Dr. Fred Ponder is a native of Bartlesville, OK. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in 1956 and his Master's in 1960 from North Carolina Central University. Dr. Ponder relocated to Salisbury, NC in 1959. He served in different capacities at Livingstone, such as the head track coach, the head men’s tennis coach, the assistant football coach, and the Director of Athletics. He excelled most as the tennis coach. Livingstone was a force in the CIAA from 1973 to 1985. Ponder's teams captured the CIAA Southern Division titles in 1973, ‘75, ‘76, ‘78, ‘80, ‘81,and ‘82. LC was the CIAA conference runner's up in 1973, ‘75, ‘76, ‘78, ‘80, and‘81; and placed third in 1983. Dr. Ponder was once honored by the CIAA as the Tennis Coach of the Year. Dr. Ponder had a brief stint at Barber-Scotia before becoming an Assistant Professor at University of Maryland-Eastern Shore. Ponder retired from Maryland-Eastern Shore and returned to Livingstone College in 1993 where he served as a Professor in the Division of Education and as a Compliance Coordinator for Athletics.
Dr. Roy D. Hudson, a native of Chattanooga, TN, served in the U.S. Air Force from 1948 to 1952 after his freshman year at Livingstone College. Following military service, he re-enrolled at Livingstone and completed his bachelor's degree. He earned a Master's Degree in Zoology in 1957 and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology in 1962 from the University of Michigan. Honorary degrees have been bestowed on Dr. Hudson from Princeton, Brown and LeHigh Universities. At Livingstone, Dr. Hudson earn All-EIAC honors in football and was voted team captain from 1953-55. After a stellar career at Livingstone, he was elected to the All-Time All-Livingstone Football Team. Twenty-two men were selected for the first 76 years of football at Livingstone College as part of the Celebration of the Centennial Year of Black College Football in the United States in 1969. Dr. Hudson, a 1955 Summa Cum Laude graduate, magnanimously accepted the Board of Trustees offer to serve as Interim President of Livingstone in 1996. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees at Livingstone, Dr. Hudson was also on the Boards at Spellman College (Atlanta) and Brown University (Providence, RI - emeritus). Most notably, Dr. Hudson served as President of Hampton University from 1970 to 1976.
Charles Kirk, Sr., "Cally" was born in Albemarle, North Carolina and graduated from Kingville High School. He entered Livingstone in 1952. During his second year he left to join the U.S. Army for two years. While in Germany, he became a member of the Seventh Army Post football, basketball, and softball teams. He was selected as a member of the "All European" football and basketball teams. He was honored as the most valuable Post Basketball player in Europe in 1956. After a successful 1956 season in Germany, he was offered scholarships to UCLA and San Diego State University. Kirk was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1956 and returned to Livingstone to continue his education. While at Livingstone, he received numerous awards in athletics. Kirk earned First Team All-EIAC Player of the Year in 1956-1957. He won All-EIAC honors for four years. He was awarded the Sidney Green Memorial Award as Livingstone's most outstanding athlete. During 1957-58, Kirk was Co-captain of the football and basketball team. Kirk graduated with a B.S. Degree in Biology in 1960.
Dr. James E. Talley is a graduate of the class of 1963. Talley entered Livingstone in August of 1959 on a grant and aid scholarship in athletics. Talley became a four year starter in football as a halfback, defensive back and defensive end. He also served as punter and kicker for the team. Talley was a starter on the first EIAC football championship team and was named to the All-EIAC team in 1960. Talley scored 36 touchdowns and played in every game. He also worked with the tennis team as a practice and conditioning player; the 7th man. He was a four-year letterman in football and track, as sprinter/hurdler, and a member of the concert choir. Talley graduated in 1963 with a B.S. in Mathematics. He was selected to coach in the 2003 and 2004 Division II All Star Football - the Cactus Bowl in Kingsville, Texas. Talley retired from Spartanburg High School after 27 years of teaching and coaching within the District 7 school system. Talley coached football, baseball and swimming at Spartanburg High School and was assistant football coach at Wofford College from 1981 to 1994. Talley also served four years in the U.S. Navy. On May 10, 1993 Dr. James E. Talley became mayor of the city of Spartanburg and served until January of 2002.
