WATCH: Charles Wilson would be among the first eight African-American students to attend an all white school in Brevard County. Not only was he a talent on the football field, but he was also the first African-American captain on a public high school football team in the state of Florida.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The year was 1964. President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated less than a year earlier, the Vietnam War was in its infancy stages, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 had just been signed into law, which, among other things, outlawed racial segregation in public schools.

All across this nation, there was general unrest.

This is about the time Charlie Wilson started to make a name for himself, not only in the sports arena but also in life. Prior to desegregation, Wilson attended Monroe High School, an all-black school in Cocoa, Florida.

However, in 1964, with racial desegregation of public schools a legislative mandate throughout the U.S., including the South, the decision was made that Wilson and seven other Monroe High School students would attend Cocoa High School.

They would be the first African-American students to attend the all-white school. Wilson and the others were among the top academic students at Monroe, and it was felt that because of that, their possibility of success was good.

Wilson was born at Wuesthoff Hospital in Rockledge and had been in Brevard County all of his life. His dad, Phillip James Wilson, Sr. (PJ) was a successful golf professional and was one of the best teaching pros in the area. His mom, Etta Ruth Wilson, with eight children, not only worked at home but was a top-notch salesperson at a large department store.

As a young child, Wilson’s life revolved around sports. His dad coached him in little league and pony league baseball where Wilson excelled at all levels on the diamond. However, football was the sport that would eventually land him in the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

When the 1964 school year began Wilson was entering the 10th grade, and he and his seven Monroe High School classmates, now Cocoa High School classmates, were ready.

However, there were many unanswered questions. Would they fit in? Would they be accepted? Would the talented Wilson be given a chance to prove himself on the athletic fields? Only time would tell.

Wilson loved the game of football and had been a starting defensive end on Monroe High’s team since the 7th grade. He loved defense and he loved to hit. Sam Huff and Ray Nitschke, two of the top NFL linebackers of all time, were a couple of players that Wilson admired and wanted to emulate.

There was no question that Wilson wanted to continue playing football at Cocoa High. One of Wilson’s mentors, Monroe football coach Dick Blake, spoke with the coaching staff at Cocoa High and was assured that Wilson would be given a chance to try out for the team.

If the name Dick Blake sounds familiar, it’s because he was the first African-American to teach at an integrated school in Brevard County, the first to be a head coach and the first to be named high school principal. Blake is also a member of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

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Wilson’s first practice at Cocoa High was not your typical high school football practice. There was a big crowd to watch because they heard a former Monroe player was going to try out.

They wanted to see how good he was, and if he could withstand the pressure of being the first African-American football player at Cocoa High. Wilson was so impressive in his first practice that, despite the fact that he broke his arm, he locked up a spot on the varsity.

Two questions were immediately answered. He was good enough to play football, and he could withstand the pressure. Wilson played three years of football at Cocoa High and also played basketball and ran track.

When asked about the differences between athletics at Cocoa High and Monroe High, what came to mind for Wilson was not the play on the field, but the facilities.

According to Wilson, “The facilities were much bigger and better at Cocoa.” He said that coaching techniques were slightly different, which is not unusual, and that both schools played at Provost Park.

“The individual talent level at both schools was about the same,” said Wilson.

A couple of standouts that immediately came to mind were Andrew Howard and Billy Hughes. When asked about 2016 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Willie Ric-Rac Wright, Wilson said, “He is a legend in Cocoa. He is one of the people that I admired. I grew up saying, I want to be like Ric-Rac.”

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Wilson also spoke highly of Walter Jackson, better known as “Alabama Red,” and Clyde Thomas. These players were not only great football players but played basketball and baseball as well.

So, there was talent galore at both Monroe and Cocoa. Both schools had players that went on to college and the NFL.

FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TEAM CAPTAIN IN FLORIDA

As Wilson entered his senior year at Cocoa High, he was being heavily recruited. Not only was he a talent on the football field, but he was also the first African-American captain on a public high school football team in the state of Florida.

Multiple colleges were interested in Wilson, among them were the U.S. Naval Academy, Baylor, Kansas, Michigan State, Citadel, UCLA and Penn State. The Naval Academy stood out to Wilson because of its tradition and standards of excellence.

The offers were on the table. But what makes this story so unique is that Charlie Wilson had decided he wanted to attend a major Division 1 university. Until now, it was common practice for African-American athletes in Brevard County to attend historically black colleges like Florida A&M and Grambling.

Wilson and his dad were extremely close and were big-time football fans. They watched football on TV and knew about the big schools, Penn State included. Wilson was a big fan of Penn State players Lenny Moore, Rosey Grier and Roger Kaufman.

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He was also very interested in Michigan State and was impressed with the Wolverines’ linebacker George Webster and Spartan head coach Duffy Daughetry. A lot of things about Michigan State intrigued Wilson.

He had gotten it into his head that he wanted to go to a major football school and wanted to select a school that was nationally known, that would appear on TV, and would go to bowl games.

Blake, Isaiah Russell and LeRoy Smith working together to secure a scholarship for him eventually landed Wilson at Penn State. Russell was one of Wilson’s teachers and did his summer graduate work at Penn State.

While there, he met head coach Joe Paterno and struck up a friendship. Russell told Paterno that he knew of a great student-athlete from his hometown of Cocoa that he should recruit. Blake, Smith and Russell put together game film of Wilson, sent it to Paterno, and the rest is history.

Wilson went to Penn State on a recruiting visit, not knowing Coach Paterno, who had been there only one year. Wilson was impressed with the school, coaching staff and all they had to offer.

“It seemed like a good school with a good reputation,” Wilson said.

Sometimes the choices you don’t make turn out to be good ones. Wilson had a chance to go to Marshall University. They were the first school to offer him a recruiting trip to visit their campus. He liked it, and was impressed with what he saw. It just wasn’t big-time like Penn State.

Had he chosen Marshall, he likely would have been on the plane that crashed on November 14, 1970, killing all 75 people on board, including 37 members of the football team.

ABOVE VIDEO: Many years have passed since Wille “Ric-Rac” Wright attended the African-American only Monroe High School in the early 1960s, but his former coach says watching Wright on the field and the basketball court was magical.

PENN STATE’S FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN RECRUIT FROM FLORIDA

Wilson’s decision to attend Penn State was groundbreaking. He was the first African-American from the state of Florida to attend Penn State. He was also the first African-American to attend a major Division 1 university from Cocoa High School – and quite possibly Brevard County.

Wilson enjoyed playing for Coach Paterno. “He was pretty tough,” said Wilson. “He not only was a coach, but a friend.”

Paterno had Wilson over to his house numerous times for dinner and seemed to take a special interest in the young man from Cocoa. After all, he was Penn State’s first African-American recruit from Florida and he wanted to try to help ensure his success, not only on the field, but off the field. Many times they would talk about things other than football.

On the field, Wilson played running back and wide receiver. By his sophomore season, he was the starting running back for the nationally second-ranked Nittany Lions.

