Contact: Kimberly Osborne (304) 766-3363 kosborne@wvstateu.edu
INSTITUTE, W.Va. – West Virginia State University’s (WVSU) athletic booster organization, the “W” Club, will induct eight new members into the University’s Sports Hall of Fame with a brunch at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, in the Wilson University Union.
The Hall of Fame induction ceremony is taking place as part of WVSU’s annual Homecoming activities. Following the brunch, where the new inductees are given gold jackets to wear, they will walk to the nearby Canty House, home of the Hall of Fame, and be led through a cheering lineup of previous Hall inductees.
The new “W” Club Sports Hall of Fame members are: Gregory Damone Banks (class of 1988) for baseball and football; Carl T. Chadband (class of 2002) for basketball, football and track; Reggie Coleman (class of 1978) for baseball; Wilfredo C. Collazo (class of 1980) for football; Patricia R. King (class of 1985) for basketball and track; Dr. Lynn H. Smith (class of 1962) for track; Malcom E. Spence III (class of 1992) for football and track; and Michael Taylor (class of 2007) for basketball.
Banks played both baseball and football for the WVSU Yellow Jackets. He led the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) in scoring in 1988 with 10 touchdowns. He was named to the WVIAC All-Conference team as a wide receiver in 1985 and 1988, and was the Yellow Jackets team leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns from 1985 through the 1987 seasons. He was captain of the football team and a three-year letterman in football.
Chadband played basketball, football and ran track for the Yellow Jackets. He was the co-captain of the basketball team, and holds the school’s all-time record for offensive rebounds and blocked shots. He led the team in blocked shots from 1998-2000 and in field goal percentage 2000-2001. He was also a three-year letterman in football, and lettered in track.
Coleman played baseball for the Yellow Jackets and was honored as the WVIAC Player of the Year in 1972 and 1974, when in both seasons he led the conference in hits, extra base hits, home runs, runs batted in and stolen bases. He was also named First Team All-Conference in 1972 and 1974. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 1974.
Collazo was a standout on the Yellow Jackets football team, where he earned the starting safety position his freshman year. He was a WVIAC All-Conference Selection in 1976 and was the Secondary Team Captain for the Yellow Jackets in 1977.
King was a standout in both basketball and track for WVSU. She was named a member of the WVIAC All-Conference track team in 1982, 1983 and 1985. In addition, she earned honorable mention WVIAC All-Conference honors in basketball in 1984 and 1985. The “W” Club recognized her as the Outstanding Junior Athlete of the Year in 1984 and as the Outstanding Senior Athlete of the Year for the Yellow Jackets in 1985.
Smith ran track for the Yellow Jackets, joining the team as a freshman member of the mile-relay team. The team went undefeated that season and became the first WVSU team to win a WVIAC team championship. During his time on the track team, Smith set school records in the 440, 880 and mile relays.
Spence competed in both football and track for WVSU. He was a four-year letterman for the Yellow Jacket football team from 1986-1989 and was also captain of the team in 1987. He was named to the WVIAC All-Conference team in football in 1988 and 1989 and was also the WVIAC champion in the 200 meter run in 1989. In 1991, Spence signed as a free agent with the Canadian Football League’s British Columbia Lions.
Taylor was a four-year starter and three-year team captain for the Yellow Jackets men’s basketball team. He is the third leading scorer in school history and ranks first all time in 3-pointers made. Taylor finished his 2003-04 season with a 24.4 points per game average which was sixth best in the country for NCAA Division II. He also led the country in 3-point goals made per game with a 4.4 average. His individual honors included being named WVIAC Player of the Year and Division II All American in 2004. Following his playing days at State, Taylor played three years of professional basketball in Holland, Germany and Austria. He is currently the director of group sales for the NBA’s Detroit Pistons.
Admission to the Sports Hall of Fame Induction brunch is $10, and tickets will be available at the door.
The WVSU Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony is part of Homecoming activities at WVSU, which will run Oct. 9-11. For more information, and a complete schedule of Homecoming events, visit or call (304) 766-3387.
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