Fayetteville, NC - The Fayetteville State University Department of Athletics will induct four former student-athletes, three coaches, and the 2002 CIAA Championship Football Team into the 2024 Wall and Hall of Fame. The induction banquet will be held on October 25, 2024 at 1:00 pm inside the John D. Fuller, Sr. Recreational Athletic-Complex.

Chairman Stephen Sims and the committee have bestowed lifetime achievements to Mr. Jesse Curtis (Football); Ms. Annetta Faulcon (Basketball); Mr. Joseph Gillespie, Jr. (Deceased-Football); Mr. Terrain Gill (Golf); Dr. Walter Johnson (Track); Dr. LaWanda Miller (Athletic Wall of Fame-Cheerleader Coach); Ms. Inez Turner (Coach Cross Country/Track & Field); and the 2002 CIAA Champion Football Team.

The purpose of the Athletics Hall of Fame is to recognize and honor individuals who achieved excellence through participation in intercollegiate athletics at Fayetteville State University or as a coach, administrator, or special individual who made demonstrably outstanding and significant contributions to FSU's athletics program.

Mr. Jesse Curtis - Football
 The Jacksonville, FL native attended Fayetteville State from 1991-1995. He joined the Fayetteville State football team in 1991 and played until 1994.

 In 2018, Curtis held the kickoff return yardage record at Fayetteville State with 1,945 yards. He also held the record for the longest kickoff return for a touchdown at 94 yards, the   most career kick returns at 76, and the best career kick return average at 34.7.

 After his college career, Curtis became a life member of the FSU Military Alumni Association, and life member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. He has three major insurance designations from his 20 years in leadership at State Farm Insurance: Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), and the  Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI). He is a proud father of twin daughters who graduated from Howard Law.

Mr. Joseph Gillespie Jr. - Football
 The Fayetteville, NC native attended E.E. Smith High School and was a three sport starter on the football, basketball, and track teams. Gillespie was an All-State Football Team   Captain in high school as well.

 Entering Fayetteville State University in 1962, Gillespie was gifted in various sports (football, basketball, baseball, tennis, and bowling) but football was his passion.

 While at Fayetteville State he was an ALL-CIAA Safety in football. Using his natural skills, instincts, and knowledge of football, he was a force on the field at 6'2 and 225 lbs.

 Unfortunately, Mr. Gillespie passed away in March of this year.

In a tribute to Gillespie written by Roy McNeil Jr, he was described as a "natural born athlete." McNeil remembers "..watching Joseph play and watching the crowd quiver as Joseph put the pads on potential receivers."

Comments under his tribute were full of love and respect for Gillespie in his memory.

"Probably my first sports hero as I grew up on Murchison Road", said Patrick Smith.

After graduating from Fayetteville State University, Gillespie had a teaching career that spanned over 40 years. He also supported and had a positive impact on inner-city youth through the Boys and Girls club of Washington, DC. According to the United Black Fund Inc. President, Barry LeNoir, Gillespie was a community champion.

"...Joe Gillespie was a leader…the best kind ... one who led by his outstanding example. He made Columbia Heights Youth Club a place where young people would grow and grow and grow", said LeNoir.

Gillespie was also a member of the Epsilon Beta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc on the campus of Fayetteville State University.

Ms. Annetta Faulcon - Basketball
 The Littleton, NC native and a product of Hoke County Senior High School, attended FSU from 1981-1985, and played basketball all four years of her collegiate career.

 During her time at FSU she was selected to be a part of the Women's Basketball All-CIAA Team in 1985, along with being selected for the All-Tournament Team twice during the   regular season, and she was the CIAA Player of the Week twice.

 In 1985, she was listed in five CIAA statistical categories. She was the league's number one free-throw shooter, hitting 85.7 percent of her shooting from the line.She was second in   scoring with an average of 20.5 points per game. Her rebounding averaged at 9.5 per game which placed her eighth in the league. She was also eighth in the league for her 51.3   field goal percentage, and seventh in the league for an average of 4.1 assists per game.

Since graduating from FSU, she has pursued a career in computer analysis for Penn State Health Medical Hospital.

Mr. Terrain Gill - Golf
 Hailing from Charlotte, NC, Terrain Gill attended Fayetteville State from 1994-1999. He was a member of the men's golf team at FSU for all five years of his collegiate career.

 In reference to FSU's 27 CIAA Golf Championships, Gill contributed to three of those wins in his five years of play, with CIAA Championships in 1995, 1998, and 1999. He was also   a part of the PGA Minority Division II National Championship in 1995, and selected for the CIAA All-Tournament Team in 1997, 1998, and 1999. In addition to his numerous   achievements, he was named a National Minority All-American in 1997.

 Since graduating from Fayetteville State, he has won over 20 amateur golf tournaments.

Coach Dr. Walter Johnson Jr. - Track and Field
 Dr. Walter Johnson, Jr. is an educator, administrator, and visionary with a strong record of leadership in higher education. He was the Fayetteville State track coach from 1971 until   1976, and not only emphasized track fundamentals but academic achievement as well.

 Coach Johnson's track teams produced 42 individual CIAA champions in 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 100HH, 400ImH. His athletes produced 16 1st place finishes in relays; 12 1st   place finishes in individual events in the NAIA National championships in the 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 100HH, 400ImH; 3rd place National NAIA champions; NCAA All Americans in   "Division 1" competition and one United States' Olympic Team trials qualifier in the 100 and 200 meters.

 Coach Johnson established the first female track team at FSU, which credits to his commitment for gender equality and inclusivity. Coach Johnson currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Inner Banks STEM Center, a novel NC based science and technology nonprofit I (Alvin) formed in 2012.