A devastating knee injury slowed Wilson down a bit, but he played a solid four years and began his senior season as the starting safety.

Wilson went on to lead a very successful business career. He started with the Kendall Company, rising to director of human resources. After being employed by Frito-Lay, Wilson went to work for Clarian Health, and then to Penn State – Hershey Medical Center where he was Chief Human Resources Officer until he retired in 2014.

He will be the first to tell you that he has not done this alone. His mentors have been many, and have been extremely important to him. Among them, he counts his dad and mom; his coaches, including Reche Sims, Smith and Blake; and his teacher, Isaiah Russell. And, there have been many more along the way that have guided and molded him into the man he is today.

When asked about lessons learned on the football field that carried over to life, Wilson used words like never giving up, always giving your best, being relentless, persistence, always striving to be better than the last time and teamwork.

He emphasized that not only did the African-American community pull for him and the Monroe students’ success, but the white community did as well.

“I had a wonderful experience at Cocoa High,” said Wilson.

“I had the support of the coaches. I made a lot of friends – friends for life. People I had known, we lived in different neighborhoods and came from different walks of life, but we were able to connect on a level that has carried on to this day.”

Yes, 1964 is where it really began for Charlie Wilson and his eventual induction in the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

The question – would the eight Monroe High School students fit in at Cocoa High School was answered – yes, they did. Would they be accepted at Cocoa High School – yes, they were. Would Charlie Wilson be given a chance to prove himself on the athletic field and life – yes, from day one.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME, call 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com.

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BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Vassar B. Carlton grew up in a time when nothing was easy, and nothing was given to you. You had to work for everything. Born in 1912 in Island Grove Florida, he was the son of Ben and Zeffie Carlton.

The Carltons were like most everyone else in the area, they were farmers. Carlton grew up doing typical chores that you would expect to find on the farm including milking cows, feeding the mules that pulled the plows, pumping water and hoeing the crops.

Carlton, as did his siblings, did as he was told, without question.

Carlton and his father had a special relationship. They were not only father and son, but they were good friends. While watching his father closely, Carlton learned how to deal with people.

His father would always say that “a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,” and that “you will never be in need if you have true friends.”

As a boy, Carlton was very much an outdoors person. He walked everywhere he went and enjoyed hunting and fishing, along with most other outdoor activities. He was also big and strong for his age.

Carlton was a teenager when his family moved to Merritt Island, Florida.

He enrolled at Cocoa High School and immediately made an impact, both on, and off, the athletic fields. Two weeks after the family moved to town, school began, and Carlton went out for the football team. He made the team, and two weeks later, he was elected captain of the team.

Shortly after that, he won his first election when he was selected by the student body as general athletic manager of Cocoa High School.

Because of his size, strength, and competitive nature, Carlton is considered one of the most dynamic athletes in Brevard County history. He excelled at football (running back), baseball (second baseman) and basketball (forward).

He earned all-county honors in all three sports, and in 1930, the Miami Herald named him the best high school running back in the state of Florida. Carlton was later named to the Cocoa High School All-Century Team and inducted into the Florida High School Athletics Association Hall of Fame.

While in high school, Carlton became interested in training boxers. When the opportunity arose he was delighted to find out that he could make $1.50 per day as a trainer, so he jumped on it. He worked with a couple of amateur boxers and also trained professional boxer Gordon Fortenberry.

CHIEF JUSTICE OF FLORIDA SUPREME COURT

After high school, Carlton attended the University of Florida as a pre-med student. However, because of the Depression, he knew his parent could not afford the extra cost of medical school, so he changed his major to law. The rest, as they say, is history!

Four years after graduating from Stetson School of Law, Carlton was elected Brevard County Judge at the age of 27. He was the youngest person ever elected to the Bench in Florida.

After a distinguished career, Carlton retired in 1974 as Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court and passed away Aug. 31, 2005.

The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame is proud to welcome Vassar Benjamin Carlton, a man of many talents and accolades both in and out of the athletic arena, and long-time dedicated outstanding public servant.

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FOR INFORMATION ABOUT the 2021 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME, call 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com

CLICK HERE TO SEE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS

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ABOVE VIDEO: Mike Hoctor is such a great coach that he wrote the book, literally, on coaching tennis. He is co-author of the USTA nationally-published book, “Coaching Tennis Successfully.” Even though the book was first published in 1994, it is still in print.

2016 COACHING INDUCTEE: Florida Coaches Hall of Fame, FHSAA Hall of Fame, 14-Time CCC Coach of the Year

AT ASTRONAUT 3 DECADES

If you want to learn tennis, ask Mike Hoctor. He’s been helping tennis players sharpen their skills since 1968.

Under Coach Hoctor’s tutelage, 34 individual players have won state singles or doubles titles. Two of the players under Hoctor’s wing, Eric Dobsha and Murphy Payne, went on to the Prince All-American Team.

Hoctor’s coaching career began at Titusville High School, where he spent four years teaching and coaching both the boys’ and girls’ tennis teams.

The University of Maine graduate then moved to Astronaut High School when the school opened in 1972 and taught, counseled and coached there for three decades until his retirement in 2002.

He turned Astronaut’s tennis program into a powerhouse feared by even the tennis-happy South Florida prep schools.

“The parents would ask who these kids were,” said Hoctor.

“They thought at first that we must be a prep school. They couldn’t believe we were a public school. We just kept winning every year. The program grew way beyond my anticipation. We developed it from nothing.”

Hoctor’s numerous kudos include being named the Cape Coast Conference Coach of the Year not once or twice but 14 different times.

The USTA Florida Section chose him as the 1988 Florida Junior Amateur Player Coach of the Year and Florida named him High School Coach of the Year in 1991, 1992 and 1994. He is the 1990 recipient of the Florida Coaches’ Association Lifetime Membership Award and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 1994.

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The Florida High School Athletic Association also elected Hoctor to its Hall of Fame.

Coach Hoctor, a USPTA-certified tennis teaching professional, served as the national All-American endorser for Prince for six years.

In addition to his outstanding coaching at Astronaut, Hoctor ran Titusville’s Singleton Ave. Courts for 30 years, from 1972 to 2002, overseeing the complex, running tournaments, teaching lessons and accompanying junior players to tournaments.

WROTE THE BOOK

Hoctor is such a great coach that, in fact, he wrote the book, literally, on coaching tennis. He is co-author of the USTA nationally-published book, “Coaching Tennis Successfully.” Even though the book was first published in 1994, it is still in print.

After retirement from high school tennis coaching, Hoctor headed to the University of Florida as a volunteer athletic coach from 2004 to 2012.

These days, Hoctor no longer coaches Gators, but he keeps the flame alive by connecting with the more than 600 Gator tennis boosters, former Gator men’s tennis lettermen and high school coaches throughout Florida with the weekly Gator tennis email newsletter he edits.

Hoctor has always stressed the critical value of education, and his three sons, all of whom have played tennis for him during their high school years, followed Dad’s advice very well.

