Chowan University to Induct Five into Hall of Fame Saturday
by Hawks Sports Informations Department
Murfreesboro, NC- The Chowan University Athletic Department is proud to announce the Hall of Fame Class for 2017. This year's class features five deserving honorees: Tommy Forbes (patron), Andy Kelly (men's basketball), Wilbert Hunter (men's basketball), Judy Parsons (women's basketball), and Julius Smith (football). The inductees will be recognized at halftime of the football game against Virginia State University on Saturday, October 28th. Kick off is slated for 1:00pm at Garrison Stadium. A banquet and induction ceremony will be held later in the evening.
Thomas Edwin "Tommy" Forbes
Patron
1972-1974
Tommy Forbes' life has been intricately connected to Chowan since his childhood when he, his parents, and his sister (Joan) lived next door to Dr. B. Franklin Lowe, Jr., a college Dean from 1968-2001. Lowe was instrumental in Tommy's decision to attend Chowan in the early 1970's.
Tommy served as President of the Day Student Organization as a student and his commitment to serve the University has not waivered. After graduation, he has continued to serve his alma mater in a variety of ways. He served as a member and president of the Braves Club, as an active member and donor to the Brave Hawks Club, as a member of the Chowan University Board of Visitors, and as a public address announcer for the men's basketball team for more than 20 years.
In 2015, Tommy was honored by Chowan University as a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. A Nationwide Insurance agent since 1979, he epitomizes the slogan, "Nationwide is on your side," offering exceptional service to his entire community as well as his customers who know he is never more than one phone call away. Honored by Nationwide with numerous awards, he has served as advertising chairperson for Eastern North Carolina and co-chairperson for the state of North Carolina.
A Master Mason and past Worshipful Master of the Murfreesboro American George Lodge, a Shriner (Roanoke-Chowan Shrine Club), and a member of the Murfreesboro Chamber of Commerce, he is a past member of the Murfreesboro Jaycees, having served as a regional director and has been honored as North Carolina State Jaycee (1979). Tommy and his family are members of Murfreesboro Baptist Church.
Tommy became a radio personality on WWDR in Murfreesboro, known as Tommy T-Trucking. His gift of gab and love of people and sports led him to public address announcing. Along with serving as the men's basketball public address announcer, Tommy serves as the public address announcer for Southampton Academy in Courtland, Virginia.
After graduating from Chowan in 1974, Tommy attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He graduated from UNC in 1976 with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. In 1979, he became a second-generation Nationwide Insurance Agent. In 1989, he married Lisa Davis of Conway (Chowan class of 2009). He and Lisa are parents to Cliff, a golf standout at Chowan (class of 2012) and employee of the Roanoke-Chowan News Herald and married to JoAnn Rose, and Corey, a graduate of East Carolina University and current Optometry student at NOVA Southeastern School of Optometry in Florida.
Born in 1954, Tommy is now a sixteen-year heart transplant survivor. The precious gift of life from an unknown donor has allowed this husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend to continue his service to family, friends, community, and to Chowan University. The number 13 is meaningful to Tommy. He enjoys telling that he was born on the 13th, had a heart attack on the 13th, and a heart transplant on the 13th.
Andy Kelly
Men's Basketball
1988-1990
Andy Kelly was born and raised in Carthage, North Carolina and currently resides in Charlotte. While he now leads a professional sales career and is a devoted husband and father, Andy was once always on the basketball court. Andy began playing basketball around the age of 10. He could always be found in an empty gym or on the court with friends perfecting his shot.
Andy's basketball career began to take shape as he was a standout player for Union Pines High School Varsity for Carl Salmon from 1986 to 1988. In high school, he received All-Conference honors each year and his senior year; he was awarded the Central Tarheel Conference Player of the Year. Andy also achieved the 1,000-point club at Union Pines, where he is also a member of the Union Pines High School Sports Hall of Fame.
Upon high school graduation from Union Pines, Andy received a scholarship to play at Fork Union Military Academy. Andy's team finished that year 33-1.
In 1990, Andy signed with Chowan Junior College under former coach and Chowan Hall of Famer Bob Burke. Andy averaged 16.5 points per game and helped lead Chowan to the National Junior College Tournament.
Coach Bob Burke had this to say about Kelly, " He was a fierce competitor who had great versatility in his game. Andy could play four positions on the court and he really worked hard to play in the ACC. He started every game his senior year at Clemson playing for Coach Barnes, and was mostly challenged to guard the best player on the opposing team. We are extremely proud of him."
In 1992, Andy's dream to play at the ACC Division I level was becoming a reality as he signed a scholarship to play with Clemson University under Coach Cliff Ellis. In the 1994-95 season, under Coach Rick Barnes, Andy started 28 games for Clemson. That year, Clemson advanced to the NIT and won 17 games overall. Andy also was awarded Most Improved Player following his senior year at Clemson.
Today, Andy lives in Charlotte with his wife, Jennifer, daughters Lila, who is 9 years old, Emma, who is 7 years old, and their dog named Diesel, who is 15 years old. Professionally, Andy is a Commercial Sales Architect for Andersen Windows. Andy still loves to play basketball and plays recreational ball for Myers Park Presbyterian Church.
Wilbert Hunter
Men's Basketball
1988-1990
Wilbert Hunter came to Chowan in August of 1988 after being recruited by legendary basketball coach, Bob Burke. The Raleigh, North Carolina native attended Athens Drive High School where he was a standout basketball player.
