William Carey University inducted six new members into the Sports Hall of Fame during the 2016 homecoming weekend. The sixth annual induction ceremony was held April 9 at Southern Oaks House and Gardens in Hattiesburg.
The 2016 inductees are Wendy Hogue, Sharon Barnes Brinson, LaRon Brumfield, Ted Cannon, Joe Belan and Tommy Goodson.
Wendy Hogue is a Perry Central High School graduate and was a member of the inaugural women's fastpitch softball team in 1995. She played for Coach Glenn Moore, who is currently the head coach at Baylor University. Hogue graduated from Carey in 1998 and returned to her alma mater in 2005 as the head coach for the softball team. She coached 10 seasons and brought national prominence to the university's softball program. Hogue led the Crusaders to three conference titles and three seasons with more than 50 wins. During her 10-year tenure, the WCU softball team had a 373-152 record, a 71 percent winning percentage, competed in six NAIA national tournaments. In 2014 the WCU team was the NAIA national runner-up.
Hogue began her coaching career at Petal High School, where she was the first ever fastpitch softball coach. She and her husband, Eric, live in Runnelstown and they have two children.
Sharon Barnes Brinson, a 1982 graduate, has been described as "the glue that held the team together, a consummate point guard and a tenacious defender." She is a West Jones graduate and played for Carey from 1979 to 1982. After completion of her eligibility she served as Coach Bobby Halford's graduate assistant coach. Even as a player, Brinson was considered to be another coach on the floor and led the team in assists. Her favorite memory while at Carey was playing on the first women's basketball team to play in a national tournament, the AIAW Tournament at Louisiana College, versus Louisiana College, Morgan State, and Cal-Poly Pomona.
Brinson and her husband Willie live in Hattiesburg; they have two daughters. She currently works for UPS and the Brinsons own Jani-King Commercial Cleaning Company.
LaRon Brumfield played for four seasons at William Carey under Coach Steve Knight. He was known as "a tough-nosed country boy" who knew how to play the game right. He currently ranks #13 on the all-time scoring list with 1,348 points scored. After graduating from WCU in 1994, Brumfield served as Coach Knight's assistant coach for many years before leaving to take a minister's position at Mt. Olive Baptist Church. He is currently the head coach for the boys' basketball team at Oak Grove High School and also teaches physical education. A native of Franklinton, LA, Brumfield and his wife Shermanda live in Hattiesburg and are the parents of two children.
Brumfield said one of his favorite Carey athletic memories was a home game against Louisiana College. The Crusaders were down by 22 at the half. As the team was warming up to take the floor again, Coach Knight did not like what he saw and took the team back to the locker room for another "little conversation." Whatever Coach Knight told his players, it worked. The Crusaders came back to win the game by one point. Brumfield said when the team returned to the locker room after the game they were so tired they didn't even have the energy to celebrate.
Ted Cannon, a 1976 graduate, played basketball and baseball under coaches John O'Keefe and John Stephenson. In basketball he was known as having an outstanding jump shot with "NBA range" but played before the 3-point line was instituted in the college game. As a baseball pitcher known for his curveball, Cannon normally drew the toughest starts on the team. Cannon said, "There are a lot of great memories, but one thing that stands out about playing at Carey were all of the road trips in the vans!"
Cannon currently serves on the WCU Board of Trustees and has always been a generous supporter of Carey and the athletic program. Originally from Taylorsville, Cannon and his wife Charlene live in Petal. They have two sons and four grandchildren. He owns Ted Cannon State Farm in Petal and has been in the insurance business for 37 years.
Joe Belan, a 1964 William Carey College graduate, played basketball for Coach John O'Keefe. Some of his teammates still say Belan was "always the best athlete on the court." More than 50 years later he still holds the school record for most consecutive free throws, with an impressive 34 shots.
In the early days William Carey did not have a gym and the players either played outdoors on clay courts or in nearby high school gyms. Belan said he remembers enjoying watching the Clinton gym being built on campus.
A native of Pennsylvania, Belan currently resides in Erie, PA. He is the proud father of six children, 14 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. He is a retired teacher and has written several books.
Tommy Goodson played basketball and baseball under Coach John O'Keefe. He is considered to be "one of the best competitors to ever play at Carey." In baseball he was a second baseman and outfielder and a tough out. On the basketball court he was a tough defender but was also capable of breakout offensive games.
Goodson said he remembers the competitive spirit and closeness of his Carey teammates and coaches, and beating Belhaven at any sport was always good.
After graduating from WCU in 1973, Goodson was a girls' high school basketball coach and went on to become an assistant women's basketball coach under the legendary Sue Gunter at LSU from 1984-1998. He is currently the human resources director for Team Honda Automotive. Goodson and his wife Lucy live in Prairieville, LA; they have a daughter and two grandchildren.