COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict Athletic Hall of Fame inducted six new members on Thursday, October 27, adding to an already impressive group of Hall of Famers.
This year's class includes a pair of track & field All-Americans; a pair of baseball players who went on to military and civic success; a winning basketball coach; and a football standout.
The event was held at the Doubletree by Hilton ballroom, and a large number of previous Hall of Famers attended to welcome in the new class.
The nine new inductees brings the total number of members in the Benedict College Athletic Hall of Fame to 221.
Mrs. Krishanda Campbell-Brown '15
Track & Field
2013-2015
Krishanda Campbell-Brown, a native of the Bahamas, was a decorated student-athlete and assistant coach at Benedict College. As a student-athlete, Campbell-Brown earned three consecutive United States Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-American honors in both the long and triple jump events for indoor and outdoor seasons. She was named the USTFCCCA South Regional Indoor Women's Field Athlete of the Year three years in a row (2013-2015). Campbell-Brown also added the USTFCCCA South Regional Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year honor in 2015 and was the first indoor All-American in Benedict College's history. Among her many national and regional accolades, Campbell-Brown was named the SIAC Women's Field Athlete of the Year in back-to-back years (2013-2014) and was the 2014 SIAC Champion in both the 100-meter hurdles and high jump. She held the Benedict College record in the triple jump until 2017. She continues to hold the indoor and outdoor record in the long jump, as well as the indoor record in the triple jump at Benedict College.
Campbell-Brown's career as an assistant coach at Benedict was just as decorated as her student-athlete career. She served as a volunteer assistant Jumps coach from 2015-2016. In that span, she coached five SIAC Conference champions, two NCAA national qualifiers, and one Region Athlete of the Year. After her stint with at Benedict College, Campbell-Brown spent two seasons as the assistant coach in charge of jumps at Converse College. There, she coached multiple All-Conference Conference Carolinas indoor and outdoor student-athletes in the areas of triple jump and pole vault. Campbell-Brown is currently the Assistant Jumps Coach at Texas Southern, where she has been since 2018. She has coached a two-time Conference Champion in the long jump, All-Conference performers in the long, triple, high jump and pole vault events. She has also had two regional qualifiers in the triple and long jump respectively, a top 20 indoor ranking in the long jump as well as a second team outdoor All-American in the long jump. Campbell Brown is currently working on her EdD in Education Administration and Supervision K-12 at Texas Southern University.
Ms. Chamekea T. Davis '15
Track & Field
2013-2015
Chameka Davis was born in Patterson, New Jersey. During her childhood, she would race up and down the street with her siblings. However, it was not until high school when she picked up the love for track. With the support from her family and coaches, Davis accepted a scholarship to attend Benedict College.
Davis had quite the decorated career as a track star for the Benedict College Tigers. In 2013, she was named a 2013 NCAA National Qualifier in the 100-meter dash and finished 11th in the National Championships. The following season, Davis was named an NCAA All-American in the 100-meter dash, the first female athlete in Benedict College history to do so, while breaking a school record in the process. She would go on to finish fourth overall in the finals. Davis was a two-time SIAC Champion (2013-2014) in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dash, while leading the Tigers to consecutive wins in the 4x100-meter relay. In 2014, she was named the South Region NCAA Division II Track and Field Athlete of the Year and currently holds school records in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 300-meter events.
Davis graduated from Benedict in 2015 with a Bachelor of Social Work degree. During her time at Benedict, she participated in the Social Work Club, and was also President of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated. After graduating from Benedict College, she returned to her hometown where she is now the Head Women's Track and Field coach at Eastside High School in Patterson, New Jersey. She also works as a recruiter for Kelly Education.
Major Ronald R. Graham '97
Baseball
1992-1996
Major Ronald Graham's student-athlete career at Benedict College can only be describes as "instant impact!" In just his freshman season, Graham would help lead the Benedict College baseball team to a conference championship. During this season, Graham was named both the Best Pitcher and Best Defensive Player. Graham and the Benedict Tigers were no one-hit wonders, however. They would go on to win three more conference championships, and Graham would never know the feeling of not being a Conference Champion during his Benedict College career. Along the way of filling Benedict College's trophy case, Graham would win Team MVP and pitched at least 10 no-hitters in his collegiate career.
After graduating from Benedict, Graham would serve in the United States Army. He retired after a total of 30 years, 10 years of Army Reserve and National Guard, 20 years of Active Duty. He would retire with the rank of Major. Graham currently serves as a Project Manager with Amarok. He still finds ways to engage with and support his alma mater, just as he supported his teammates enroute to four consecutive conference titles.
