James Bridges departed the “Maples and Oaks,” to serve his country in the US Army from 1958 to 1960. He was assigned to the European Theater with the 3rd Artillery Division in Germany. He was also assigned special duties at the Post Education Center as the Assistant Education Director, which he served until the end of his tenure. Bridges accepted a position at Carver High School in Kannapolis, NC in 1962. There he taught Social Studies and coached football and junior varsity basketball. In 1964, he introduced the track and field program to the school and the community. Bridges moved back to his hometown of Salisbury in 1966 when he became the head football coach at his alma mater, JC Price High School. Price merged with Boyden High to become Salisbury High School. There, he served as a teacher/coach until 1971. James Bridges received his Master’s Degree in Education from North Carolina A&T State University. Shortly after, Bridges accepted a position with Gullford Technical Community College as the Assistant Dean of Adult Basic Education.
Robert Burrell, a basketball inductee from Washington, D.C., was educated in the DC Public School System at Cardozo High School in 1962. Burrell was recruited to Livingstone on a basketball scholarship. He became the starting guard on the team and started every game for four years. He led the team in scoring, co-captained his junior and senior years and was a member of the first Livingstone basketball team to play in the CIAA Tournament in 1965. He graduated with honors and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education. While at Livingstone he received the College Achievement Award, was an Alpha Kappa Mu Inductee and an honor student from 1963-1966. In 1973, he received his Master of Education Degree from Antioch College in Supervision and Administration. From 1977-1984, he became assistant basketball coach of the boy’s varsity basketball team and head basketball coach of the girl’s varsity team at Spingarn High School in Washington, DC. During his tenure, he was a part of two regular season championship teams, three tournament championship teams, and two city-wide championship teams. His last team was 31-0 and ranked the number one team in the nation in 1985.
Erica Moore Carter, a track & field inductee, was born in Mobile, Alabama. Carter grew-up in Riverside, CA and graduated from Ramona High School. At Ramona, Carter competed in the women’s shot put and won team MVP honors. In her senior season Carter placed third in the State Championship. Carter began her college career at Essex County Community College in Newark, NJ. In her two years at Essex, Carter excelled in women’s track. She earned All-American honors both years in track and placed 7th in the Junior College National Championship in the shot put. In 1991 Carter transferred to Livingstone on Basketball, Track, and Music scholarships. As a track standout Carter earn All-CIAA honors in 1991 and 1992. In the 1992 CIAA Championship Carter captured titles in the women’s shot put and was named the Most Valuable Player. Carter still holds the women’s shot put record for Livingstone at 43-10. Carter was a member of the concert choir, and women’s basketball team. Carter graduated from Livingstone with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology.
Robert Cockerl, a football inductee, was born in Salisbury, NC where he still resides as an outstanding community leader and volunteer. Cockerl, a 1962 graduate of Dunbar High School, excelled in both football and basketball. He is a 1966 graduate of Livingstone with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies. While at Livingstone he participated in football. In 1964, Cockerl was voted All-CIAA Honorable Mention and the 1964 Sidney Green Athlete of the Year Award. In 1965, Cockerl received the Most Unsung Hero Award for his outstanding play as a tackle for the Blue Bears football team. Cockerl was featured in the Salisbury Post as the most Underrated player of the Year.
Paul A. Kluttz, Sr, a football inductee, enrolled in Livingstone in 1966 and made an immediate impact on the Blue Bears football team. He received the Defensive Player of the Year award as a freshman. As a sophomore, Kluttz was All-CIAA Honorable Mention. He was the team's most valuable player in his junior season and a member of the 1968-69 All-CIAA Team. As a senior, Paul Kluttz was the team’s captain and named to the All-NAIA District 26, All-CIAA, and Team MVP. He appeared in 1970 edition of Outstanding College Athletes in America. Kluttz received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics degree in 1970 and signed as a NFL free agent with the Miami Dolphins. He served a breif stint with the New York Jets. Kluttz gained a Master's of Science in Industrial Technology (Driver& Traffic Safety) in 1975 from North Carolina A&T State University. Paul received his Principal Certification in 1977 from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and an ABD in Traffic Safety Education and Administration in 1981 from Florida State University. Paul Kluttz returned to the football field in 1977 as an assistant coach until 1991. As the boys head track coach at AlbemarleHigh School, he coached from 1977 to 1982. Klutz took over the girls' indoortrack & field program from 1981 the 1991. The girls program was the Rocky River Conference Champions from 1985 to 1991. They were the Stanly County Champions from 1982 - 1995, Regional and Sectional Champions from 1986-1988. The Albemarle girls track team won the 1986-87 State 2A Championship. Kluttz was the team president and coach of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Stanly Streamers from 1981 to 1991. In 2003, Paul Kluttz, Sr. retired from Albemarle City Schools System after 33 years of dedicated service as a coach and teacher.
