By Tom Weber, SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE ” The Southern Illinois University athletics department announced its 2006 Hall of Fame Class on Tuesday. The six-person class, which will be inducted in a ceremony on Friday, Feb. 24, 2006, features men’s basketball players Chris Carr and Rick Shipley, wrestler Don Millard, baseball player Wayne Grandcolas and track stars Jenny (Horner) Smith and Darren Plab.
Chris Carr (1992-1995) played forward for three seasons with the Salukis and helped lead the team to NCAA Tournament appearances in 1993, 1994 and 1995. He was named the MVC “Player of the Year “in 1995 after leading the league in scoring with 22.0 ppg. Carr still ranks among the school’s career leaders in points (19th) and blocked shots (12th). The Salukis had a combined record of 69-26 during Carr’s career and won three-straight Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championships. Carr was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in the second round of the 1995 NBA Draft and scored nearly 2,000 points during his six-year career that included stints with Phoenix, Minnesota, New Jersey, Golden State, Chicago and Boston. Carr currently resides in Eden Prairie, Minn., where he owns 43 Hoops Inc., which trains young basketball players.
Rick Shipley (1987-91) is regarded as one of the best rebounders in school history. During four seasons with the Salukis, he totaled 983 rebounds, which still ranks fifth in school history. On March 5, 1989, Shipley grabbed an incredible 20 boards against Illinois State. No Saluki player has accomplished that feat since. Shipley was the MVC rebounding champion in 1991, when he averaged 9.0 rpg. Also a gifted scorer, Shipley piled up 1,359 points, which ranks 15th in school history. In 1991, he earned Second-Team All-MVC honors and was named to the MVC All-Tournament team. The Salukis made three National Invitation Tournament appearances during Shipley’s career and were a combined 76-52. Shipley currently resides in the Chicago area and works as a sales manager for RS Used Oil Services.
Don Millard (1962-64) was a two-time NCAA champion grappler during the Salukis’ golden era of wrestling. Millard won both the NCAA College Division championship and University Division championship in the 167-pound weight class in 1964. He was the first person in school history to win an individual title at the University Division level. Millard finished the 1964 season with a 16-2 record. In 1962, Millard won the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship in his weight class and was one of five Saluki qualifiers for the University Division meet, where SIU finished tied for sixth. He finished the year with an 18-4 record. Millard spent 12 years teaching high school after graduation and is currently self-employed and resides in Terre Haute, Ind.
[article continues with other honorees — to read the entire story, click on the link below]
Wrestling Gear
