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VIA Heritage Association to induct inaugural Hall of Fame group

Fred Jeter | 1/29/2016, 7:03 a.m.
Numerous athletes, coaches and contributors from the Richmond area have been named to Virginia Interscholastic Association Heritage Association’s (VIAHA) inaugural ...

Numerous athletes, coaches and contributors from the Richmond area have been named to Virginia Interscholastic Association Heritage Association’s (VIAHA) inaugural Hall of Fame Class.

The induction banquet will be 5:30 p.m. Monday, June 20, at DoubleTree by Hilton in Charlottesville, 990 Hilton Heights Road.

The VIA governed sports and other extracurricular activities for Virginia’s historically black high schools from 1954 to 1970.

Local athletes selected:

Don “Cisco” Ross Jr., basketball at Armstrong High School, Richmond.

The late Jesse Jefferson, Carver High School in Chester, baseball.

Local coaches selected:

The late Fred “Cannonball” Cooper, football at Maggie L. Walker High School, Richmond.

The late Arthur “Stretch” Gardner, basketball at Maggie L. Walker High School.

The late Maxie Robinson, basketball at Armstrong High.

George Lancaster, basketball at West End High School, Mecklenburg, became an outstanding coach.

The late William W. Lawson Jr., basketball at Peabody High School, Petersburg.

The late Robinette “Pro” Hayes, basketball at Carter G. Woodson High School, Hopewell.

Selected as Media: Ernest Shaw, covered VIA sports for the Petersburg Progress-Index.

Selected as Principal: The late George Peterson Jr.: Armstrong High.

Selected for Music: James Hayes, Carter G. Woodson High School, Hopewell.

Special recognition: Thousands involved with Armstrong-Walker Classic football game, 1938-1979.

Among the other athletes from across Virginia selected for the Hall of Fame:

The late Roosevelt Brown, Jefferson High School, Charlottesville, NFL Hall of Fame.

The late Earl Lloyd, Parker-Gray High School, Alexandria; first black player in the NBA.

Charlie Stukes, Crestwood High School, Chesapeake, played in two Super Bowls with the Baltimore Colts.