Stillman College Announces Athletics Hall Of Fame Class Of 2024

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Stillman College on Thursday announced that five former student-athletes and one contributor have been selected for induction into the Stillman College Athletics Hall of Fame as the Class of 2024.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

Stillman says the induction ceremony will be held on Friday, Feb. 16 at 8:30 a.m. as part of Homecoming Week festivities.

Click here for tickets to the induction breakfast, which are priced at $35 each.

The honorees will also be recognized at the Feb. 17 Homecoming basketball games against Life University, which are set for noon and 2 p.m. local time.

Here's a look at the honorees, along with their biographical information provided by Stillman.

DR. DONALD STAFFO

"Long time servant of Stillman College and decorated author Dr. Donald Staffo is the first inductee into the Stillman College Athletics Hall of Fame as a contributor. An educator for more than 50 years, Staffo served 33 years at Stillman College. His roles included health and physical education professor, department chair, faculty athletics representative (FAR), sports information director and athletics director. During his time as FAR, he mentored coaches and students alike, helping thousands of Stillman College student-athletes achieve their academic goals while staying on track athletically. His documentation of Stillman College athletics events spanned decades in the Tuscaloosa News and other media outlets. He also served as interim athletics director and led the committee that began the process of reinstating the Stillman College football program in 1999. His time working at Stillman saw Stillman College athletics compete in NCAA Division III, NCAA Division II and the NAIA. He retired from Stillman in 2018 with the unique distinction of being the only professor and department chair emeritus in Stillman College’s nearly 150-year history. A native of New York, Staffo has been honored by the U.S. Congress, Alabama House of Representatives, Alabama Senate, New York Senate and New York Assembly for his career achievements. His induction into the Stillman College Athletics Hall of Fame is the latest in a long line of hall of fame honors for Staffo, including the National Association for Sport and Physical Education Hall of Fame, The Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology Hall of Fame, the State University of New York at Brockport Hall of Heritage and the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame in Utica, New York. As a sports journalist for more than 40 years, Staffo also covered the University of Alabama football and basketball programs for the Associated Press for 30 years and has published in national publications including The Sporting News, USA Today and Baseball Digest, in addition to authoring 10 books, more than 100 scholarly articles, more than 2,000 articles and more than 70 professional presentations at national conferences."

CHRIS BROWN

"One of the top scorers in Stillman College men’s basketball history, Chris Brown led the NAIA in scoring for most of the 1980-81 season. The Holt, Alabama native averaged 33.6 points per game to finish second in the nation in scoring, and first in NAIA District 27, during his senior campaign. His 12.3 rebounds per game ranked No. 18 in the nation. In February 1980, Brown scored 55 points in a 104-81 win over Dillard University, believed to be the second-most points in a single-game by a Stillman College men’s basketball player. A 1981 graduate of Stillman College, Brown died in September 2023, and is being inducted into the Hall of Fame posthumously."

PURVIS PRESHA

"A 1998 Stillman College graduate, Purvis Presha averaged more than 20 points per game three of his four seasons at Stillman College in NCAA Division III from 1992-1996. He finished his career with 21.1 points per game and 1,963 total points to set the Stillman College career scoring record in 1996 under head coach Larry Robinson. He also compiled 506 assists during his career. Presha went on to play professionally in Ireland, Belgium and London, England. He currently resides in Decatur, Georgia."

LASHAUNDA SPURGEON

"A two-sport record-setter during her time at Stillman College, LaShaunda Spurgeon is the second student-athlete selected to the SC Athletics Hall of Fame for women’s volleyball and first in women’s track & field. Spurgeon was a four-year letterwinner for Coach Pam Phillips in volleyball, setting Stillman records for single-season service aces (91) and service aces per set (.843). She led NCAA Division II in both categories in the 2012 season. Spurgeon collected 217 aces during her career, along with 754 kills and more than 200 total blocks. In track and field, Spurgeon won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) women’s javelin throw championship in 2011 and 2012 and was runner-up in 2013. She holds the program’s javelin record at 34 meters and briefly held Stillman’s women’s discus throw record as a sophomore in 2010. She was a three-time all-conference selection in track & field. Following her playing career, Spurgeon graduated in 2014 and went on to become a college volleyball head coach. In her first four seasons as a women’s volleyball head coach, Spurgeon has been named the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year twice and won three GCAC regular season championships, two at Dillard University and one at Talladega College."

BRYAN WALKER

"A 2010 graduate of Stillman College, Bryan Walker is the first student-athlete to be inducted into the Hall of Fame for men’s tennis. A four-year captain for the Tigers from the 2006-07 season through the 2009-2010 season, Walker was an All-Conference selection in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) in 2008. He also helped lead Stillman College to its first SIAC trophy in 2013, finishing third in the SIAC tournament. A resident of Memphis, Tennessee, Walker went on to earn a MBA from Webster University and created “The HBCU Initiative” with Kohler Co., and was part of the inaugural Brick Laying Campaign to support the Stillman House."

OLIVER WELLS

"A 2013 graduate of Stillman College, Oliver Wells joins his former teammate Chester Hightower and Olympian Jeffery Henderson as the third Hall of Fame inductee from men’s track and field. A two-sport athlete during his time at Stillman College, Wells helped lead Stillman College to the 2011 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) 4x400-meter relay championship in 2011 to earn All-Conference honors and a spot in the NCAA Division II National Championships, where the Tigers finished 12th. Wells was an All-Region selection by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) in the 400-meter dash and 4x400-meter relay in 2011. He ranks in the Top 10 in Stillman sprinter history in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash. In addition to track & field, Wells was also a member of the Stillman College football team."

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com