Thomas “Rudy” Abrams graduated from Livingstone in 1964 with a B.S. Degree in Business Education. He was a four-year letterman on the football team and a member of the 1960 EIAC football championship team. He then began his career with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in Charlotte, NC. He coached championship teams at West Charlotte and East Mecklenburg High Schools in Charlotte. At West Charlotte he took over a program that had never won a conference game and in the fourth year, played for the North Carolina 4-A StateChampionship. During his high school coaching career he was voted Best Coach in the Charlotte Observer Coaches Poll and was named Head Coach of the winning West team in the 1989 East-West All-Star Game in Greensboro, NC (the first black head coach). After retiring from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Rudy returned to Livingstone in 1994 as head football coach. During his 5-year tenure, Livingstone never had a losing season. His 1997 team was undefeated in the regular season (The first undefeated reg-ular season at Livingstone since 1920 when it was 1-0). His teams won two CIAAChampionships (1997 and 1998), the only CIAA Championships in its history. LC was selected to play in the first and second Pioneer Bowl in Atlanta, GA. Abrams served four years as Head Coach at North Carolina Central University before he retired from coaching in 2003. Coach Abrams was named CIAA Football Coach of the Year three times in his five years at Livingstone. He was awarded CIAA Coach of the Year by the Pigskin Club, Washington, DC in 1995, 1996, and 1998, by the 100% Wrong Club, Atlanta, GA in 1996 and 1997.
Judge William K. "Pete" Hunter is a native of Charlotte, NC. He graduated in 1961, from West Charlotte Senior High School, where he excelled in football. Hunter received a football scholarship to Voorhees Junior College in Denmark, SC where he excelled academically and received recognition as an All-Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football player. Hunter graduated from Voorhees in 1963. Coach Charlie Cox recruited Pete to play tailback and linebacker at Livingstone. While attending LC, Pete also played on the golf team that placed second in the CIAA tournament in 1966, lettering in two sports, football and golf. Upon his graduation from Livingstone, Hunter became a teacher-assistant football coach at William Penn High School in High Point, NC. He taught chemistry, modern mathematics and physical science. Hunter also taught at T. Wingate Andrews High School. During his four year tenure at Andrews, he served as an assistant coach in football, basketball, and baseball. Andrews won the 1972 State 4-AFootball Championship. Hunter concluded his teaching and coaching positions at the end of the 1973 school year and enrolled in North Carolina Central University School of Law. He graduated in 1976 with a Jurist Doctorate degree. In 1981, Hunter was appointed District Court Judge by Governor James B. Hunt and later was elected to a full four-year term.
John Farrar enrolled in Livingstone in 1969 on a football scholarship. As a freshman, Farrar earned a starting position and missed only one contest during his four-year collegiate career. In 1972 and 1973, he was the Coca-Cola Golden Helmet Award Winner; which is given to the most outstanding performer of the year. In 1993, Farrar was selected team captain and earned All-CIAA, and All-District 26 honors. He was named the teams MVP and rated one of the top five linebackers in the nation by the St. Louis Sporting News. Farrar's talent led him to sign with the Houston Oilers and then with the San Francisco 49ers. After professional football, he worked in the sales and marketing field, which led to the V.P. of Sales and Training for the Pay Master Corp. Farrar has been in the automobile industry for the past 15 years and is working in his community with high risk boys and in the local school system. He is one of the founding Board members of the Blue Bears Club.
Horace Ballard a football inductee is a native of Gates, North Carolina. He graduated from Gates County High School in 1970 where he played and excelled in basketball and football. He entered Livingstone as a student not an athlete. Ballard found that he could not standby and see Livingstone's football team practice and not participate. Coach Marshall allowed him to try out for the team. While at Livingstone, he was a three-year letterman in football, the team captain in 1973 and named to the All-CIAA Defensive team in 1973. In 1974 he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration /Accounting from Livingstone. He is the President of the Class of 1974. He is a Life Member of the Livingstone Blue Bears Club, Inc. Horace is a twenty-eight year employee of Michelin America Truck Tire Corporation. He is currently the Carolina Regional Fleet Sales Manager with Michelin America Truck Tires.
