshall, legacy isn’t something we simply look back on with pride; it’s something we carry forward with purpose. The individuals being honored represent the very best of who we are — resilient, determined, and committed to something bigger than themselves.”
Ring of Honor inductees were chosen by a Selection Committee composed of athletic administrators, former student-athletes, former coaches, university representatives, alumni representatives and community members. Those committee members reviewed nominations and made recommendations for induction based on several criteria, including athletic achievement, leadership, character and sportsmanship, historical significance, impact on Marshall Athletics and contributions to society and the community.
The initial Ring of Honor class is headlined by the 75 members of the November 14, 1970 Marshall football plane crash.
“Everything we celebrate through the Marshall Athletics Legacy Initiative begins with the Marshall ‘75’,” Harrison said. “Their courage, sacrifice, resilience, and enduring spirit define who we are as a university and as an athletics department. Rather than simply becoming members of the Ring of Honor, they will forever serve as the Foundational Honorees of the Marshall Athletics Legacy Initiative. Every tradition we establish, every legend we celebrate, and every future generation we inspire will do so upon the foundation they created.”
The first Ring of Honor group will be recognized during a Legends Weekend, scheduled for Jan. 15-17, 2027, and includes:
Special contributors: Dorothy “Dot” Hicks
Football: Chad Pennington, Randy Moss, Bob Pruett, Byron Leftwich, Vinny Curry, Troy Brown, Frank Gatski
Men’s Basketball: Hal Greer, Mike D’Antoni, Dan D’Antoni, Leo Byrd, Walt Walowac, Charlie Slack, Russell Lee, John Taft
Women’s Basketball: Karen Pelphrey, Kristina Behnfeldt
Volleyball: Kelly-Anne Billingy
Baseball: Jeff Montgomery, Rick Reed, Jack Cook
Softball: Rachel Folden, Shonda Stanton, Morgan Zerkle
Men’s Soccer: Pedro Dolabella, Jamil Roberts
Women’s Soccer: Amanda McMahon
Women’s Tennis: Ashley Kroh, Jessica Johnson
Women’s Golf: Tammie Green
Men’s Golf: Joe Feaganes
Men’s Swimming & Diving: Bill Noe
Women’s Swimming & Diving: Milla Kuurto
Men’s Track & Field: Joe Johns
Women’s Track & Field: Lea Ann Parsley
Men’s Cross Country: Dave Tabor
Women’s Cross Country: Tina Maynard
Wrestling: Bill Cyrus