S.C. Black Belt Hall of Fame revamps for future
October 9, 2020
By Alex Junes-Ward
The South Carolina Black Belt Hall (SCBBHOF) was restructured in Sept. 2020 with new organizational elements added on the model of the S.C. Athletic Hall of Fame and other much larger national Halls of Fame like the well-known Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
“We did this for the sake of better media relations, enhanced financial development, and to foster a greater awareness of who we are,” said Hall of Famer Mike Genova, who serves as current pres. of the SCBBHOF. “This will benefit all.”
According to Genova, the SCBBHOF now includes the Hall of Famers (inductees) as well as three supporting elements to the SCBBHOF. The supporting elements are the executive committee (which includes approximately six to eight inductees and the SCBBHOF pres.), the board of directors (a mix of inductees and non-inductee professionals who bring other talents to the board by virtue of their given professions), and an advisory council (a non-working honorary board). The executive committee directs and appoints members to both the board of directors and the advisory council.
“As regards those who are members of this elite Hall of Fame, we still maintain the same exacting standards for those whom the SCBBHOF may consider for inclusion into the Hall,” said Genova. “As far as that goes, nothing has changed. We have simply added three tiered components which will help us – in fact, they already have – going forward.”
Since its inception in the 1980’s (officially founded in 2012), the SCBBHOF has become “one of the most-respected martial arts halls of fame in the nation.” Among its inductees are former pres. Keith Vitali, a world champion martial artist who has appeared in numerous martial arts action movies like “Revenge of the Ninja” and “Wheels on Meals,” fighting many of the martial arts greats like Jackie Chan. Vitali was the U.S. National Karate Champion for three consecutive years, a member of Black Belt magazine’s Black Belt Hall of Fame, once-named “Fighter of the Year,” and he was also named “one of the top 10 fighters of all time” by Black Belt, the leading martial arts publication in the world.
The SCBBHOF has inducted 18 members since its inception, including:
Hall of Famer Mike Genova, current SCBBHOF president.
Hall of Famer Keith Vitali, former SCBBHOF president.
Hall of Famer Sam Chapman, SCBBHOF vice president.
Hall of Famer Marty Knight, SCBBHOF director
Hall of Famer Bruce Brutschy, SCBBHOF director
Hall of Famer Tony Young
Hall of Famer John Orck
Hall of Famer Tony Thomas
Hall of Famer Michael Goldman
Hall of Famer Bobby Tucker
Hall of Famer Dewey Earwood
Hall of Famer Tom Mullikin
Hall of Famer Tommy Genova
Hall of Famer Chuck Elias
Hall of Famer Steve Vitali
Hall of Famer Brian Plempel
Hall of Famer Jerry Rhome
Hall of Famer Shelly Walrath
Alex Junes-Ward is a Columbia, S.C.-based freelance writer.