In his senior season the forward averaged 22 points an outing, enough to turn heads of many college coaches. Wilbert was invited to play in the notable East vs. West North Carolina All-Star game, where he dropped 16 points. Ultimately, Wilbert chose Chowan to continue his education and playing career under Burke.
Wilbert played for two seasons for the famed coach Bob Burke and achieved remarkable success. In his sophomore season, he averaged 16.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. He was instrumental in Chowan's drive to the 1992 NJCAA Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas. Hunter led the Braves in total points and total rebounds in the 1992 season. He was the second player to ever achieve that mark in Burke's years at Chowan. Hunter was named to All-Coastal Conference Team and the All-Tournament Team in the Coal Classic in (Jasper, Ala.) Hunter was also named to the All-Tournament Team in Chowan's own tournament, The NBC Classic. Also in his sophomore season, Hunter shot 55% from the floor (220 of 399) and 66% percent from the foul line (100 of 151). Hunter was named the team's MVP in his last season with the team.
Coach Bob Burke said, "Wilbert was the second most versatile player he has coached at Chowan. Wil's love for the game and his hunger to get to Kansas was amazing. His 'team first' spirit was contagious. He worked hard on all aspects of his game."
Following his years at Chowan, Wilbert continued his playing career at East Carolina University. In 1993, Hunter would also help lead the East Carolina Pirates only their 2nd NCAA appearance the school's history where they played the eventual NCAA Champion the North Carolina Tarheels. In two seasons with the Pirates, he averaged just over six points and six rebounds a game.
Wilbert is married to Lakisha Hunter; together they have one daughter, Leylin Hunter. They reside in Maryland. Wilbert is employed by the Department of Justice as a software tester. He also serves as an assistant coach for the boys' basketball team at Lackey High School in Indian Head, Maryland.
Judy Parsons
Women's Basketball
1985-86, 1994-1997
Franklin, Virginia native Judy Parsons did not venture far from her roots when she first came to Chowan in 1985. She attended Chowan, then a junior college, for one brief year before returning in 1994. Judy's success on the basketball court was inspirational to many because she was nearly 10 years older than many of her teammates. Judy, also known as "Jumping Judy", made a name for herself with her grit and determination inside the paint while wearing the Chowan Blue and White.
Judy played her high school basketball at Franklin High School in Franklin, VA under the legendary coach, Peggy Wilkins. After a stellar high school career, she came to Chowan in 1985. When she returned nearly 10 years later, she still had three years of eligibility, and became an integral part of the Chowan women's basketball team. Rebounding was Judy's specialty and she racked up double-digit rebounds frequently in her three seasons. She amassed 27 double doubles from 1994-1997.
Judy also played one year of softball and one year of tennis while at Chowan. She graduated in 1998 with a B.S. in Sports Science.
After college, she married her soulmate, George Turner, and they remodeled a 170-year-old farmhouse. She received her teaching degree from Old Dominion University in 2000 and began teaching Health and Physical Education at Luther Porter Jackson Middle School in Surry County, Virginia. She coached the middle school girls' basketball team to their first win in 2000 and took the team to 3 winning seasons before a debilitating illness forced her to stop teaching and coaching.
Judy and George were blessed to have two children through those years, a son, Nathan, who is 12 and a daughter, AnnaBelle Farrar, age 9.
She and her husband own a roofing company and a small family farm on the outskirts of Wakefield, Virginia where she raises and sells guineas and maintains a growing apiary.
Julius Smith
Football
1971-1973
Julius Smith came to Chowan in August of 1971 after being recruited by Hall of Fame Coach, Jim Garrison. The Cincinnati, Ohio native was a standout running back from Robert A. Taft High School and right away made an impact on the field for the then-Braves.
Although his freshman year was shortened due to injury, Julius was named All Coastal Conference Honorable Mention after rushing for 572 yards and five touchdowns. The hard as nails running back helped to lead the offensive attack in Garrison's wishbone offense.
In his sophomore season, Julius scampered for 957 season yards and hit pay dirt nine times. After one of the featured backs in the wishbone in his first season, Julius excelled as the top offensive back in sophomore year in Garrison's new I-formation offense. He garnered All Coastal Conference honors, All Region 10 honors, and Coastal Conference Offensive Back of the Year honors. His play during his last season at Chowan helped him lock down a scholarship to play for the University of Cincinnati. On his play as a Bearcat, Julius set a school record with a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
LTC (R) Julius Smith served 30 years as a member of the Department of Defense. He retired from the United States Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2009 after 24 years of selfless service. Julius served active duty Army tours in Germany, Japan, and other global positions. During Desert Shield/Storm he received the Bronze Star for outstanding Psychological Operations logistic support. From 1995-1996 during Operation Deliberate Force (Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina), he served as the 127th Aviation Support Battalion Headquarters Support Company Commander. From 2005-2009 Julius served as Branch Chief of US Army Casualty and Mortuary Affairs and POW/MIA. After retiring from active duty service, he served from 2009-2015 as a GG-14 Logistics Management Specialist for the Department of Defense, Defense Intelligence Agency. He also supported the Army Intelligence operations in Kabul, Afghanistan from 2013-2014.
Julius has a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University and a B.S. from Virginia State University. He received an Associate of Science in Golf Complex and Operations Management from the Golf Academy of America in 2017.
Julius has been married to Patricia Smith for 41 years. Together they have two children, Joy and Julius III, and three grandchildren, Jaui, Jaicob, and Amasia.