In addition to his success as a mentor and coach, he was a remarkable student-athlete. He represented the United States in the U.S. Olympic team in 1964 and 1968 for track, and earned All-American status in track. Coach Johnson is also highly accomplished academically, with a PhD in Computer Science (a qualification only held by 300 Afro-Americans worldwide) from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Mathematics with a minor in Biology from North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina; Master of Arts in Teaching Certificate in Probability and Statistics
from Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; Master of Arts in Chemistry from Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia; and Master of Science in Computer Science from Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia.

While at Shaw University in Raleigh, NC and Fayetteville State University, Dr. Johnson served as Assistant to the President, served on the President's Executive Cabinet, the Quality Enhancement Plan Committee, the President's Advisory Committee, the Master Planning Committee, the Security Task Force, Director of Admissions and Records, Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affair, Director of International Exchange Programs, Director of Distance Learning, Assistant Athletic Director, and Teacher of the Year in mathematics and computer science.

Dr. Johnson is married to Elizabeth H. Johnson, a retired biology teacher and department chairman at Douglas Byrd High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and they have three sons, Walter, Eric, and Wayne.

 Dr. LaWanda Miller - Cheerleader Coach
 Dr. LaWanda D. Miller is a central Texas native who joined the Fayetteville State University family in 1994 and became FSU's Head Cheerleading Coach in the spring of 1998. She   served as the Assistant Athletics Director/Business Affairs, Senior Woman Administrator, Deputy Title IX Coordinator for the Department of Athletics, Student-Athlete   Advisory Committee Advisor, and Head Cheerleading Coach. The Bronco cheerleaders of FSU are better known as "Cheer Phi Smoov" (CΦS) and, under the direction of Dr. Miller, have solidified their spot as one of the premier squads in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).

 Miller has completed National Cheerleading Safety Certification courses from the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors (AACCA) and has earned two Certificates of Award from Cheer Ltd for successfully completing a full complement of courses and training at the National Cheerleading Coaches Conference and completed their   Cheerleading Judges Certification course.

A central theme in her life has always been to serve in a capacity that would enhance diversity and expand opportunities for women with a special focus on minority opportunities within the athletics community. Below lists a few of her committee and professional development activities to date:

Vice President, CIAA Cheerleading Coaches Association
Chair, CIAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
Member, CIAA Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Member, CIAA Management Council
Member, Women Leaders in College Sports
Member, National Council for Pay Equity (NCPE)
Recipient, 2015-16 HBCU C-Phi Coach of the Year Award
Graduate, UNC-Chapel Hill BRIDGES Academic Leadership Program for Women
Graduate, John Casablanca's Modeling and Career Center of Raleigh
Graduate, ATIXA Title IX Investigator Training

Miller holds a doctorate degree in business administration from Argosy University-Sarasota and a master's and bachelor's degree in business administration from Fayetteville State University. Her message to young people is "Attitude is a little thing that makes a BIG difference." Miller spends her cheerleading off season mentoring new high school and college coaches, judging middle and high school cheerleading tryouts, attending cheerleading conferences and dance clinics, and hosting summer cheerleading camps.

Inez Turner - Track and Field Coach
 Trelawny Parish, Jamaica native, Inez Turner, has had an illustrious career as both an athlete and a coach. Her journey began at Barton Community College, where she earned   an impressive 16 National Junior College All-America honors and set multiple school records. She won the 1993 Division I NJCAA Championship in the 800m run with a record   time of 2:04.88, showcasing her exceptional talent early on.

 On the international stage, Turner represented Jamaica at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, competing in the 800m and the 4x400m relay. She won gold in the 800m at the   1994 Commonwealth Games and a bronze medal in the 4x400m relay at the 1997 World Championships. Her performances at the CARIFTA Games were equally impressive,   with multiple gold and silver medals from 1988 to 1991. Additionally, she earned gold, silver, and silver at the CAC Junior Championships. 

Transitioning to coaching in 2004, Turner had stints at New York Track Club and North Carolina A&T State University before becoming the head coach at Winston-Salem State University. There, she led her teams to nine conference titles and earned eight CIAA Coach of the Year awards. In 2017, Turner joined Fayetteville State University, where she transformed the athletic program into a powerhouse. Under her leadership, the women's cross country team won six consecutive CIAA titles, and the indoor track & field team captured multiple championships. Turner has led her programs to 23 CIAA Championship titles, each accompanied by a Coach of the Year accolade. 

Beyond her coaching achievements, Turner established the Inez Turner Foundation in 2012 to support disadvantaged students at Vere Technical High School. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Sports Science from Texas State University. Turner's journey from a decorated athlete to a distinguished coach highlights her dedication and impact on the world of track and field, leaving a lasting legacy both on and off the track.

The 2002 Championship Football Team
 The 2002 Fayetteville State football team, led by third-year coach Kenny Phillips, finished its season with a 10-2 overall record and 6-0 in conference play. On   November 16, 2002, in Winston-Salem, NC, the Broncos defeated the Bowie State Bulldogs, 17-14, to win the CIAA Championship.

 The Broncos benefited from recovering Bowie's turnovers to score both of their touchdowns. They took an early lead on a 22-yard field goal by Justin Langdon,   then scored from a 25-yard pass from Te'Mon Wallace to Elliot London. This pushed their lead to 10-0 in the first quarter.

 The Broncos scored their second touchdown from a fumbled punt, recovered by Brian Holliday. This led to a 6-yard touchdown reception by Carnell Thornton from Wallace, sealing their lead in the third quarter, 17-6.