Volleyball MEAC Media Relations

FAMU Sports Hall Of Fame To Enshrine Seven On September 14

The Florida A&M University Sports Hall of Fame will enshrine its’ 32nd class, featuring seven persons of note on Friday, September 14 during ceremonies at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center. Festivities will begin at 7:00 p.m.

This year's event will honor four athletes, two coaches and one administrator, who will join over 200 sports personalities who have been immortalized in the Sports Hall of Fame since its' inception in 1976.

The two coaches being saluted this year are former head coach William “Billy” Joe (1994-2004) and one-time defensive coordinator Fred Goldsmith (1974-79).

Joe, who finished with 86 wins in 11 seasons, led the Rattlers to one Black College National title (1998), four undisputed Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles, and seven consecutive postseason appearances at one stretch. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this past July.

Goldsmith, defensive coordinator for five seasons, was the architect of the Rattlers’ nationally-ranked defenses in 1977 and 1978, which helped spark them to back-to-back national titles and a sizzling 23-1 mark during that span.

The athletes being honored in this year's class include two-sport stars Leroy Charlton (football and track, 1967-70) and Theodore "Ted" Richardson (football and baseball, 1957-60), diamond standout David Best (baseball, 1958-61), and the late star safety Gifford "Spanky" Ramsey (football, 1977-80), who played under Coach Goldsmith on the Rattlers’ championship defenses in 1977 and 1978.

Rounding out the Sports Hall of Fame septet is former Senior Woman Administrator and Associate Athletic Director Sarah Hill-Yates.

She served in various administrative roles from 1970 to 1988, helping elevate the women's sports programs at FAMU to Division One status by the mid-1980s.