Montgomery High graduate Cullop among selections
The following West Virginia State University graduates have beeninducted into the school's Sports Hall of Fame:
Oree Banks
Coach Oree Banks came to West Virginia State in 1977 after havingcoached at Coahoma Community College in Mississippi and SouthCarolina State. Previously, he was the assistant coach at theUniversity of Wisconsin, Grambling State University, the Universityof South Carolina and the University of Virginia.
In the seven years as the head coach at State, Banks had fourwinning seasons and compiled a record of 32-36-1. In three years,Banks built the Yellow Jackets into the West Virginia ConferenceSouthern Division Champions and earned a berth in the Coal Bowl.
In January of 1995, Banks' career reached its peak when he wasinducted into the NAIA National Hall of Fame in the Coach Categoryin Dallas, Texas.
Banks also is a lecturer regarding drug education, traveling thecountry speaking to students about drug awareness.
Marshall L. Berger
Marshall L. Berger, a native of Martinsville, Va., was recruitedby West Virginia State College to play football in 1973.
During Marshall's four years at WVSC, he was a three-yearletterman. He led the team in sacks for two years. He was also amongteam leaders in tackles. Marshall was named WVIAC Player of Weeknumerous times throughout his career.
Marshall continued his leadership off the field, currentlyserving as director of the James H. 'Tiger' Morton Juvenile Centerin Dunbar. He has worked in the juvenile correction system for 34years and is the founder of the Juvenile Detention PreventionProgram.
Charles 'Pat' Clark
Charles 'Pat' Clark entered West Virginia State University in thefall of 1984. He is a graduate of Duval High School inGriffithsville, where he participated in football, track & field,baseball, and basketball. He was an All-State and All-Conferencelinebacker-fullback in football and qualified for the state trackmeet in the 100-yard dash.
Clark was an All-Conference linebacker in the WVIAC and astandout of the 1984 WVSC football team, a team that is referred tofrequently as one the best in the history of West Virginia Statefootball.
A four-year starter and four-year captain of the team, Patgraduated with a B.S. degree in Health, Safety, and PhysicalEducation in 1988. He went on to Marshall University where hereceived his master's degree in safety management in 1990.
James E. Cullop Jr.
James E. Cullop was born in Elkridge and graduated fromMontgomery High School in 1953. He enrolled at West Virginia StateCollege in the fall of 1959, with the help of Coach Art Burris. In1960, WVSC won the WVIAC Swimming and Diving Championship for thefirst time in school history. The team also competed in the NAIAswimming championship in Detroit. This swimming team was elected tothe WVSC All-Academic Team every year of competition.
Edward 'Magoo' Davis Jr.
Ed Davis was born in the Letroit Park area of Washington, D.C.Before attending State, he graduated from Dunbar High School. Duringhis tenure at Dunbar he played forward and this team defeatednationally ranked Cardinal-Gibbons of Baltimore.
Davis was also very active in the community, attending thehistoric Florida Avenue Baptist Church and working with the D.C.Department of Recreation.
After receiving several scholarship offers, he chose WVSC. AtState, Ed became known as 'Magoo,' a name that would follow himthrough the rest of his life.
After WVSC, he obtained a master's degree in educationadministration and his Advanced Certificate of Graduate Studies inEducational Technology and Learning Systems.
Later, he taught and coached in the D.C. and Montgomery PublicSchool system for 28 years.
After 16 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Ed Davis has a 312-154 overall record. His tenure is highlighted with severalchampionships and numerous 'Coach of the Year' awards.
Gregory D. Epps Sr.
Dr. Gregory D. Epps Sr. is the executive assistant to thepresident at West Virginia State University.
Epps received a bachelor's degree in education from WVSU, amaster's degree from Marshall University and a doctorate from WestVirginia University. He also is a recent graduate of the BusinessManagement Institute at Cornell University, the College ManagementInstitute at the University of Kentucky and the Executive LeadershipProgram at Hampton University.
While a student at WVSU, Epps was an active member of the trackteam. He was the assistant track coach for two years, winning theconference championship in 1982; one-year letterman and co-captainof cross country; track team captain for two years and co-captainfor one; lettered for four years; All-Conference for four years andAll-Conference awards for five; Conference Team Champion for oneyear; Conference Team Runner-up for two years and placed fourth andsecond in the 400-meter conference championships.
Floyd S. Goff
Goff was first recognized for excellence of four years sustainedperformance in his senior year at West Virginia State College fortwo sports. The Citation of Outstanding Athletic Achievements inFootball and Baseball was issued during his senior year.
After graduation, he assisted in raising money for the college,recruiting and serving as an ambassador for WVSC. He was affiliatedwith the Pittsburgh Pirate baseball farm system and served as ateacher, football, basketball and baseball coach.
He also served in the Army, was director of The Department ofEmployment Services for Washington, D.C., under three mayors andserved as superintendent of the Crispus Attucks Youth Build CharterSchool.
Community service awards include: The Humanitarian Award, Who'sWho in Government Services, Honor Graduate in his Military PoliceAcademy Class and the Ethiopian/Indochinese Community Service Award.
Most of all, he has kept God first in his life.
William P. 'Pat' Matthews
Pat Matthews was recruited by Coach Art Burris to West VirginiaState College, where he was a starting guard on the undefeatedjunior varsity team coached by Bob Maxwell, who served as the headbaseball coach. Highlights in his freshman season includedsignificant roles in wins at Huntington against Marshall Universityin both basketball and baseball.
In baseball, Matthews started at second base his freshman season,shortstop in both his sophomore and junior years and then settled inat third base his senior year, when he attained First-Team All-WVIAC honors.
John D. Thurman
Thurman attended West Virginia State College from 1982 to 1984,when he participated in track and football. He assisted in leadingthe track team to conference championships in 1982 and 1983. Thurmanwas the conference champion in the 200-meter dash and the 100-meterdash and also ran first leg on both the 4x100 meter relay and 800-meter relay, where WVSC won both conference relays. Thurmanparticipated in the NAIA College Track and Field Championship andwas ranked in the top 10 in the nation in the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash in Charleston.
Walter M. Wilkerson Sr.
After graduation from Gary District High School in 1963,Wilkerson enrolled at West Virginia State College while working fulltime at FMC and later Union Carbide.
Wilkerson has spent many years volunteering with children inteaching, coaching and math tutoring. He has worked with the LocalSub-Area Planning Committee and received the Community Service andVolunteer Award in 1992.
The majority of his volunteer hours have been working for the 'W'Club. He worked closely with Alumni Affairs Director Fred Bailey andAthletic Director Robert Maxwell, who were both instrumental insetting up all programs for the 'W' Club in 1978.
Jeff C. Woods
Woods graduated from West Virginia State College with a degree insociology, Magna Cum Laude, in 1975. He was designated aDistinguished Military Student and Graduate and was commissioned asecond lieutenant in the United States Army. He earned a JurisDoctorate, Magna Cum Laude, from Howard University Law School in1979. He was Case Notes editor of The Howard Law Journal.
Woods served as a clerk with the West Virginia Supreme Court ofAppeals and acting director of the West Virginia Magistrate Courtsystem.
He is in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps as aprosecutor and senior trial counsel with the Fifth Infantry Divisionat Fort Polk, La.