Son Jim is a Duke University law graduate and currently a partner with Lowndes and Drosdick Law Firm in Orlando.

Tom Hoctor, a Harvard undergraduate, received his doctorate from the University of Florida and is currently director of landscape conservation planning at the University of Florida.

With a doctorate in physical therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University, Dan Hoctor is currently director of rehabilitation at South Hampton Memorial Hospital in Virginia.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME, call 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com.

CLICK HERE to see all the members of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

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WATCH: In the book about his life – written by local journalist and fellow Space Coast Sports Hall of Famer Peter Kerasotis – Once a Coach, Always a Coach – it said, “Wasdin appreciated the job and opportunity to impact lives at such a young age, when the clay is soft and moldable.

TOM WASDIN – 2015 INDUCTEE: NCAA Final Four Basketball Coach, Cocoa Beach Basketball Coach, Brevard Sports Ambassador

ALWAYS A COACH

Wasdinisms – they flow from Tom Wasdin effortlessly as he talks of sports and life:  

■ “It is better for other people to brag on you, than for you to brag on yourself.”
■ “Surround yourself with positive people you enjoy, admire, trust and respect.”
■ “Always do more than people expect from you.  Never do less.”

And he has been offering these and thousands of other pieces of advice for well over a half a century.

Wasdin’s resume in sports and business matches the Cocoa Village riverfront condo where he and his wife Susie reside – expansive and impressive.

After growing up in Waldo, Florida and graduating in 1958 from the University of Florida, he began his life’s professional journey in Jacksonville as a physical education resource teacher in five elementary schools.

His job was to teach teachers to teach PE.

In the book about his life – written by local journalist and fellow Space Coast Sports Hall of Famer Peter Kerasotis – Once a Coach, Always a Coach – it said, “Wasdin appreciated the job and opportunity to impact lives at such a young age, when the clay is soft and moldable.

“It was the genesis of his coaching career, one that in a little more than a decade would take him all the way to college basketball’s National Championship Game, going against John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins.”

In between his first job as head basketball coach at Paxon High School and the culmination of his coaching career as the winningest coach in Jacksonville University history, Wasdin came to the Space Coast as the basketball and golf coach at Cocoa Beach High School in 1964 at the height of the space race.

“They offered me a salary of $5,800 a year, which was more than Glenda (his first wife) and I were making together in Jacksonville.”

Though after two years Wasdin was lured back to Jacksonville, his Space Coast roots remained strong and he returned in the summers to play softball with his new friend and future business partner Rick Stottler.

And then – after a run at the NCAA championship as an assistant coach and a successful three years as head coach – Wasdin returned to Cocoa Beach to start a new phase of his life – businessman.

SAVIOR, MENTOR

But while his career in Brevard since that final move in the 1970s has consisted of developing and promoting the Cocoa Beach Pier and Cocoa Expo as well as nearly 1,000 condominium units, his love for sports has sustained him.

“A few years back they tried to eliminate sports from Brevard Community College,” Wasdin said. 

“We knew the students wanted it, so I and a few others formed a committee to save athletics there.

“I’ve seen almost every basketball team play at BCC (now Eastern Florida State College) since the program’s inception. I still love going to the games and mentoring their coaches,” he said.

In fact, Wasdin travelled to Kansas this year to watch EFSC play in the NJCAA National Tournament.

His group won the day.  And Eastern Florida State College has a hugely successful athletic program – particularly in baseball, soccer, golf – and, of course, basketball.

“My faith and lessons I learned as a player and coach helped me to overcome obstacles.  I would like to be remembered as someone who is a giver – someone who helps others be as good as they can be.”

Wasdin – now in his late 70s – is not slowing down much and is still a driving force in tourism and sports on the Space Coast. And he’s still teaching and coaching…just in a different way.

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME, call 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com.

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WATCH: Playing alongside NBA superstars Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, Perdue won three world championship rings in 1991, 1992 and 1993 as a center for the Chicago Bulls. Before the 1994-1995 season opened, Perdue claimed the starting center position for Chicago, averaging 8 points and almost seven rebounds per game.

WILL PERDUE – 2013 INDUCTEE: Four-Time NBA Champion, SEC Player of the Year, High School All-American

 ALL AMERICAN AT MERRITT ISLAND HIGH

BREVARD CONY, FLORIDA – Accomplishing big things in life has become the norm for Merritt Island’s Will Perdue.

From his earliest days as a tall, gangly kid trying out for the JV basketball team at Merritt Island High School, the  7-foot-1 Perdue’s talent grew almost as rapidly as he did in filling out his size 21 sneakers.

His large size came from his mother’s side of the family. She’s 6-foot-1 while his father is 5-foot-11. By the time Will turned 14, he was wearing his father’s size 10½ shoes and standing up could look his mother straight in the eye.

At 15 he sprouted to 6–foot-6 and reached 6-foot-10 in the fall of his senior year at Merritt Island High School.

Dominating the court by then, Perdue averaged 25 points and 18 rebounds per game for the Mustangs in his final year. That earned him high school All-American status and All-Southern first-team team recognition.

Even with his large body, Perdue never dunked the basketball until doing it in a practice during his sophomore year at Merritt Island, and he never attempted one in game for three more years to come.

“I never did it in a game until then because I was always afraid I would miss,” Perdue told his teammates.

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TAKING HIS GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL

When the time rolled around to choose a college, Perdue decided to play basketball at Vanderbilt University for legendary coach C.M. Newton, passing up scholarship offers from the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, the Virginia Cavaliers, the Purdue Boilermakers and the Florida Gators.

Perdue struggled against college competition for his first season at Vanderbilt and then was red-shirted by Newton before his junior year to help him develop his skills more and work on improving his grades.

The move paid off.

Something clicked for Perdue by the time he was a junior on and off the court. His grades shot up significantly and suddenly he became a powerful force on the basketball floor helping the Vanderbilt Commodores become a nationally ranked top-25 squad.

His development was furthered by the arrival of Vanderbilt assistant coach Ed Martin, who worked with him to take his game to the next level.

“Will finally got to the point where he wanted to be somebody,” Martin said.

“He learned to read post defenses and free himself. He improved his hand and foot speed. Now he’s a good low-post scorer with a nice shooting touch. He reminds of Robert Parish the way he runs the court.

“He’s the type of center who can make other players around him better,” he said.

He was honored as Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and the SEC Male Athlete of the Year in 1988. His inspired play led to his selection by the Chicago Bulls as the 11th overall pick in the 1988 NBA Draft.

‘WILL THE THRILL’ HAS FOUR NBA RINGS

Playing alongside NBA superstars Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, Perdue won three world championship rings in 1991, 1992 and 1993 as a center for the Bulls. Before the 1994-1995 season opened, Perdue claimed the starting center position for Chicago, averaging 8 points and almost seven rebounds per game.

