MSU Athletics Inducts 2012 Hall Of Fame Class

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Murray State Athletics held the awards banquet for the 2012 MSU Hall of Fame Class Friday (Jan. 27, 2012) at the CFSB Center.

The greats that were welcomed into the hall were joined by other Racer Athletics greats in a wonderful night of fellowship and rememberance.

The 2012 class includes: William "Bill" Beard from rifle, Bob Doty of track & field, William Hampton of football, Don Mann from basketball and Nikki Orazine from women's golf. Additionally, Frank Fazi was be inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Distinction after his many years of assisting the department with video.

The MSU Hall of Fame is open to former MSU student-athletes and coaches who have distinguished themselves in the athletics' arena.

The MSU Hall of Distinction is open to individuals who have contributed monetarily, spiritually, educationally, and in any other manner which is not covered by athletics performance or coaching. In 2000, Karl Hussung was the first Hall of Distinction inductee.

Here is a look at the MSU Hall of Fame Class of 2012 and videos.

William “Bill” Beard, Rifle (1967-70) He turned in an outstanding career for Racers Rifle that included being named All-America First Team (1968 & 1970) and All-America Second Team (1969). Beard was an alternate on the 1984 U.S. Olympic Shooting Team. He won the World Cup Prone Championship in Los Angeles in 1991, which guaranteed Team USA a spot in the 1992 Olympics. After competing at Murray State, Beard earned All-Army Reserve shooting honors.

Bob Doty, Track & Field (1961-1965) Doty was one of the student-athletes that helped shape the MSU track & field program in the 1960's. When he finished his career, Doty had posted 12 MSU and OVC records. He was part of a Murray State team that won the OVC Track & Field Championships twice (1962 & 1963). His records included: 60-yard dash (6.3), 100-yard dash (9.6) and 220-yard dash (21.2). As senior, Doty ranked fourth in the nation in the outdoor 400-yard relay and he competed in the inaugural NCAA Outdoor Championship (college division) in 1965. In the 70-yard dash in 1964, Doty recorded a 7.1 at the Mason-Dixon games in the same heat with Bob Hayes who set a world record at 6.9. Doty and his daughter (Jill Doty who was inducted in 2007) mark the first father-daughter pair inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame.

William Hampton, Football (1993-96) A two-time All-American for the Racers and head coach Houston Nutt, Hampton set the standard for the cornerback position at MSU. Hampton was a two-time All-OVC selection (1995 & 1996) and was named the OVC Defensive Player of the Year in 1995. He owns seven MSU records and four OVC records. Hampton is the all-time interception leader at MSU and is ninth in the OVC with 19. His top season was in 1995 when he intercepted eight passes, including four for touchdowns. He had five interceptions for touchdowns in his career. In 1995, Hampton also returned punts and set a MSU record with 14.3 yards per return. After MSU, Hampton played three seasons in the National Football League with the Philadelphia Eagles (2001) and the Carolina Panthers (2003-04).

Don Mann, Basketball (1985-89) A three-time All-OVC selection (1987-89), Mann is one of only nine MSU basketball players to be named All-OVC three times. He was part of one of the most successful periods of Racers basketball that included two OVC Championships and MSU's first victory in the NCAA Tournament in 1988 over North Carolina State. Mann led the Racers in assists in four-straight seasons and his career total of 531 is still tops at MSU and ninth in the OVC. He also ranks third at MSU in made three-point baskets (204) and is one of 35 players in the MSU 1000-Point Club, ranking 16^thin career scoring, with 1,449 points. His career-high scoring game of 31 points came against Austin Peay in his junior season.

Nikki Orazine, Golf (2001-05) In the history of Racer women's golf, Orazine stands out as one of the best to play the game for MSU. She ended her career with two OVC Player of the Year awards (2004 & 2005) and had a big part in leading the Racers to three-straight OVC team championships (2002-04). She was the medalist at the OVC Championship as a junior and was named to the OVC All-Tournament team three times. During her senior season, Orazine won three tournament titles and had seven top-5 finishes to go with a 76.7 stroke average, which led the OVC.

Frank Fazi - With a history with the Racers that began in 1950, Fazi has experienced being a student-athlete at MSU and for many years has assisted the athletics department, especially MSU Football, as a videographer. Fazi came to MSU in 1950 and attended classes before serving in the United States Army starting in 1953. After being stationed in Greenland, Fazi returned to MSU in 1957 and completed his undergraduate degree and master's degree in industrial arts and was a middle-school teacher in Louisville until 1965. He participated in track & field at MSU and finished second in the mile run at the 1952 OVC Championship.

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