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NCAA News Release
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NCAA Hall Of Champions To Honor Olympic-Decorated Tennessee State Tigerbelles Track Program, September 30 And October 1, During Circle City Classic Week
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For Immediate Release
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
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Contact(s)
Gail E. Dent
Associate Director of Public and Media Relations
317/917-6117
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INDIANAPOLIS---The NCAA Hall of Champions will honor one of the most decorated, legendary women's collegiate track & field programs when it hosts Olympians and former members of the Tennessee State University Tigerbelles track team at the Hall of Champions, September 30 and October 1, during Circle City Classic week.
The NCAA Hall of Champions will host an invitation-only reception for the Tigerbelles Thursday, September 30, and an autograph session for the general public Friday, October 1, 2 to 4 p.m. Central time, with USA Track & Field. Both events will be held at the Hall of Champions, located in downtown Indianapolis in the White River State Park. Additionally, the autograph session will precede the Circle City Classic pep rally, which will be held in front of the Hall of Champions, 4 to 6 p.m. Central time, and feature the marching bands from Tennessee State University and South Carolina State University. The autograph session and the pep rally are free of charge to the public.
During the 1950s and 60s, the Tennessee State Tigerbelles were one of the most dominant track & field programs in the history of the sport, earning numerous Olympic medals, trophies and honors under the tutelage of famed coach Edward Temple. Temple coached at Tennessee State for 44 years and also taught sociology during his tenure. Forty of Temple's Tigerbelles competed in Olympic competition, earning a total of 23 Olympic medals, 13 of which were gold. Thirty-five of Temple's Tigerbelles competed for the United States in the Olympic Games, while five competed for their native countries ( Bermuda, Panama, Trinidad, Jamaica). Temple's Tigerbelles also were a force in collegiate competition, earning a total of 34 national titles. In addition to his coaching, Temple was an advocate for education as 39 of his Tigerbelle Olympians earned their college degree.
Among the most notable Tigerbelles was the late Wilma Rudolph, who was the first American woman to earn three gold medals in one Olympiad at the 1960 Olympic Games. Joining Rudolph on the gold medal stand that year in the 4 x 100 relay were fellow Tigerbelles Martha Hudson Pennyman, Barbara Jones Slater and Lucinda Williams Adams.
Other notable Tigerbelle performances over the years came from Wyomia Tyus (gold medalist); Edith McGuire Duvall (gold/silver medalist); Isabelle Daniels Holston (gold medalist); Kathy McMillan (silver medalist); Madeline Manning Mims (gold/silver medalist); Willye White (silver medalist); Margaret Matthews Wilburn (bronze medalist); and the late Mae Faggs Starr (gold/bronze medalist). Temple also coached current Tennessee State women's track & field coach Chandra Cheeseborough, who earned numerous national collegiate titles in the sprint events, along with two gold medals and one silver medal during her Olympic career. Also under Temple's tutelage was former Tennessee State track athlete Ralph Boston, who earned Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals, and an NCAA title in the long jump in 1960. Coach Temple, Tigerbelle Olympians and Boston are scheduled to attend the reception and the autograph session.
While at the NCAA Hall of Champions, the general public can view the Hall's Journey to the Gold exhibit, which includes Tigerbelle and Olympic memorabilia. Journey to the Gold is a tribute to NCAA athletics programs that have ties to the Olympic Games. The exhibit will be on display at the Hall through October 16.
"Circle City Classic is always an exciting event in Indianapolis , and the NCAA Hall of Champions is proud to be a Classic community partner," said George Smith, managing director of the NCAA Hall of Champions. "The Tennessee State University Tigerbelles are featured in our Journey to the Gold exhibit, which presented us with a unique opportunity to celebrate their collegiate and Olympic history during Classic weekend, and to pay tribute to some of the most talented track and field student-athletes in collegiate history. Their personal stories are as compelling as their athletic accomplishments. These role models were winners in track and in the classroom, and are winners in life."
[MEDIA NOTE: Media will have an opportunity to interview members of the Tigerbelles program prior to the 7 p.m. reception, Thursday, September 30. Media can get video footage at the start of the Thursday reception, and during the autograph session and pep rally Friday.]
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