Soon it will be time to dust off the old scrapbook at Virginia Union University.

Reliving past greatness will be the theme Sept. 22 when Virginia Union University celebrates its Hall of Fame Class for 2023.

The 6 p.m. event will be at the Dr. Claude G. Perkins Living and Learning Center at VUU, 1500 N. Lombardy St. Activities will be in conjunction with VUU’s Sept. 23 football game against Fayetteville State.

Inductees include two teams (the 1980 men’s and 1983 women’s NCAA Division II basketball championships) and six individuals.

1980 Men’s Basketball: In Dave Robbins’ second season as coach the Panthers posted a 26-4 record en route to the NCAA crown in Springfield, Mass. It would the first of three NCAA crowns for the men.

Native Richmonder Keith Valentine was named tournament Most Outstanding Player. Other starters were Larry Holmes, Derwin Lilly, Dave Lewis and Michael Linney. A top backup was Willard Coker, who later became a VUU assistant and head coach.

1983 Women’s Basketball: Again, VUU struck gold in Springfield. Under first year Coach Lou Hearn, the Lady Panthers went 27-2. It was just the second year of the NCAA Division II tournament for women.

Emotions were high. In 1982, VUU’s beloved, grandfatherly coach, Tom Harris, died of a heart attack during the CIAA tournament in Norfolk.

Rugged rebounder Paris McWhirter was named MOP. Other starters included Barvenia Wooten (who later became VUU head coach), Vita Williams, Maria Nicholson and Denice Kizzie with Sylvia Walker first off the bench.

Leroy Adams: Coach Willard Bailey wanted his defensive players to be big, strong, fast and physical and Adams checked all the boxes from 1975 to 1979.

A linebacker/defensive back, Adams earned All-CIAA and All-America honors while helping VUU lead NCAA Division II in defense as a senior.

Ronald Kelley: There weren’t many opportunities for young Black golfers at the time, but Ronald, nicknamed “Peanut,” made the most of what he had to work with.

As a member of VUU’s first golf team, he helped lead the Panthers to three straight CIAA titles in the 1960s, and later became the program’s coach. From there he emerged as among the area’s most respected golfers.

James Battle: The Vietnam War veteran (earning a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star) came to VUU from Thomas Jefferson High as Dave Robbins’ assistant basketball coach in 1979 and graduated to athletic director in 1985.

Serving as AD for 22 years, both the basketball and football programs flourished under his direction. In 2015 he was named to the CIAA Hall of Fame.

Dr. Roland Moore: Whenever you see the Panthers excelling in any sport, expect to spot Dr. Moore leading the applause.

A member of the Board of Trustees, he was also the first president of the First Thursday Group that has been instrumental in raising funds for athletics and VUU in general.

He received an award for being VUU’s “Most Spirited Supporter” in 2022.

Gabriela Flores-Diaz: In the annals of VUU volleyball, no one spiked the ball any harder or more effectively.

Ranking among the NCAA leaders in aces, Flores-Diaz helped the Lady Panthers to back-to- back CIAA Divisional titles in 2005 and 2006.

Ernesto Youngs: The burly offensive lineman provided much of the heavy lifting for VUU’s successful football teams in the late 1970s under Coach Bailey.

He was named as an All-American by Jet Magazine, twice picked for All-CIAA teams and chosen for the Black Colleges All-Star Game in New Orleans.