In 1996, the Bulls traded him to San Antonio and playing with NBA All-Star David Robinson, Perdue won his fourth NBA championship as a member of the Spurs in 1999.

He later returned to play for the Bulls as a free agent and wrapped up his professional career as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Will “The Thrill” was the nickname given to him in the NBA by announcers for the Bulls and it stuck with him throughout his professional career stops.

Michael Jordan decided to call Perdue “Will Vanderbilt” after his alma mater though because he said Perdue “didn’t deserve to be named after a Big Ten school.”

During the span of his 13-year professional basketball career, Perdue averaged 4.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Perdue played in 792 NBA games, collecting 3,918 rebounds and blocking 525 shots.

His achievements in professional basketball have earned him induction as a member of this year’s class of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

Perdue is now a radio and television commentator and analyst reporting about college and NBA basketball games.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

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WATCH: Apryle Bigham Nickson is considered to be among the best female swimmers in Cocoa High School and Brevard County history.

“Despite lots of obstacles, she was the most dedicated female athlete I had ever seen,” said former Cocoa High Athletic Director Charles Smith.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Apryle Bigham Nickson is considered to be among the best female swimmers in Cocoa High School and Brevard County history.

During her three-year career at Cocoa High during the early 1970s, Nickson was selected Most Valuable Swimmer, while earning All-Cape Coast Conference recognition three times, and All-State twice.

She was Brevard County’s first female prep athlete to be recognized as an All-American in any sport.

“Despite lots of obstacles, she was the most dedicated female athlete I had ever seen,” said former Cocoa High Athletic Director Charles Smith.

“We were the only school with no swimming pool and her first “coach” was an assistant football coach whose qualification was he knew how to swim,” said Smith, who was inducted into the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.

Her last two years she swam for legendary Coach Dave Mark. Practices were held at Merritt Island High at 5:30 a.m., with “home” meets were held at MIHS but most all the meets were at other schools.

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Nickson also swam for the AAU Rockledge-Cocoa Swim Team year-round.

“I’m sorry I could not convince her to stay at Rockledge as she was the best,” said Cocoa-Rockledge Swim Coach Hugh Miller.

Several of her individual school, county and conference records in the 50 Free (25.3) and 100 Butterfly (1:01.2) still stand today. In Nickson’s three-year career at Cocoa, she won the Cape Coast Conference individual championship in both events for three straight years.

Nickson was also a member of the Medley and 200 Free Relay teams. As an individual winner at Districts, she qualified for the FHSAA State swim meet. As a sophomore, she placed third in both events and as a junior and senior, she placed second in both events with the relay teams also placing second.

Because Title IX did not become Law until 1976, there were no scholarships offered by the colleges.

However, the state Junior-Community colleges did have men and women’s swimming club teams, so Nickson stayed home to swim for Brevard Junior College, the precursor of today’s Eastern Florida State College during her freshman year and was recognized as the school’s MVP swimmer.

The NJCAA did have a national championship swim meet held in Idaho and Nickson was the only Brevard swimmer to participate, placing second in the 50 Free and 100 Butterfly.

She transferred to the University of Central Florida and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education Degree and was selected as UCF’s Physical Educator of the Year.

After serving as an assistant high school coach, she became the first female in Orange County to be the head boys and girls swimming coach at Dr. Phillips High in Orlando. After 25 years, she passed the torch to her daughter Natilie and became her assistant.

During Nickson’s career as an Adaptive Physical Education Teacher working with students with mental and physical disabilities, she discovered and developed a love for special needs swimmers and became a Special Olympics aquatics coach, and served more than 20 years as a head coach.

During her Special Olympics coaching career, numerous swimmers under her guidance won events and championships at the district, state, national and international levels.

Among her many awards and recognitions during her coaching career are Conference Coach-of-the-Year, three times; 2003 World Games Aquatics Special Olympics head coach; 2010 Florida Special Olympics Coach-of-the-Year; 2011 National Games Special Olympics Aquatics head coach; 2011 World Games aquatics Coach; 2012 North America Special Olympics Coach-of-the-Year; 2014 National Games aquatics Special Olympics head coach; 2018 National Games Aquatics Special Olympics head coach.

She retired from teaching and coaching at Dr. Phillips in 2017, but not from the Special Olympics, as she and her daughter Natalie are involved with the new Special Olympics open water swimming program.

Nickson and her husband Jim, who was a wrestler at the University of Central Florida, have been married for 42 years and reside in Orlando.

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FOR INFORMATION ABOUT 2023 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION, call 321-323-4460 or 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com.

INDUCTEES SELECTED IN FOUR CATEGORIES

Dozens of nominees were considered for the 2020 and 2021 classes in several categories, including professional sports, college sports, high school sports, and amateur sports.

Nominees are chosen in four categories, including professional sports, college sports, high school sports and amateur sports. Special honorary recognition is also bestowed upon individuals and groups that have made significant contributions to sports on the Space Coast.

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2021:

■ PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY INDUCTEE: Amber Torrealba, Skimboarding; Randy Pobst, Auto racing

■ COLLEGE CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Lynisha Nelson, Basketball; Bryan Cook, Baseball; Steve Freeman, Soccer

■ PREP CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Julie Wollrath, Cross Country; Kaira Simmons, Track & Field; Cameron Harris, Jr., Football

■ AMATEUR/RECREATION CATEGORY INDUCTEE: Alli Penovich, Free Diving

■ COACHING CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Lee Mace, Football; Jim Oler, Basketball

■ SPORTS OFFICIAL INDUCTEE: Klaus Stafe

■ SPORTS JOURNALISM INDUCTEE: Capt. Eric Ciocher

■ SPORTS DEVELOPMENT INDUCTEE: Charles Clemente

■ LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT INDUCTEE: Larry Garrison

■ SPORTS AMBASSADOR AWARD INDUCTEE: Rusty Buchanan

■ CHALLENGER AWARD INDUCTEE: Jordan Episcopo

■ TEAM OF THE YEAR: Astronaut High School Bowling

■ LEGACY CHAMPIONS: Merritt Island Baseball, 1999-2000

■ SPECIAL TRIBUTE: Fred Gay

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS TO THE INDUCTION CEREMONY

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 2021 INDUCTEES PROFILES

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2020

• PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Jamel Dean, Football; Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Wrestling; Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Football; Mark Lake, Skateboarding; Juwaan Taylor, Football

• COLLEGE CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Derek Hamm, Football; Paulette King, Basketball; Dylan Lewis, Soccer; Melanie Murphy, Softball

• PREP CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Lexy Denaburg, Volleyball; Apryl Bigham Nickson, Swimming; Andi Sellers, Soccer

• AMATEUR/RECREATION CATEGORY INDUCTEE: Peter Blount, Track & Field; Karina Villegas, Sled Hockey; Caylor Williams, Wrestling

• COACHING CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Sean Ballard, Wrestling; Doug Butler, Cross Country and Track; Aubin Goporo, Basketball; Gerald Hodgin, Football; Bill Sinclair, Softball; Don Smith, Basketball

• SPORTS DEVELOPMENT INDUCTEE: Loren McClanahan

• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT INDUCTEE: Clint Hurdle

• SPORTS OFFICIAL INDUCTEES: Ted Ruta

• SPORTS JOURNALISM INDUCTEES: Steve Vaughn

• SPORTS DEVELOPMENT INDUCTEE: Judge A.B. Majeed

• SPORTS AMBASSADOR AWARD INDUCTEE: Congressman Bill Posey

• CHALLENGER AWARDS INDUCTEES: Brevard Special Olympics

• TEAM OF THE YEAR: Satellite High Cross Country

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 2020 INDUCTEES PROFILES

Space Coast Daily created the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and has so far inducted more than 200 of Brevard County’s most outstanding athletes, coaches and sports personalities.