Jacqueline Kendall, a native of Hampton, VA, was educated in the Hampton City School system where she excelled in academics and sports. Kendall entered into Livingstone in 1977 as a Physical Education major with a minor in Biology. Kendall was elected to Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society. She served as Vice President of Physical Education Majors Club and was very active in school and the community. Kendall lobbied for the college to reinstate the women's track and field program. She was a member of the women's softball team, powder puff football team, and a featured member of the marching band. In 1980, Kendall was the first of four future women's track runners to be elected as Miss Livingstone College. Kendall was selected as one of the top five seniors to receive a graduate fellowship to Ohio State University. Kendall received a Masters of Art in Health Education in 1983 from Ohio State. Jackie Kendall returned to the Tidewater area where she became a flight attendant, instructor and served at Kecoughan High School as the Girls Track Coach. During Kendall’s track coaching career, she helped coach and support many top athletes including Olympic Gold Medalists Latasha Colander and Monique Hennegan.
Antonio Davis, a native of Sunbury, NC, earned a starting spot on the men's basketball team where he earned Rookie of the Year honors. During Davis' sophomore season, he was one of the leading scorers in the nation with a 28.2 scoring average. He earned All-CIAA, All-District 26, All-American and was named the Sidney Green Award winner. After a brief hiatus, Davis returned to Livingstone to lead the nation in scoring in 1987-88. He led the nation in free-throws for three seasons with a 94% career average. Davis was named team captain for three years and MVP. He currently reigns as Livingstone's all-time leading scorer with over 1,600 points for his career. Davis is a 1988 graduate of Livingstone with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and also holds a Master’s Degree in History form North Carolina A&T State University. Antonio Davis was named Head Women's Basketball Coach at Livingstone in 1990. He turned the program into a 15-12 winning season. Later, Davis coached at Kentucky State University. He led his team to two successive 20-win seasons and its first NCAA tournament appearance in the school’s history. Davis was named Head Women's Basketball coach at St. Augustine's College in 2002.
Sherie Bell is a native of Charlotte, NC. Bell is a 1986 graduate of East Mecklenburg High School where she excelled academically as well as athletically. While at East Mecklenburg, Bell was a four-sport athlete in volleyball, basketball, indoor and outdoor track. Sherie Bell became one of the first five recipients of the Queens College Mecklenburg Scholars Academic Scholarship. She attended Queen's College her freshman year. There she participated in two sports and maintained her Presidential Scholarship. Bell decided to transfer to Livingstone her sophomore year with a presidential and track scholarship. She also played basketball and volleyball at Livingstone and was named co-captain on each team. But it was track and field where she excelled; competing in sprints, relays, and jumps. She was inducted into Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society and was named Student Athlete of the Year in 1993. Bell also maintained a grade point average that allowed her to be selected Livingstone’s Class Valedictorian in ‘93. In 1994, Bell joined the ranks of Charlotte's finest police department. In 1999, Bell became the first black female on Charlotte's SWAT team and in 2000, she was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
April Hawkins, a native of Spencer, NC, attended North Rowan High School. Hawkins, an honor graduate, played basketball and softball where she earned MVP honors in both sports. In 1993 Hawkins joined the Army National Guard. In 1995 she enrolled at Livingstone and became a team captain on the women's basketball team. Twice she was named the team’s MVP. In 1996, she became the CIAA’s three-point shootout champion. During the 1996-97 season, she surpassed the 1,000 point plateau and was named the MVP of the Michael Jordan Basketball Classic Tournament at NC Central. In 1997, April Hawkins was named First Team All-CIAA and she received the Baxter Holman Memorial Award as the college’s most outstanding female student athlete. She was also nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award and a prospect for the WNBA.
Dr. William "Bill" Bunch is a 1969 graduate of Livingstone where he served as the class President. Bunch reorganized the Durham Alumni Chapter of Livingstone in 1971 and served as its president for 12 years. Bunch has served two years as an Executive V.P. for the National Alumni Association and was elected as president for two years. Bunch has chaired three campaigns that generated $100,000 for Livingstone from alumni in a six month period. Bunch also served as chair for the "One of a Kind – Class of 69" campaign. He helped to establish his class giving program that resulted in gifts escalating from $1,800 in 1974 to $50,000 in 1989 and from $69,000 in 1994 to $100,000 in 1999. Bunch has also supported his alma mater with recruiting students. Two of his referrals went on to become Miss Livingstone College and one recruit served as SGA President. Many have played for the Blue Bears athletic teams and marching bands. Bunch has been a leading supporter of athletics as one of the first Life Members of the Blue Bears Club, Inc. He has served Livingstone on the Board of Trustee for 12 years. He is the firs trecipient of the Fletcher Jones Distinguish Athletic Service Award given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to Livingstone College Athletics.
