COLUMBIA, S.C. – Robert McCullough, a member of the Benedict College Athletic Hall of Fame, will be inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame on May 15.

McCullough led the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association in scoring during the 1964-65 season with an average of 36.4 points per game, finishing second in the NAIA in scoring. He totaled 2,135 career points (28.4 ppg. average) and in 1965, he broke the color barrier in the Palmetto State by being asked and accepting an invitation to be the first African American to play in the Greenville (S.C.) Southern Textile League post-season tournament, where he was named to the all-tournament first team.

He was named to All-America Honorable Mention teams by United Press International and Converse Magazine. In 1965, he was offered a contract by the Harlem Globetrotters and was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals of the NBA. He was left off the Royals when all-star guard Oscar Robinson renewed his contract.

In 1967, Bob played with the New Jersey Asbury Park Boardwalkers in the Eastern Professional Basketball League, now known as the CBA.  He averaged 22 points and five assists per game and was selected to the All-Rookie Team.

He became the commissioner of the Rucker Tournament in Harlem and remained with the Rucker Summer Professional Basketball League in Harlem, N.Y. for the next 40 years. In 1967, he co-founded Each One Teach One – a 501(c)(3) non-profit for youth developmental and mentoring program which over the last 50 years has successfully used sports as a vehicle to motivate youth to pursue higher education.

McCullough earned a Master of Science degree from Lehman College and studied additionally at New York University, Cornell University and Hunter College.   He is a New York Department of Education licensed school teacher, former counselor for Hunter College, and a published researcher who has lectured at conferences on mentoring in the US and abroad.

McCullough is a proud supporter of Benedict College and was selected for the Benedict College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004 as an individual, and in 1987 as part of the 1964 men's basketball team which were the national scoring champion. He has also been enshrined in the NY City Basketball Hall of Fame, the National Black Legends Hall of Fame, the Brooklyn USA Hall of Fame, the Bob Douglas Hall of Fame, the Harlem Roots Hall of Fame and the Nike Pro Sports Hall of Fame.

McCullough is one of seven individuals selected for this year's class into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, joining Andre? Goodman (University of South Carolina, football), Donnell Woolford (Clemson, football), former Furman and Vanderbilt head football coach Bobby Johnson, Kris Benson (Clemson, baseball), Tony Dunkin (Coastal Carolina, basketball), and former legendary South Carolina State coach Willie Simon. Simon will be enshrined posthumously.

He becomes the third Benedict College alum to be inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, joining Dr. Leroy Walker and Walt Simon, who were inducted in 1977.

The seven individuals will be forever enshrined with the state's highest athletic honor on May 15 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Tickets (table of eight for $600) and program sponsorships may be purchased by calling the SCAHOF office at 803/779-0905. The affair, which includes a reception and dinner, begins at 5:30 p.m.

The event, which includes a host of returning past inductees, is the largest annual celebration of Palmetto State sports stars under one roof. 

In addition to the inductees donning of the symbolic blue jackets, recognition will be extended to the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers for their NCAA Baseball Championship and to the Clemson Tigers for capturing the National Football Championship.