John D. Marshall, Jr., a football inductee, was born in Bowling Green, Va and is now a resident of Fayetteville, NC. He is a 1947 graduate of Mather Academy. Marshall enrolled in South Carolina State College where he received his Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education in 1952. He later received a Master’s & Director’s Degree in Health and Physical Education from Indiana University. Marshall also served a brief stint in the US Armed Forces (US Air Force). After Air Force service duties, Marshall began his career as a Head Football Coach at Hillside High School in Heath Springs, SC where he posted a 21-7 record in 7 years. In 1963, Marshall began his collegiate coaching at Elizabeth City State University and Langston University prior to coming to Livingstone in 1966. Marshall also served as co-chair of Health and Physical Education Department, varsity Men’s Tennis Coach and in 1970 he became Athletic Director. After leaving Livingstone, he served brief stints at Johnson C. Smith University, Virginia State University, Assistant Athletic Director at his Alma Mater - South Carolina State University, and Athletic Director at Virginia Union University. Marshall’s final stint came at Fayetteville State University where he became Athletic Director, Health & Physical Education Instructor, Intramural Sports Director and Varsity Tennis until he retired in 1995.
Clifford A. Phifer, a football inductee, is a native of Kannapolis NC. He graduated from G.W. Carver High School. Phifer entered Livingstone in 1958 and participated in football and track &field. In football, Phifer earned Second Team All-EIAC Honors in 1959. He was a member of the 1960 EIAC football championship team. He was ranked nationally as a punter, and he received All-EIAC honors. During the 1961-62 season, Clifford Phifer was named a co-captain for the Blue Bears. In the sport of track & field, Phifer had a stellar performance at the 1960 and 1962 Journal & Time Norfolk Relays and South Carolina Relays. Twice during his collegiate career at Livingstone, he was named the Sidney Greene Memorial Award Winner as the institution's most outstanding athlete in 1961 and in 1962. After Livingstone, Clifford Phifer furthered his studies at Duke, North Carolina Central and East Carolina University where he received M.A.'s in Administration and Education Specialist. Phifer has been a gameofficial for football, basketball, baseball, and softball for over 20 years.
Dr. David Shinholster, a football inductee, is a native of Concord, North Carolina where he graduated with honors from Logan High School in 1950. He was an exceptional student-athlete who participated in basketball, football, choir, and the agricultural club (New Farmers of America – NFA). Prior to entering Livingstone, Shinholster served two years (1951-1953) of military service with the U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. Dr. David Shinholster enrolled at Livingstone in 1954-1955 and attained noteworthy success in athletics. During his first year, he participated in football and basketball, then concentrated on football for his last two years. Shinholster played three years under Head Coach Edward L. Mitchell; he was selected to the All-EIAC Team in football for his three years of participation (1955, ‘56, ‘57). In 1955, Shinholster was the leading rusher in 1956; awarded the Sidney Green Memorial Award ; and he was co-captain of the football team in 1957 along with James “Penny” Bridges. Dr. Shinholster graduated Cum Laude from Livingstone College in 1957 with a B.S. Degree in Biology. In 1963-64, Shinholster earned the M.S. Degree in Molecular Biology at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. After receiving the Master’s Degree, he returned to Livingstone and served as Head Basketball Coach for the 1964-1965 school year. This team made history because it was the first Livingstone College team to qualify and participate in the annual CIAA Basketball Tournament where they won the Sportsmanship Trophy. Shinholster pursued and received the Ph.D. degree in Medical Entomology, Insect Pathology and General Parasitology at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
Henry Ricardo Smith, a track &field inductee is a native of South Hampton County Virginia. He finished high school at South Hampton High. He was a three-time state champion in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, and the 800-meter relay. Some of his state records have yet to be broken in Virginia. Smith entered Livingstone in the fall of 1974 and began rewriting the Blue Bears' record book. As a sprinter, Henry was a four-time All-CIAA performer and twice he picked up honors as the Most Outstanding Performer in the CIAA Championships of 1977and 1978. Smith excelled on the national level earning NAIA ALL-American status three times in his career. Until recently, Smith held many of Livingstone's sprint and relay records.
Robert A. Steele Jr. was born, raised and has resided in Salisbury for 41years. Coach Steele’s educational background is as follows: East Rowan High School in 1971; Bachelor of Arts Degree from Livingstone College in 1975; and in 1991, received a Master of Arts Degree from NC A&T State University. Coach Steele’s tenure at North Rowan High School spans from 1986-2004. He has coached football, basketball, and track on the high school level and Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Level. He has helped many of his athletes obtain scholarships to compete in college. In 1992, his love of the children inspired him to create the AAU Team ~ Rowan Express Track & Field Club. He was head coach of the team for 15 years. Steele has received many accolades as coach in track and field. Included are six Gatorade Athletes of the Year, 15 All-Americans, 59 Individual State Champions, one High School National Athlete of the Year in 1998, one National Record Holder in the triple jump, and five National Champions. The North Rowan High School Track Team has won the Sportsmanship award on the state level four times and won 12 State Championships, which included seven outdoor and five indoor championships. Coach Steele has had five athletes to make the USA Junior National Track team and compete abroad, where his teams have been competing since 1990. He has been named Conference Track & Field Coach of the Year in various conferences 18 separate times. In addition to numerous awards, Coach Steele has been named National High School Track & Field Coach of the year three times with his latest honor coming in 2004.