Serving on the committee are Space Coast Daily President & Publisher Tom Palermo, Partner Giles Malone, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Jim Palermo, Managing Editor Zach Clark, the Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson and Orville Susong, Sports Editor Juan Rodriguez, Social Media Director Matt O’Hern, Assistant Editor Jordan Rocco, Digital Producers Ron Lighthall, Gavin Keith and Michael Malone, Production Director Brian Dillon, Sports Broadcaster Daryl Durand and Amateur Athletic Union President Rusty Buchanan.

The main athletic building on the Melbourne Campus hosts the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame, as portraits of the Hall of Famers are displayed on the wall in the building’s main hallway that runs parallel to the gym and outside the athletic department offices.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS TO THE INDUCTION CEREMONY

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Tim Wakefield talks about his induction into the first class of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame. Space Coast Daily created the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and has so far inducted more than 200 of Brevard County’s most outstanding athletes, coaches and sports personalities.

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The post WATCH: Apryle Bigham Nickson Brevard’s First Female Prep Athlete to be Recognized as All-American in Any Sport appeared first on Space Coast Daily.

WATCH: James Folston only played one season of varsity football at Cocoa High School, but he had a feeling for years that he was destined to play after high school. Folston earned a scholarship to Northeast Louisiana University and then played five years with the Raiders (1994-1998) and two with the Arizona Cardinals (1999-2000).

JAMES FOLSTON – 2015 INDUCTEE

• Associated Press All-American

• ULM Hall of Fame Member

•  Seven Year NFL Career

COCOA TIGER

James Folston only played one season of varsity football at Cocoa High School, but he had a feeling for years that he was destined to play after high school.

“From ages 11-17, I would walk through my neighborhood and tell all my friends and associates that I was going to the League (NFL),” Folston said.

“They would look at me as if I fell and hit my head on a rock.

I studied their body language from afar and knew that most did not believe in me. I used those visuals as fuel to prove every person wrong that doubted my visions.

I knew less than 1 percent of the world had an opportunity to play in the National Football League. I would always ask myself before I went to bed, ‘Why not me?’”

Folston earned a scholarship to Northeast Louisiana University (now the University of Louisiana at Monroe) and quickly made his mark.

He began as a starting defensive end his sophomore year and recorded 12 sacks. During his senior year, he got 15, and ended his collegiate career first on the school’s all-time sack list.

His list of collegiate honors is impressive: All-American by the Associated Press, the Walter Camp Foundation, the Football gazette, and Pro Football Weekly; First Team All Southland Conference; First Team All Louisiana; ULM Iron Man Award; East-West Shrine Game appearance; Hula Bowl appearance; and the ULM Athletics Hall of Fame.

Still with his laser-focus and burning desire to play at the next level in the NFL he went to the 1994 NFL Combine with confidence and commitment that he would fulfill his dream.

“Receiving that phone call from Oakland Raiders Head Coach Art Shell during the second round of the 1994 NFL draft was a dream come true for me,” Folston said.

Folston played five years with the Raiders (1994-1998) and two with the Arizona Cardinals (1999-2000).

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His best year was in 1997, when he played in 16 games for Oakland and recorded 18 tackles and nine assists. He also forced two fumbles, recovering one of them.

In his final season with Arizona in “the League,” he had 12 tackles.

“I would like to be remembered as a fierce competitor with great evaluation skills under pressure,” Folston said.

‘EACH ONE – TEACH ONE’

However, Folston knows there are still kids walking their neighborhoods dreaming of playing beyond high school, and harkening back to his dream, he loves to encourage them.

“My favorite motto is ‘Each One – Teach One.’ There’s no need for a person who has had the opportunity to get a free college education and play at the highest level of football to be selfish and not share life experiences with kids and teenagers that think they have life all figured out.”

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT the 2023 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME, or to make a nomination, call 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com

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The post Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Video Spotlight: James Folston Enjoyed Impressive Football Career appeared first on Space Coast Daily.

ABOVE VIDEO: Legendary Brevard Junior College coach and athletic director Jim Oler has been inducted into the 2021 Class of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.<

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Legendary Brevard Junior College coach and athletic director Jim Oler has been inducted into the 2021 Class of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

During Oler’s record-setting coaching career at Brevard Junior College, later Brevard Community College and now Eastern Florida State College, he posted 334 wins and 88 losses during his tenure, 1962 through 1978.

“Jim was a big part of the building of this program,” Brevard Community College Athletic Director Bob Anderson told the Orlando Sentinel in 1989.

“He deserves the credit for the foundation and the credit for this entire program.”

During his career at BCC, Oler won two Florida Junior College Championships, a No. 1 National Ranking 1970, 11 Suncoast Conference Championships, was FCCAA Coach of the Year 1967 and 1973 and coached seven junior college All-Americans.

He also taught and coached at Gulf Coast Community College from 1981 to 1989 where his teams excelled and he received many coaching awards.

In 1967, Oler’s Titan team went 28-0, and in 1967 and in 1973, his teams were NJCCA Regional Champions and in 1970 they were ranked number one in the Junior College national rankings.

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Longtime Astronaut coach Kirk Stewart took over from Oler and led the Titans to four conference titles in 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1983, and a back-to-back state championships in 1979 and 1980, during his tenure from 1978 to 1985.

Don Smith, a 2020 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame inductee, took over in 1985 and guided the Titans to a state title in 1987 and a conference championship in 1989 – and finished with 288 wins,

“Jimmy was like the godfather of junior college basketball and he ruled,” Stewart told the Orlando Sentinel during an interview in 1989.

Already a Hall of Famer

Oler was also a great player in high school and college.

After excelling as a four-year letter winner in basketball for the Economy Cardinals in high school, where he averaged 25.5 points per game his senior year and was the career scoring leader with 1,260 points, Oler was a four-year starter at Florida State University from 1952 to 1956. He was inducted into the Florida State University Sports Hall of Fame in 1979.

Oler died after he suffered a heart attack in 1989 at the age of 55, leaving a one-of-a-kind legacy in Brevard County.