Mr. Michael Holmes
Men's Basketball Coach
1977-1985
Upon his arrival at Benedict, Coach Michael Holmes transformed the Benedict College men's basketball team into a powerhouse program, gaining state, conference, regional and national recognition. His program brought national recognition to Benedict during a time when HBCUs received little to no coverage at all. During the 1978-1979 season, Coach Holmes was directly responsible for the first HBCU basketball game to be televised in the state of South Carolina. Benedict College would defeat South Carolina State College (now known as South Carolina State University) 54-51.
Coach Holmes was voted as the SIAC Coach of the Year in two consecutive seasons. In the 1979-1980 season, Coach Holmes lead the Benedict Tigers men's basketball team to a SIAC Tournament championship. The following season, the team would capture the regular season SIAC championship for the first time in 20 years. Three of Coach Holmes's players, Tommy Mack, James Brown, and Michael Law would eventually be inducted in the Benedict College Athletic Hall of Fame.
Coach Holmes would continue his career at Morgan State and Florida A&M University. He won a Conference Championship at FAMU and still holds the record for most wins in their school' history. In 1994, Coach Holmes would leave the coaching profession and serve as an administrator with the Prince Georges Maryland Public School System until 2017. Although he is retired, Coach Holmes still keeps in contact with his former players and enjoys assisting other coaches with the development of the next generation of student-athletes.
Colonel Frank McClary '86
Baseball
1983-1986
Mayor Frank McClary, a retired United States Army Colonel, is a native of Andrews, S.C. He is a 1986 graduate of Benedict College where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice and distinguished military honors from the Benedict Army ROTC program. McClary was a talented and accomplished student-athlete, starring for the Benedict College baseball team. McClary was voted the team's Most Valuable Player three times and was also voted team captain three times as well. His accolades were not just related to campus and the baseball team, as he was a three-time All-Conference player and received the SIAC Sportsmanship Award.
Upon graduation from Benedict College, Colonel McClary led a distinguished military career in the United States Army and retired after 29 years of honorable service to our country. His illustrious military career consisted of multiple assignments to foreign countries (Kosovo, Korea, Kuwait, Iraq, and England) and throughout the United States, to include two tours in the Pentagon, Washington, DC. He planned, served, and led combat operations with more than 20 foreign countries throughout his career. His most memorable moments in the military are training and transitioning civilians to become career soldiers, leading soldiers in combat, but most important, returning soldiers home to their loved ones.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with Valor in combat, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Legion of Merit (3rd award), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4th award), Joint Service Accommodation Medal, Army Accommodation Medal (4th award), the Army Achievement Medal (4th Award). The Combat Infantryman's Badge (2nd award), Expert Infantryman's Badge, Parachutist Badge, Department of Defense Staff Badge, and the Department of the Army Staff Badge.
After officially retiring from the Army on August 1, 2015, Colonel McClary immediately began his campaign, and was elected Mayor of Andrews, S.C. on November 3, 2015. In addition to his mayoral duties, he serves as a mentor for at-risk kids, serves on Andrews Elementary and High School Improvement Councils; and on the Board of Directors for Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments. Colonel McClary is a proud member of the Columbia Chapter of the 100 Black Men, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and the local Benedict College Alumni Club. He and his family reside in Andrews, South Carolina, where they continue a life of service to their community.
Mr. Curtis J. Rampersant '04
Football
1999-2002
Curtis Rampersant starred at the wide receiver position for the Benedict College football team. His impact was immediate, and those who had the pleasure of following his career regarded him as an athletic phenom. An All-Conference performer, Rampersant was always sure to put on a show against marquee opponents, such as South Carolina State, Howard and Charleston Southern University. While he was an impressive athlete during his whole tenure as a student-athlete, much of Rampersant's recognition came during the 2001-2002 football season. He was named to the All-SIAC team and was named the MVP of the Palmetto Classic versus South Carolina State. In this same year, Rampersant set conference records for yards per reception with 25. This was also the highest average at the wide receiver position for all HBCUs at the time.
Rampersant currently resides in Charleston, S.C., where he volunteers as a mentor to youth. He has worked with organizations like the Concrete Rose Foundation Incorporated, whose mission is to utilize organized physical activities to promote healthy development, team building and camaraderie. Rampersant faithfully supports the Benedict College football program and always attempts to visit as much as he can.
