The SWAC Alumni Association will honor four Southwestern Athletic Conference stalwarts during its annual Legends Reception Dec. 6 in the Tiger Room of the Sterling Student Center at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas.
Willie Richardson, a SWAC Hall of Fame wide receiver at Jackson State and an NFL standout, Shirley Walker, former women’s basketball coach at Alcorn State University, and former Prairie View A&M track and field and football coach Hoover Wright will receive Lifetime Achievement Awards. Wright will be honored posthumously.
John “Doc’’ Harvey, Head Athletic Trainer at Texas Southern University, will receive the Charles “Chuck’’ Prophet Memorial Wagon Master Award. This award is named in honor of Chuck Prophet, the long-time Sports Information Director and Athletic Director at Mississippi Valley State University. It is presented annually to an employee of a conference member institution who best exemplifies Chuck’s spirit and dedication and loyalty to their school and SWAC.
Richardson led the nation in average yards per catch while at Jackson State and was a four-time All-American. He was the leading receiver for the Baltimore Colts in 1967, ’69 and ’70 and a starter in Super Bowl III. Richardson is a member of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, the Black College Hall of Fame and the National High School Hall of Fame in addition to the SWAC Hall of Fame.
Walker coached the Lady Braves for 30 seasons and compiled a 489-342 record. Her teams won 12 SWAC regular season titles and six conference tournament championships, and she was SWAC Coach of the Year eight times. During the 1996-97 season, the Lady Braves had the nation’s longest home court winning streak during the 1996-97 with 31 consecutive victories.
Wright coached Prairie View to two NAIA men’s indoor national championships and one outdoor national title; five SWAC championships, one U.S. Track and Field Association national title and one Astrodome Federation national championship. Wright was an assistant coach for the USA National Team in 1971 and for the 1972 Munich Olympic Games and head coach of the USA Junior National Team for a 1987 triangular meet with Cuba and Canada. He was also an assistant with the 1975 USA Pan American Games team and the 1981 World University Games team. In addition, Wright was the Panthers’ football coach for 10 seasons from 1966-68 and 1973-79.
Harvey has been head athletic trainer at Texas Southern for years after holding the same position at Prairie View for two years. He has received numerous honors and awards during his distinguished career, including:
• 1996 Black Sports Media Athletic Trainer of the Year Award.
• 2001 SWATA John Harvey Humanitarian Award.
• 2002 NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award.
• 2003 NATA Bill Chisolm Professional Service Award.
• 2003 SWATA Hall of Fame Inductee.
The SWAC Alumni Association was founded in Birmingham, Ala., Dec. 10, 1999 during the inaugural SWAC Championship Football Game out of concern that the conference’s legacy of athletic excellence was being forgotten. Its goal is to support conference activities, honor SWAC’s tradition of athletic excellence and preserve its heritage as one of the premier conferences in the nation. Former athletes who competed in any sport at SWAC member institutions are eligible for membership, as are former coaches in all sports, athletic trainers, athletic administrators, game officials, employees of the conference office and supporters of SWAC athletics.
For membership information, contact President Roscoe Nance at 703-481-0084 or at scomobile@aol.com.
