Aug. 14, 2001

Record setting Tiger quarterback Danny Sparkman and basketball players Hank McDowell and Jimmy Hockaday are but two of the eight former University of Memphis athletes who will be inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame on September 21 at the AdamsMark Hotel.

This year's group of honorees includes two football players, two basketball standouts, a baseball great, a soccer and track star and a Lady Tiger golf legend. The annual Billy J. Murphy Award, The Ralph Hatley Silver M Award and the Dr. C.C. Humphreys Golden Tiger Award will also be presented.

Richard Adragna, known during his playing days with the Tigers as "The Cat", came to Memphis in the fall of 1959 until former head coach Billy J. Murphy and quickly built a reputation as one of the strongest and quickest linemen in UM football history. During his four seasons at Memphis, Adragna worked as a defensive tackle and helped the Tigers compile an overall record for 30-9, including three consecutive eight win campaigns. He was twice named the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Week for his defensive efforts. After graduating from Memphis (formerly Memphis State University), Adragna settled in Orlando, Florida, where he began a teaching career in the Orange County Public Schools. The Garfield, NJ, native has stayed active in football circles scouting and recruiting for the Tampa Bay Bandits, and the Orlando Renegades, as well as assisting the University of Central Florida. In addition to his teaching duties, Adragna has worked with the American Cancer Society, the Central Florida YMCA and the Boy's Club of America. He was recently inducted into the North Jersey Hall of Fame.

Phil Clark came to Memphis in the fall of 1976 as a catcher for Bobby Kilpatrick's Tiger baseball team. The Memphis Frayser High School graduate had attended Jackson State Community College for two years and was poised to embark on a collegiate career at would bring the U of M numerous honors. In the spring of 1977 Clark appeared in 42 of the Tigers 48 games and posted a .316 batting average. His 17 runs batted in helped the U of M to a 34-14 mark, a new Tiger record for victories in a season. As a senior, Clark helped lead his team to its greatest season ever. In increasing his batting average to .328, he contributed to the offensive fire power but it was his work with the Tiger pitchers that led to a 40-9 record and a berth in the NCAA South Regional. Memphis advanced to the regional championship game before losing to North Carolina. Following graduation, Clark became a high school baseball coach at Skyview Academy in Memphis and moved to Germantown High School in 1987. He won the 1995 National Championship at GHS and now has a career coaching record of 549-161. Clark was named the USA Today National Coach of the Year in 1995.

Jim Hockaday helped Tiger basketball make its mark on the nation in the mid 1950s. The Selmer, TN, native came to Memphis in the fall of 1955 and played in 21 games for Gene Lambert's Tiger squad. He scored 74 points and had 87 rebounds that first season and aided the team in gaining its first bid to the NCAA Tournament. Hockaday increased his scoring to 175 points as a sophomore and the Tigers finished the season with a 24-6 record and a bid to the NIT. Memphis won three NIT contests before losing a thrilling 84-83 contest to Bradley in the finals at Madison Square Gardens. During the 1957-58 campaign, Hock's junior year, the forward scored at an 11.3 point per game average as the U of M again posted a winning record. In his final season, Hockaday poured in 350 points to average 15.2 points per game and he completed his Tiger career with 836 points scored during 93 games. From 1955 through 1959, the U of M had a combined record of 76-26 and captured the nation's heart as the NIT's "Dixie Darlings".

Colin Hume, a native of Harwick, Scotland, is perhaps the greatest distance runner in Tiger track history. As a freshman, he won the Metro Conference cross country championship with a time of 25:26 and in the spring, claimed the Metro Conference title in the 1,500 meters. Hume qualified for the NCAA Regional in both the indoor mile and the outdoor 1,500 in 1982. In his sophomore year, Hume again won the Metro cross country championship and qualified for the NCAA Regional Cross Country championship where he placed 31st among 171 runners. He became the first and only Tiger runner to ever break the four-minute mile when he posted a time of 3:59.58 in the spring of '83. Hume was again invited to the NCAA Regionals for the indoor mile and the outdoor 1,500 meters. In 1984, the junior dominated the Metro Conference Championships winning the 3,000 meter steeplechase with a time of 8:55.04 and the 1,500 meters. That same season he added a record time of 3:46.7 in the 1,500 meters to go with his record mile run of 3:59.58 and his record 1,500 meters at 3:42.2. All three marks still stand as U of M track records after 19 years.

Donal McDonagh, a native of Ballymote, Ireland, came to the U of M in the fall of 1986 after playing season at the University of South Florida. An experienced player from the European youth soccer leagues, McDonagh took over one of the midfielder positions and began setting records for the Tigers. He helped his team to the Metro Conference Invitational title in 1986. During the season he tallied 29 points on 12 goals and five assists in leading the Tigers to a 14-4-2 record. He was named to the All-South Region team in 1988 and finished his career with 90 points scored on 34 goals made. McDonagh's name still appears in the Memphis soccer record book seven times. He holds the record for the most shots in a game with 15 against Southern Mississippi and for the most shots in a season with 113. He is ranked second for most points in a season with 36 and has the career marks for the assists with 22 and the most shots at 293. He is also ranked second in career points with 90 and is third in career goals with 34.