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FOR INFORMATION ABOUT SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME, call 321-323-4460 or 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com

CLICK HERE TO SEE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame selection committee announced the induction of both the 2020 and 2021 classes will take place on Friday, May 13 at the Cocoa Beach Country Club. The induction of both classes were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The festivities include a Meet and Greet with the area’s sports royalty beginning at 6 p.m., and the dinner and induction proceeding will start at 6:45 p.m. and includes compelling video tributes of each of the inductees.

The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction event will also include the Brevard County High School Breakfast of Champions recognition awards, which will be held Friday, May 13 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., also at the Cocoa Beach Country Club, to kick off morning and evening events honoring the area’s outstanding athletes, coaches, administrators and sports celebrities.

The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction dinner will be held on the evening of May 13, with a Meet and Greet at 6 p.m. and dinner and program at 7 p.m. The Meet and Greet will include an opportunity to talk with the area’s sports royalty, followed by dinner and the induction proceeding, which includes compelling video tributes of each of the inductees.

During the Breakfast of Champions, more than 40 awards will be presented to the best of the best student-athletes.

Businesses and individuals looking to support these outstanding youth and prep athletes can sponsor an award for $500 and includes recognition during the awards event and in the program.

As a sponsor, an invitation will be extended to you and up to four guests to join the festivities for the breakfast. You’ll be seated with the recipient of your award and their family, which is a great chance to meet these talented athletes and get to know them on a personal level. For information about the Brevard County Breakfast of Champions call 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com.

Both the Breakfast of Champions and the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame events will be streamed live on Space Coast Daily TV.

The 2020–2021 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction event, and the Brevard County High School Breakfast of Champions recognition awards, are sponsored by Health First, Erdman Automotive, All Points, Clear Choice Health Care, Savings Safari, Friday Night Locker Room and Rock Paper Simple.

To make a reservation for the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com or call 321-615-8111.

INDUCTEES SELECTED IN FOUR CATEGORIES

Dozens of nominees were considered for the 2020 and 2021 classes in several categories including professional sports, college sports, high school sports and amateur sports.

Nominees are chosen in four categories including professional sports, college sports, high school sports and amateur sports. Special honorary recognition is also bestowed upon individuals and groups that have made significant contributions to sports on the Space Coast.

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2021:

■ PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY INDUCTEE: Amber Torrealba, Skimboarding; Randy Pobst, Auto racing

■ COLLEGE CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Lynisha Nelson, Basketball; Bryan Cook, Baseball; Steve Freeman, Soccer

■ PREP CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Julie Wollrath, Cross Country; Kaira Simmons, Track & Field; Cameron Harris, Jr., Football

■ AMATEUR/RECREATION CATEGORY INDUCTEE: Alli Penovich, Free Diving

■ COACHING CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Lee Mace, Football; Jim Oler, Basketball

■ SPORTS OFFICIAL INDUCTEE: Klaus Stafe

■ SPORTS JOURNALISM INDUCTEE: Capt. Eric Ciocher

■ SPORTS DEVELOPMENT INDUCTEE: Charles Clemente

■ LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT INDUCTEE: Larry Garrison

■ SPORTS AMBASSADOR AWARD INDUCTEE: Rusty Buchanan

■ CHALLENGER AWARD INDUCTEE: Jordan Episcopo

■ TEAM OF THE YEAR: Astronaut High School Bowling

■ LEGACY CHAMPIONS: Merritt Island Baseball, 1999-2000

■ SPECIAL TRIBUTE: Fred Gay

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 2021 INDUCTEES PROFILES

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2020

• PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Jamel Dean, Football; Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Wrestling; Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Football; Mark Lake, Skateboarding; Juwaan Taylor, Football

• COLLEGE CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Derek Hamm, Football; Paulette King, Basketball; Dylan Lewis, Soccer; Melanie Murphy, Softball

• PREP CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Lexy Denaburg, Volleyball; Apryl Bigham Nickson, Swimming; Andi Sellers, Soccer

• AMATEUR/RECREATION CATEGORY INDUCTEE: Peter Blount, Track & Field; Karina Villegas, Sled Hockey; Caylor Williams, Wrestling

• COACHING CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Sean Ballard, Wrestling; Doug Butler, Cross Country and Track; Aubin Goporo, Basketball; Gerald Hodgin, Football; Bill Sinclair, Softball; Don Smith, Basketball

• SPORTS DEVELOPMENT INDUCTEE: Loren McClanahan

• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT INDUCTEE: Clint Hurdle

• SPORTS OFFICIAL INDUCTEES: Ted Ruta

• SPORTS JOURNALISM INDUCTEES: Steve Vaughn

• SPORTS DEVELOPMENT INDUCTEE: Judge A.B. Majeed

• SPORTS AMBASSADOR AWARD INDUCTEE: Congressman Bill Posey

• CHALLENGER AWARDS INDUCTEES: Brevard Special Olympics

• TEAM OF THE YEAR: Satellite High Cross Country

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 2020 INDUCTEES PROFILES

Space Coast Daily created the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and has so far inducted more than 200 of Brevard County’s most outstanding athletes, coaches and sports personalities.

Serving on the committee are Space Coast Daily President & Publisher Tom Palermo, Partner Giles Malone, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Jim Palermo, Managing Editor Zach Clark, the Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson and Orville Susong, Sports Editor Juan Rodriguez, Social Media Director Matt O’Hern, Assistant Editor Jordan Rocco, Digital Producers Ron Lighthall, Gavin Keith and Michael Malone, Production Director Brian Dillon, Sports Broadcaster Daryl Durand and Amateur Athletic Union President Rusty Buchanan.

The main athletic building on the Melbourne Campus hosts the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame, as portraits of the Hall of Famers are displayed on the wall in the building’s main hallway that runs parallel to the gym and outside the athletic department offices.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Tim Wakefield talks about his induction into the first class of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame. Space Coast Daily created the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and has so far inducted more than 200 of Brevard County’s most outstanding athletes, coaches and sports personalities.

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The post Legendary Brevard Junior College Coach Jim Oler Inducted into Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame appeared first on Space Coast Daily.

ABOVE VIDEO: Bobby Barnes was a high school All-American and started in every football game, baseball game and basketball game Cocoa High competed in every year he attended school there.

BOBBY BARNES – 2013 INDUCTEE

• High School All American

• Two-Time College All-American

• U of F Athletics Hall of Fame

COCOA HIGH SCHOOL GRAD

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – When Bobby Barnes played in his first prep games for the old Cocoa High School in the late 1940s, the United States was emerging from victory in a devastating world war and seeking heroes in and out of uniform.

It was a simpler time in America and Barnes, who was blessed with a keen competitive spirit and an abundance of athletic talent, chose to make his path to the future through his aptitude and love for sports.

There wasn’t a sport offered in high school that Barnes didn’t master. As a football linebacker, Barnes was a three-time All-County and All Orange Belt Conference selection. Chosen the team’s MVP twice, he went both ways and played on the receiving and kickoff teams for four seasons.

