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News Nuggets, 08.14.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Pirate heroes spanning generations headed for Hall

A diving champion who helped his team win two national titles and after graduation died in the service of his country, and a consensus football All-American who anchored the defense of East Carolina's most acclaimed team are among an elite group of former Pirates selected for enshrinement in the ECU Athletics Hall Of Fame.

The four new members, whose collective careers spanned three sports and touched on decades ranging from the 1950's to the 1990's, will be inducted into ECU's sports shrine in September, the school announced Friday.

Glenn Dyer (diving), Robert Jones (football), Gary Overton (baseball) and Al Vaughan (baseball) will each be inducted into the Hall at a ceremony September 24 on the ECU campus. The four inductees will also be recognized at halftime of the ECU-Cincinnati football game on Sept. 25.

Their induction will bring the total number of members in the Hall to 106.

Dyer, who was killed while serving as a member of the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War, was a three-time All-America diver for then-East Carolina College. He earned All-America accolades in both the one-meter and three-meter dives in 1957, ‘59, and ‘60, and helped the Pirates to the NAIA National Championship in ‘57 and again in ‘59. Dyer is the third diver to be voted into the ECU Athletics Hall of Fame.

Jones, the most decorated linebacker in ECU football history, was a consensus All-America choice as a senior in 1991 and one of three finalist for the Butkus Award. Jones was co-captain of the 1991 team that finished ranked No. 9 nationally with an 11-1 record and a Peach Bowl victory. He received freshman All-America honors in 1989 and was a honorable mention All-America player as a sophomore. By the time his senior season rolled around, Jones was a preseason All-American and on both the Butkus and Lombardi Award Watch List. He finished his career with 478 tackles and became the first Pirate to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Jones was selected 24th overall by Dallas and went on to win three Super Bowl Championships with the Cowboys. He played with five teams during his 11-year professional career.

Overton’s association with ECU bridges four decades, including three as both player and coach. During his 13-year tenure (1985-1997) as the head baseball coach, Overton compiled an overall record of 427-237-1 to depart as the winningest coach in school history. He guided the Pirates to five NCAA Tournaments, five CAA Tournament championships and two CAA regular season titles. Overton mentored 36 all-conference players, four All-America players, 18 professional players and earned CAA Coach of the Year honors in 1990 and East Region Coach of the Year accolades in 1993. A 1973 graduate of ECU, he currently serves as a lecturer in the ECU School of Health and Human Performance.

Vaughan was an outstanding baseball player during the late 1950s. He earned All-North State Conference honors as a junior and senior. Vaughan capped off his career by earning all-state and all-district honors as a senior. He was the co-captain of ECC’s only undefeated conference championship team and held the school stolen base record from 1959-76.

Promising football recruit killed in shooting

RICHMOND, CA — Oregon incoming freshman Terrance Kelly was shot to death two days before he was set to leave for school.

The 18-year-old linebacker from De La Salle High School in Concord was shot in the driver's seat of his car outside a home for a family member Thursday night, said Richmond Police Sgt. Enos Johnson on Friday.

Police said they found Kelly lying in the street next to his car, shot in the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Johnson said police were investigating and had not yet identified a motive or any suspects.

Kelly was a standout at De La Salle, which has a 151-game winning streak. He was one of four players from De La Salle recruited by Oregon and one of the Ducks' top recruits.

Kelly was scheduled to leave for Eugene, Ore., on Saturday.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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