Hank McDowell came to the U of M in the fall of 1977 after a brilliant career at Treadwell High School. He appeared in 14 games for head coach Wayne Yates as a freshman and had a season high six points against Louisville. McDowell played in all 28 games during his sophomore campaign and averaged 7.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per outing. The 6'10 center continued to improve his game under head coach Dana Kirk and as a junior, scored 10.1 points per game, while averaging 7.5 rebounds. He had a season high 18 points in the Arkansas and Virginia Tech games in route to scoring 271 points on the season. Stepping into the role of team leader, McDowell led the Tigers in scoring as a senior, averaging 11.9 points per outing and grabbed 7.6 rebounds each game. McDowell finished his career with 831 points and 569 rebounds and was named twice to the All- Metro Conference team. He was drafted by the NBA Golden State Warriors in 1981 and spent six years in the league before traveling to Europe for the next three seasons. For the past six years, McDowell has worked as the color analyst for Tiger basketball on radio.

Kim Hunt-McNeil came to the University of Memphis in the fall of 1993 as a Lady Tiger golfer and proceeded to letter for four consecutive seasons. She made an immediate impact on coach Lori Brock's team as a freshman by qualifying for seven tournaments. She averaged 81.26 strokes per round that first season and by the end of the spring, helped lead her team to the Great Midwest Conference championship by placing second in the conference tournament. Hunt-McNeil received All-GMC honors and was named the GMC Newcomer of the Year. She continued her strong play as a sophomore and by her junior season, under head coach Debby King, had lowered her stroke average to 77.7. She was named to the All-Conference USA team and placed in the top ten in the C-USA Championships. The Alexis, IL, native posted a 78.1 average as a senior and finished her career qualifying for 31 events and averaging 79.36 strokes per round. Hunt-McNeil is again helping the U of M through her new job with Tiger Sports Properties.

Danny Sparkman, who was one of the late Rex Dockery's most renowned signees, came to the University of Memphis in the fall of 1982. After a one year apprenticeship, took over the Tiger's quarterback position and never relinquished the starter's role. The Collierville, TN, native led the team to a 6-4-1 record in 1983, passing for 1,390 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Tigers were named the second most improved team in the nation in 1983. As a junior, Sparkman threw for 1,315 yards in leading the Tigers to a 5-5-1 mark. He had his best season as a senior, hitting on 142-of-272 pass attempts for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns. The 1,606 ranks as the fourth highest single total in school history. He finished his career with 4,311 yards passing, setting a record that still stands as the most passing yards ever by a UM quarterback. In addition, Sparkman holds the record for the most career pass attempts at 662. He had a career high single game 288 yards passing against Cincinnati in 1984 and a career best 22 pass completions against Murray State in 1984.

The 2000 Dr. C.C. Humphreys Golden Tiger Award is being presented to Memphian Frank William "Billy" Hicks. Hicks, a native of Atascadero, CA, came to Memphis with his family in the early 1950s and became known for his business savvy while still a student at Humes High. In addition to playing football, Hicks worked delivering both the Commercial Appeal and the Press Scimitar. He also sold hotdogs and soft drinks at the old Auditorium downtown for wrestling and boxing matches for U of M basketball games. His work led him to the bright lights of the stage and soon he was a card holding member of the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees. From there he developed Hicks Theatrical Supply and grew that company into Hicks Convention Service. But Hick's life has been devoted to helping the less fortunate. He has given of his time and efforts to the Al Chymia Temple's Burn and Crippled Children's Charities and the Variety Club of Memphis Tent 20. Hicks was also instrumental in the renovation of the Orpheum Theatre.

Carlton Henley, who lettered in football from 1951-55, is the recipient of the Billy J. Murphy Award. A graduate of Humboldt High School in Humboldt, TN, he has extinguished himself as an educator since his graduation from the University of Memphis. Henley played end for the Tigers for four seasons and received his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Arts degrees from the U of M. He entered the teaching and coaching profession in the state of Florida following graduation and rapidly advanced to the office of principal. He has served as principal of Lyman High School for the past 31 years and was named the Florida Principal of the Year in 1984. Lyman High School was selected as a Model School of Excellence by the United States Department of Education in 2000. Henley has been appointed by the governor of Florida to serve on the Florida Education Management Council, the Governor's Commission on Youth and the Florida Education Standards Commission, as well as numerous other state task force. He was elected to the Seminole County Commission in 1998 and served as chairman.

Dr. Barry Phillips is the recipient of The Ralph Hatley Silver M Award for his dedication and devotion to the health and well being of student-athletes at the University of Memphis Athletic. A graduate of the University of Tennessee and UT Center for Health Sciences in Memphis, Phillips has served as an orthopaedic surgeon at Campbell Clinic for the past 15 years. He has worked with the U of M athletic trainers in covering the medical needs of the student-athletes but has dedicated of his time to the Lady Tiger teams. In addition to working with the U of M athletes, Dr. Phillips has served as a team physician for Rhodes College, U.S.A. Baseball, the Memphis Redbirds, the Memphis Riverkings, Briarcrest High School, ECS and Fayette Academy. He has done a sports medical sabbatical with Dr. James Andrews of the Alabama Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center and has a volunteer physician for the United States Olympic Training Center. Dr. Phillips holds society memberships in ten medical associations, including the American Medical Association, the Tennessee Medical Association and the American Orthopaedic Society to Sports Medicine.