He earned All-State status in football as a senior and the Cocoa team honored him as co-captain both his junior and senior years.

Barnes also played in the FHSAA All-Star Football Game as a senior. Barnes made such a strong impression upon generations of sports fans that he was selected in 1985 to the Orlando Sentinel’s All-Time All Brevard County football team as a linebacker.

11 VARSITY LETTERS

In all, Barnes started in every football game, baseball game and basketball game Cocoa competed in every year he attended school there.

Playing basketball, he was a two-time All-Brevard County pick and led the county in assists in his senior season and also picked up the Most Improved Award that same year. Barnes’ high school baseball accomplishments were prodigious.

He was chosen for four All-Brevard County teams and was a four-time All-Orange Belt Conference honoree. He also received accolades as an All-District V recipient and was named as an All-American as a senior.

As a Cocoa Tiger he earned a total of 11 varsity letters, with four in football, three in basketball and four in baseball. His athletic ability resulted in numerous offers from colleges across the country to play at the next level.

Barnes decided to stay close to home and accepted a scholarship offer to play baseball and football for the University of Florida Gators.

In his first season at Florida in 1953, Barnes started at catcher for the Gators baseball squad. His knack for calling pitches behind the plate was exemplary and his solid defense and booming bat led to Barnes being honored as a First Team All-Southeastern Conference selection.

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR & COACH

Military service interrupted his college career taking him away from Florida for two years.

When he returned to the Gators for the 1956 season, he did what was asked of him by coaches and switched positions to play the outfield.

He took up where he left off prior to his stint in the military, and by the time his playing career ended at Florida in 1958, he had been named to three All-SEC and All-Region teams and was a two-time All-American. He is in the UF Athletics Hall of Fame for his accomplishments on the diamond.

After college, Barnes signed a professional baseball contract with the Kansas City Athletics, but professional baseball was not in the cards for him.

Returning to Brevard, Barnes focused on applying his experience and talent to coaching. He served as head football and baseball coach, and athletic director of Cocoa High School for four seasons.

It was during that period that he coached gridiron star Bob Anderson, who went on to be an all-American at West Point and a member of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012.

His 1960 Cocoa football team advanced all the way to the state championship game, and for many years, Barnes held the distinction of being the only individual in Florida history to play in the state football championship tournament and coach in the event as well.

Although Barnes now resides in Fort Worth, Texas, his induction into the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame keeps his extraordinary sports legacy alive here in Brevard County.

FOR INFORMATION about the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Class od 2021, call 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE INDUCTEES

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WATCH: Rich Salick received a kidney transplant in 1974, and although he was told that his surfing days were over, his love for the sport drove him to make a comeback. Perhaps Salick’s greatest work began when his pro surfing days ended. Along with his twin brother Phil, they began organizing small surfing events to benefit those on dialysis. The brothers built the annual NKF Surfing Festival into national prominence, and since its inception 37 years ago, the surf fest has raised millions of dollars for the fight against kidney disease.

RICH SALICK – 2013 INDUCTEE: Member of the Surfing Hall of Fame, Force For Kidney Transplantation, Founder of the NKF Surf Fest

LEADER, FRIEND & ADVOCATE

Rich Salick said, “I thank god every day for what he has given me, and I’m glad that along the way we have had a chance to leave something great.”

Those were the inspirational words spoken by Salick – a true leader, friend and advocate to those fighting kidney disease.

“My inspiration has been learning about and teaching people about kidney disease,” said Salick. “Our legacy will be the marriage between surfing and the medical community to bring awareness and help people with kidney disease.”

Salick grew up next to the smooth glassy waves near Bradenton, Florida, and in his lifetime he created a strong wave that carried millions of people needing a lift stricken by deadly kidney disease.

In 1973 he was a professional surfer on the U.S. and World Surfing teams and his future looked very bright. Suddenly, he lost 35 pounds in two weeks and was diagnosed with kidney disease. He then underwent dialysis for a year and was told that he would never surf again. Salick needed a transplant, and fortunately, he had a very willing donor — his identical twin, Phil.

‘WAXED’ COMPETITION AFTER TRANSPLANT

Salick received a kidney transplant in 1974 and although he was told that his surfing days were over, his love for the sport drove him to make a comeback.

Since his transplanted kidney lay just half an inch beneath the skin in his abdomen, protective gear was necessary. Salick designed a protective pad that fit into his swim trunks, and was competing less than one year following the surgery.

In only his second post-operative competition a month later, he “waxed” the competition, becoming the first professional athlete to make a competitive comeback following a transplant – and his trophy is still on display in the dialysis unit at the University of Florida’s Shands Teaching Hospital. Salick retired from professional surfing after four years, but was the Number 1 ranked surfer on the East Coast in the 24-35 age group in 1980.

HEART & SOUL OF THE NKF

Perhaps Salick’s greatest work began when his pro surfing days ended.

Along with his twin brother Phil, they began organizing small surfing events to benefit those on dialysis. With the encouragement and support of Dr. Craig Tisher, Dean of Medicine at the University of Florida, the brothers built the annual NKF Surfing Festival into national prominence. Since its inception 28 years ago, the surf fest has raised millions of dollars for the fight against kidney disease.

“He represented the heart, soul and spirit of the National Kidney Foundation,” said Stephanie Hutchinson, chief executive officer of the organization’s Orlando-based Florida chapter.

Salick’s faith, family and friends supercharged his drive and his never-say-die attitude, allowing him to continue his life’s work in helping others for years – a seemingly superhuman feat which left most people around him in awe and wonder.

To keep Salick dialysis free, other family members donated their kidneys. His older brother, Channing, donated in 1986, and in 1999 it was his younger brother Wilson. To make matters more difficult, Salick was diagnosed with cancer in 2003 and he underwent more surgeries, a year of radiation and months of chemotherapy.

RICH LEGACY & SPIRIT LIVES ON

Through it all, Salick kept his sense of humor and enthusiasm, and continued organizing, fundraising and leading the charge for the National Kidney Foundation.

Salick habitually spoke of his love for his family and of his two sons and often beamed with pride when discussing their prowess.

In January 2000, Salick was honored for his surfing career and contributions to the sport with induction into the Surfing Hall of Fame. In 2008, after many years in Martial Arts, Salick was inducted into the USA Martial Arts Black Belt Hall of Fame, following his son, David, a 9-time grand national karate champion.

With his passing at age 62 on July 2, 2012, the world surfing community lost one of its most courageous sons, but his rich legacy and spirit lives on in the hearts and hopes of millions of people afflicted with kidney disease and in the spirit of people who love surfing world wide.’

FOR INFORMATION about the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame, call 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES>>>

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CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS

The post Rich Salick’s Spirit and Legacy of Hope Lives On, 37th Annual Surf Fest Underway This Weekend appeared first on Space Coast Daily.

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: While helping Titusville High overcome opponents to win the Class 3A football title in 1982, 2013 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame inductee Gerald White suited up for legendary high school coach Al Werneke.

