S.C. Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony
April 10, 2014
GREENVILLE, SC – April 13, 2014 – Football greats William Perry, Deacon Jones, Sterling Sharpe and Freddie Solomon are the 2014 honorees, which represent the Hall’s second year’s class induction. Family and friends of the late Solomon and Jones will be attending. Perry, who was an All-American at Clemson before playing for the Chicago Bears, will be attending as well. The 2014 Class will be welcomed into the Hall of Fame by members of the 2013 Class, which includes Sam Wyche, Danny Ford, Willie Jeffries, and George Rogers.
People wishing to purchase tickets or to confirm tickets to the event can contact Paula Haney at [email protected].
“We are excited and honored to be inducting these great men and leaders into the Hall,” said Kevin Jones, president of the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame.
The ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 29, 2014 at 6:00 pm at The Cliffs Valley Clubhouse, 250 Knightsridge Road, Travelers Rest.
About the honorees:
A native of Aiken, Perry played college football at Clemson where he garnered the nickname, “The Refrigerator.” A member of the 1981 national championship team, Perry earned All-American honors as a Tiger and was The Chicago Bears’ first round choice in the 1985 NFL Draft. He played 10 years in the NFL as a defensive lineman, and gained fame by scoring a rushing touchdown in Super Bowl XX.
Jones played collegiately at South Carolina State, and was drafted in the 14th round of the 1961 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s website, the Rams were scouting running backs when then they noticed the 6-4, 272-pound tackle was faster than them. He quickly became star with the Rams playing 14 years in the NFL, earning eight Pro Bowl births and was twice the league’s defensive player of the year. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.
Solomon grew up in Sumter where he first played for the all-black Lincoln High School. When integration occurred in 1970, Solomon went to Sumter High School and became the quarterback leading the team to a state championship. Hailed at the time as the greatest high school football player in state history, Solomon played four years at the University of Tampa. He was chosen in the second round of the 1975 draft and played 11 years in the NFL winning two Super Bowls with San Francisco as a wide receiver.
Sharpe is University of South Carolina’s all-time pass receiving leader with 169 career catches for 2,497 yards and 17 touchdowns and was a two-time All-American. He was selected in the first round of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He played in five Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro three times in seven seasons with the Packers before a neck injury ended his career.
About the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame:
The South Carolina Football Hall of Fame was created to honor those athletes and coaches from the Palmetto State who created a historic and significant impact on college and professional football. Learn more at www.SCFootballHOF.com.
