University of Richmond Athletics
Six To Be Inducted Into Richmond Athletic Hall Of Fame
Oct. 20, 2000
RICHMOND, Va. - Six Spiders have been named to the University of Richmond Athletic Hall of Fame. Chuck Boone, Leigh Cowlishaw, John Davis, Betty Gustafson, Jim McKeon and the late Glenn Thistlethwaite will be inducted in a 4:00 p.m. ceremony at the Jepson Alumni Center on Saturday, January 20, 2001. The inductees will later be introduced at halftime of the Richmond-William & Mary men's basketball contest.
Boone played football and baseball for the Spiders from 1956-60 and was an all-star and captain in each sport. After spending six years in the New York Yankees organization as a player and coach, climbing as high as AAA as a player, Boone returned to Richmond in 1967 and became director of athletics promotions. He was head baseball coach from 1972 to 1976 and was named Southern Conference Coach of the Year in 1972, leading the Spiders to the league title and the school's first NCAA Baseball Tournament appearance. Boone became Director of Athletics in 1977 and guided the department through more than two decades of tremendous growth. He retired this past spring after more than 40 years of association with University of Richmond athletics.
Cowlishaw played soccer from 1990-93 and is Richmond's career leader with 54 goals scored, 31 assists and 139 points. He owns the top two season marks for goals scored, assists and points in Richmond history. Cowlishaw was CAA Player of the Year and an All-American in 1990. He was a three-time first team All-CAA selection and one-time second team All-CAA performer. Cowlishaw was a two-time Academic All-American. He has been a part of the Richmond Kickers Professional Soccer team since its inception in 1993. Cowlishaw is currently the head coach of the Kickers.
Davis was a member of Richmond's men's basketball team from 1982-86 and was a captain during his senior season. A three-year starter, Davis was an outstanding defensive player. He is second on Richmond's career steals list with 182 and has three of the top five season marks for steals. The Spiders appeared in two NCAA Tournaments and one NIT during Davis' three years as a starter. According to former head coach Dick Tarrant, Davis' senior squad in 1985-86 was the best team Tarrant coached. The Spiders were 20-3 when Davis was injured at George Mason. Richmond lost four of its final seven games, including a one-point loss to St. Joseph's in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Davis was an honorable mention Academic All-American and earned an NCAA post-graduate scholarship. Davis is currently a member of the University of Richmond Board of Trustees.
Gustafson participated in basketball, tennis, field hockey and track from 1943-47. She played three years of varsity basketball and was captain in 1947. She played varsity tennis for four years, varsity field hockey for three years and varsity track for one year. Gustafson was a Blazer and Seal winner during her junior year. The Blazer was awarded to an individual winning a letter in three varsity sports. The Seal was the highest award that the Westhampton Athletic Association conferred on members of the junior and senior classes for exceptional sportsmanship and contagious enthusiasm. Her athletic achievement at Westhampton College laid the foundation for a 40-year career as a teacher of Physical Education and Health and coaching athletics in the public schools of Richmond.
McKeon lettered three times each in cross country, indoor and outdoor track from 1982-85 and was the Most Valuable Track Athlete in 1985. He was a two-time Division I All-American in the 1000 yard run and the 1500 meter run. McKeon ranked third in the nation in the indoor mile in 1985. He was three-time Virginia State Champion at 1500 meters and 1000 meters. McKeon was the 1985 Millrose Games Champion in the college mile. He was a two-time member of the U.S. National Track and Field Team, representing the United States against Great Britain and against Ireland in international competitions. McKeon was a three-time qualifier for the U.S. Olympic Trials at 1500 meters and was a semi-finalist at the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Thistlethwaite was head football coach and Director of Athletics at Richmond from 1934-41. The Spiders compiled a 41-26-9 record during his eight seasons as head football coach, a winning percentage of .586, the highest career percentage for anyone who coached longer than one season at Richmond. He only had one losing season during his eight-year career with the Spiders. Thistlethwaite guided Richmond to a pair of the finest football seasons in school history. The 1934 Spiders defeated Wake Forest and William & Mary on their way to an 8-1 mark, the best campaign in Richmond history. In 1939, Richmond picked up a win over Virginia Tech on its way to a 7-1-2 record, the third-best winning percentage in the history of the program. The entire athletic department was strong during Thistlethwaite's tenure as Director of Athletics. The basketball and baseball teams had just one losing season each under the direction of head coach Mac Pitt. The Spiders' basketball squad compiled a 20-0 record during the 1934-35 season, the only undefeated team in Richmond history. Thistlethwaite will be inducted posthumously.
Tickets for the Hall of Fame induction ceremony and reception may be ordered by calling (804) 289-8694.