University of Richmond Athletics
2005 Hall Of Fame Induction This Saturday
Feb. 4, 2005
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The University of Richmond Department of Athletics' annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 5 in the Robins Pavilion of the Jepson Alumni Center. This year's four-person class includes: Shawn Barber (football), Carol Reese (multi-sport, administrator), Bobby Sgro (football), and Bobby Ukrop (golf, basketball). In addition, the 1968 Tangerine Bowl football squad will be inducted as a "Team of Distinction," a new category in the Spider Athletic Hall of Fame. Following the ceremony, the Richmond men's basketball team will host Dayton at 8 p.m.
The following are profiles on this year's honorees:
Shawn Barber ('98)
One of the most dominating defensive players in Richmond Football history, Shawn Barber has enjoyed a successful professional career since being selected in the fourth round of the 1998 draft by the Washington Redskins.
During his four years in the nation's capital, Barber amassed 281 tackles, including a career-high 148 in 1999. The linebacker moved to Philadelphia for the 2002 season when he made 119 stops and returned an interception for a touchdown.
Barber signed with Kansas City for the 2003 campaign and ranked second on the team with 141 tackles while starting 16 games at outside linebacker. The Richmond, Va. native and Hermitage High School product was playing extremely well again this fall before being lost for the season with an injury.
Barber started 33 games at Richmond and is fourth all-time with 20 sacks. He earned 1997 Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year after making 94 tackles, six sacks and three interceptions as a senior. During that season, Barber earned National Defensive Player of the Week after compiling 20 tackles, five tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one interception and one sack against The Citadel.
A decorated student-athlete, Barber earned All-America and All-Conference honors as a junior and senior (1996, 1997).
Carol Reese ('69)
An outstanding all-around student-athlete, Carol Reese played five varsity sports during her Richmond career. Upon graduation, Reese stayed involved in sports; teaching, coaching and working in athletic administration for 11 years before joining Philip Morris.
At Richmond, Reese played on the field hockey and lacrosse first teams all four years and was captain of both teams her senior year. She was on the tennis team for two years and the archery team for three years. In basketball, she played on the first team for two years and the second team during the other two years.
Reese was selected to the Tidewater I hockey team three years, the Southeast III hockey team one year, the Virginia I lacrosse team three years and was a three-time state archery champion. Reese also earned the Westhampton College Blazer and Seal Awards.
From 1969-71, Reese taught physical education and coached basketball at Liberty Junior High School in Ashland, Va. For the next five years (1972-77), she taught physical education and coached field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. Her 1976 lacrosse team, with Reese as head coach, was inducted into the College's Hall of Fame in 2000.
Reese returned to Richmond as the Assistant Athletic Director for Women in 1977. In 1980, she left to go to Philip Morris where she worked until she retired in 1998.
Bobby Sgro ('56)
A two-way star referred to as a "60-minute man" for never leaving the gridiron during a game, Bobby Sgro was an outstanding offensive lineman and middle linebacker during his Spider football career (1951-54).
An All-State honoree in 1953 and 1954, Sgro averaged 15 solo tackles per game during his senior season. He also served as team co-captain that year (1954).
A two-time All-Southern Conference selection on the offensive line, Sgro moved to the sidelines as an assistant coach for Richmond following his playing days. He served on the staff from 1955 until 1959, spending the last two years as the line coach.
Following his collegiate career, Sgro was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army's Amphibious Transportation Corps before serving 30 years in the Army Reserves. Sgro later retired as a Lt. Colonel.
Sgro has dedicated his professional life to his community and the insurance business. Sgro is active in many community organizations, including a stint as the Spider Club President. He currently runs his own insurance corporation.
Bobby Ukrop ('69)
One of the most recognized names in the city of Richmond, Bobby Ukrop has maintained a distinguished relationship with Spider Athletics throughout the years.
Known as the player "that made things happen" during his varsity basketball career (1967-69), Ukrop was the Spiders' spark who combined defensive prowess with precision passing. Maybe the Southern Conference's quickest player, Ukrop was among the leaders in steals. He enjoyed numerous stellar games on the hardwood, including the game-winning shot against Virginia Tech. Ukrop served as co-captain in 1969 for head coach Lewis Mills who said this about Ukrop's style: "I've never seen a player that can excite a team and the fans the way Bobby does."
Ukrop also competed for the varsity golf team from 1967-69. He went undefeated in dual matches during the 1967 season and earned tri-medalist honors in the 1968 Virginia Intercollegiate Championship. Following his undergraduate years at Richmond, Ukrop earned his MBA from the Darden School at UVA in 1972.
A member of the University of Richmond Board of Trustees, Ukrop has also served as the Spider Club President. Ukrop serves as a community voice for the Department of Athletics and continually provides support as Spider Athletics increases its profile.
Ukrop's is President and CEO of Ukrop's Supermarkets, recently ranked by Fortune Magazine as one of the top 100 places to work. He has served on the Board of the Salvation Army, Richmond First Tee, Richmond Sports Backers, Retail Merchants Association, Greater Richmond Partnership as well as vice chair of the Greater Richmond Chamber.
1968 Tangerine Bowl Team
The Richmond Athletic Hall of Fame's inaugural "Spider Team of Distinction" has been awarded to the 1968 Tangerine Bowl champions coached by Hall of Famer Frank Jones.
The Southern Conference champions' 49-42 win against 17th-ranked Ohio University in the Tangerine Bowl came after dropping arch-rival William & Mary 31-6 in the regular-season finale. Ohio entered the game as one of the nation's three unbeaten and untied programs.
The 8-3 Spiders finished the remarkable season ranked #20 in the AP poll and #18 in the UPI poll.
The following are Richmond Football single-game records set in the Tangerine Bowl victory: most passing yards (447), most first downs (32), total offense (Buster O'Brien with 486), completions (O'Brien with 39) and receptions (Walker Gillette with 20).