2016 Class Inducted Into Murray State Hall Of Fame

Banquet Photo Gallery I Halftime Introduction Gallery

Murray State Athletics honored the class of 2016 for the MSU Hall Of Fame in front of a sold out banquet crowd Friday at the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky.

Led by four former student-athletes and one coach, there was also four chosen for inclusion into the hall as members of the Hall of Distinction category.

The 36th class of the MSU Hall of Fame included: Wes Cunningham (baseball, 2006-10), Coach Ron Greene (men's basketball, 1978-85), Ashley N. Hayes (women's basketball 2005-09), Kim Koehler (volleyball, 1987-91) and Terry Love (football, 1979-80).

The Hall of Distinction group includes: Dr. Richard Blalock (team physician since 1981), Claire Benton (athletics administration, 1968-2003), Phil Bryan (university administration, 1974-2001) and Chuck Shuffett (radio play by play, 1958-75)

The evening included many hall of fame greats that attended and there was plenty of time to reminisce about Murray State glories of yesteryear. Each inductee had the chance to take to the stage and make comments before they were presented their plaques by MSU Director of Athletics Allen Ward.

The new members are now displayed at the Burton Family Hall Of Champions. The facility that opened last September, is open three hours before every Racer home basketball game and by calling (270) 809-3000 to make an appointment. Admission to the Hall Of Champions is free.

The 2016 class will be honored at halftime of the Murray State vs Austin Peay basketball game Saturday at the CFSB Center which tips at 7 p.m.

Here is a closer look at the class of 2016

Wes Cunningham – Baseball (2006-10)
From Louisville, Ky., Cunningham was a three-time First Team All-OVC selection at Murray State and the OVC Player of the Year in 2010. He's the all-time leader in many career categories including batting average (.399), hits (237) and RBI (167). Cunningham was also an excellent student who majored in history and was a three-time First Team Academic All-District selection.

Ron Greene – Basketball Coach (1978-85)
Head Coach Ron Greene is one of the most important people associated with the Racers' amazing run of what are now 28-consecutive winning seasons of men's basketball. Arriving in 1978, Greene turned around a MSU program that hadn't won an OVC championship in 11 years. Greene's second season (1979-80) produced the NCAA D-I record for improvement when the Racers were 19 wins better. The Racers posted back-to-back OVC titles in 1981-82 and 1982-83 when they were a combined 41-16 and 24-6 in the OVC.

Ashley Nichole Hayes - Women's Basketball (2005-2009)
From Humboldt, Tenn., Ashley Nichole Hayes was a big part of the greatest period of Racer women's basketball from 2005-09. She was the first Racer to win consecutive OVC Player of the Year awards in 2008 and 2009 and one of only three in MSU history to win the award. She helped the Racers to back-to-back OVC regular season championships in 2008 and 2009. The Racers' first OVC title in 2008, led the team to their first NCAA Tournament appearance.

Kim (Koehler) Church – Volleyball/Track & Field (1987-1991)
Koehle was a top-performer and the first MSU player to reach 1000 career kills. She ranks in the top-5 of every category including first with 257 service aces. Koehler was named All-OVC First Team three times, was named OVC Tournament MVP and was awarded the OVC Academic Medal of Honor in 1990-1991. She was part of the 1988 MSU Homecoming Court and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in housing and interior design.

Terry Love – Football (1979-80)
Out of Maywood, Ill., Terry Love was a mainstay in a highly successful period of Murray State Football. Coming to Murray State from the College of the Canyons, Love had two All-OVC seasons for the Racers that helped MSU win the OVC Championship in 1979. The OVC title led MSU into their first NCAA appearance. He was an All-OVC selection in each of his MSU seasons and as a senior in 1979, he was named OVC Defensive Player of the year and Associated Press and Kodak First Team All-America.

Hall of Distinction Inductees

Dr. Richard Blalock – Team Physician (1981-present)
For 34 years, Dr. Richard Blalock has been at the front of student-athlete care for Murray State Athletics. While completing his residency in Memphis, Blalock was the protégée of the late Dr. Hal Houston, who was team doctor 42 years until his death in 2010. Blalock is very proud of his association with Dr. Houston and the many great coaches and players at MSU. Blalock's first OVC Championship as team doctor at Murray State was the Racers' football title under Coach Mike Gottfried in 1979. A tradition of fine medical care for Murray State Athletics is being carried on today by Dr. Blalock.

Claire Benton – Athletics Administration (1968-2003)
Claire Benton began working at Murray State in 1968 and retired in 1994, ultimately giving 35 wonderful years to the university. After her retirement in 1994, Benton returned and worked part-time in the athletics department from 1995 to 2003. Benton was well known as the friendly and helpful MSU Athletics ticket manager.

Phil Bryan – University Administration (1974-2001)
Phil Bryan started his 27-year career at Murray State as an administrator in 1974, before being named as Dean of Admissions & Registrar in 1982. Bryan's tremendous contributions to Murray State University and the athletics department are still being felt today. He was a big part of the success of various Racer teams including being on the ground floor of NCAA athletics academic reform in the late 1990's. After retiring in 2001, Bryan was given an honorary doctorate from MSU.

Chuck Shuffett - Radio Announcer (1958-75)
In the late 1950's Chuck Shuffett became the new owner of WNBS Radio. He also took over the daily sports broadcast duties. When the opportunity to do live basketball games came about, Chuck picked it up like a pro and for nearly 20 years, was the accurate, enthusiastic voice of the Racers. Shuffett's extensive vocabulary and his love of literature gave him the ability to paint with words the pictures his listeners expected. His Racer broadcast career spanned the golden age of MSU Basketball as it jumped from small college status into NCAA D-I.

Full Hall of Fame Banquet Video

Murray State University

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