GERALD WHITE – 2013 INDUCTEE

• Cog For University of Michigan

• Played For Cowboys & Dolphins

• High School All American

PLAYED FOR SOME OF THE GREATEST COACHES IN HISTORY

Gerald White has always trusted in himself and his abilities on and off the football field.

He’s done it all from businessman to raising a family, but his athletic accomplishments on the playing field will be rewarded in May as White will be enshrined in the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

While helping Titusville High overcome opponents to win the Class 3A football title in 1982, White suited up for legendary high school coach Al Werneke.

Then when his prep playing days ended, he accepted a scholarship to play for another legendary coach, Bo Schembechler, at the University of Michigan.

Upon graduation from Michigan, White played briefly for Coach Tom Landry and the Dallas Cowboys. He followed that with a brief stint as a player for Coach Don Shula and the Miami Dolphins, who were always his favorite team while growing up.

DOMINANT TWO-WAY PLAYER 

White was born in Titusville but moved to Orlando where he played football for Memorial Junior High School.

After his sophomore season at Boone High School, his family moved back to Titusville and White enjoyed two standout seasons playing football for Werneke. In 1982, during the fall of his senior year, White was named a Parade High School All-American after leading the Terriers to the Class 3A state title.

The 5-foot-11, 223-pound White rushed for 178 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-0 playoff victory against Lake Wales. He had 138 yards alone in the first half and punted for a 46.5-yard average on two kicks.

In the Class 3A state semifinals, White gained 118 yards and scored two touchdowns. He also booted a 27-yard field goal as Titusville rolled to a 29-0 victory against Homestead.

His outstanding play carried over to the state championship game against Kissimmee Osceola, where White rushed for 139 yards on just 12 carries. He scored one touchdown in the Terriers’ 33-0 win at Draa Field in Titusville.

During that championship season, White also starred in the defensive backfield for Werneke and was later voted one of the top 100 players in Florida high school history.

Joining the football team at the University of Michigan, White played in three games as a freshman and gained 64 yards on 20 carries.

In 1984 as a sophomore, he started two games and appeared in a total of seven games, rushing for 345 yards on 91 carries. His top game was an 89-yard effort in a 22-14 victory against the University of Miami in the Wolverines’ season opener.

BIG BLUE MACHINE

White was converted by Schembechler to fullback as a junior. Initially, he didn’t like changing positions, but later praised the move and credited it with helping him learn more about the game.

He started each of Michigan’s 12 games as a junior that season as the Wolverines compiled a 10-1-1 record.

Michigan was ranked No. 2 in both the final polls for AP and UPI. It outscored its opponents by a commanding 342-98 margin. As a junior, White rushed for 564 yards on 133 carries. He also caught 18 passes for 123 yards. White rushed for seven touchdowns and added four receptions for touchdowns.

White’s top game that season was against bitter rival Ohio State. He had 110 yards rushing on 29 carries and he added three receptions for 23 yards as the Wolverines prevailed 27-17.

In the Fiesta Bowl against Nebraska, White scored the go-ahead touchdown in a 27-23 triumph.

In his senior season in 1986, Michigan posted an 11-1 regular-season record and was ranked No. 8 by AP and No. 7 by UPI.

As a senior, White rushed for 323 yards and five touchdowns on 88 carries. He added 38 catches for 408 yards and three touchdowns.  After the season, White played in the Hula Bowl.

During his career with Michigan, White rushed for 1,296 yards and 12 touchdowns on 332 carries in the regular season. He had 64 receptions for 564 yards and seven touchdowns. He returned three kicks for 62 yards.

White was not taken in the 1986 NFL Draft, but tried out for the Dallas Cowboys in 1987 and played in three games for the team that year. He caught five passes for 46 yards. He only carried the ball once for a loss of 4 yards.

In 1989, White joined the Miami Dolphins, playing in all their preseason games.

Now White owns and operates Gerald White International, which he formed in 2005 and advises other firms about the best way to use digital and social network marketing media services.

FOR INFORMATION about the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame, call 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE INDUCTEES

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WATCH: For four decades Mike Gaudy was a major force and highly a successful coach in both girls and boys basketball at Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School.

MIKE GAUDY – 2012 INDUCTEE: Girls State Championship, Boys State Championship  and 10 Final Four Appearances

CHARISMATIC, INSPIRING LEADER

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – For four decades Mike Gaudy was a major force and highly a successful coach in both girls and boys basketball at Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School.

A charismatic and inspiring leader, he is one of just a few coaches to win state championships in each hoops category.

Gaudy was also the school’s athletic director, the girls’ tennis coach for several years, the offensive coordinator for the football team, a junior varsity baseball coach and a middle school track and field coach.

He taught science and physical education before he became the athletic director. After resigning his post as the boys’ basketball coach, he became the cheerleading coach when a coach quit at the last minute.

1988 GIRLS STATE TITLE

Gaudy guided his Girls basketball teams at Cocoa Beach to 10 appearances in the state Final Four, winning the championship in 1988.

“The 1988 team wasn’t one of my better teams, but they had fantastic leadership,’’ he said.

During this time period, the 3-point play was added to high school basketball and Gaudy was a master in utilizing it to his team’s advantage.

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“We developed shooters and gave them spots to shoot from,’’ Gaudy said.

“The mid-range game has become forgotten a bit. Girls play a lot of zone, and it was not hard for us to get good looks. Scoring 90 points a game was unheard of until we started to do it. And that was for a 32-minute game when there was a slaughter rule.’’

Gaudy’s daughter, Leigh, was a standout player for the 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 teams. She went on to play for the University of North Florida.

2004 BOYS STATE TITLE

Gaudy guided the Minutemen Boys to the 2004 Class 3A state title. That team split two regular-season meetings with a seasoned Florida Air Academy squad, which boasted Sasha Kaun and Walter Hodge.

Cocoa Beach won the third meeting between the teams in the Class 3A district tournament, which was crucial since it meant obtaining the home-court advantage for at least the opening round of the state playoffs.

The Minutemen trounced Monsignor pace 61-32 in the semifinals of the State Final Four in Lakeland and defeated Mike Moran’s St. Petersburg Catholic squad 57-47 for the Class 3A title.

“The highlight was how we got there,’’ said Gaudy, who graduated from Melbourne Central Catholic in 1972.

“We had to go through Florida Air Academy and beat Eustis at their place. Florida Air had four really good players. Sometimes, the right players come along. It was an enjoyable group of kids to coach. For it to happen was exciting for the community. With the girls, it was expected. With the boys, it was a surprise.’’

Gaudy later was able to coach his sons, T.J. and Kyle, who both played well for his basketball team. Now that he’s retired form coaching, there’s more time to spend with wife, Melody.

Gaudy’s passion is now paddleboard surfing.

“I took it up a couple of years ago. I highly recommend it to anyone,’’ said Gaudy, who was born on July 2, 1954 and is an alumnus of the University of Florida.

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