Date: Friday, September 19, 2008
Contact: Chris Kilcoyne / R-MC SID
(804) 752-7387, christopherkilcoyne@rmc.edu
Randolph-Macon College Hall of Fame to Induct Four New Members February 14th
ASHLAND, VA – Randolph-Macon College has announced the newest inductees to its Athletics Hall of Fame. They are Mary Fran Gilliford Frankenheimer ’92 (field hockey), Stanley Trimble ’66 (basketball and baseball), Eugene (Cody) Dearing ’84 (football), and W. Jennings Culley ’48 (journalism). The induction ceremony will be held on February 14 at the Brock Center at 7:00 p.m.
The Hall of Fame was established in 1996 to honor and memorialize those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Randolph-Macon athletics and have helped to bring recognition, honor, excellence and distinction to the college and its intercollegiate athletic program. To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, an alumnus must have been a full-time student for at least two years and have been a letterwinner in at least one varsity sport at the college. Alumni are eligible at any time 10 years after leaving Randolph-Macon. The Hall may also honor former athletes who have made outstanding contributions to society in general.
Mary Fran Gilliford Frankenheimer ‘92
As a four-year standout in field hockey at Randolph-Macon College, Mary Fran Gilliford Frankenheimer was honored as team captain, Compton Award winner, All-ODAC, All-American, and NCAA Woman of the Year. In recognition of her leadership on the field as well as in the classroom, her classmates elected her to speak at the Commencement ceremony in May 1992. She also holds every offensive career record in the R-MC field hockey record book.
In her sophomore season (1989), Frankenheimer earned a spot on the All-ODAC first team and was named an All-American. After a return appearance on the All-ODAC squad in 1990, she was named team captain for her senior season. During that year, Frankenheimer earned first team honors on both the All-ODAC and All-Region teams.
Although she played her final contest at Randolph-Macon in the fall of 1991, Frankeneimer continued to garner recognition throughout her senior year. She received the Compton Award, given to an R-MC student-athlete for outstanding athletic accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership, and sportsmanship. At the national level, she was named NCAA Woman of the Year for her distinguished academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership during her collegiate career. She delivered the Commencement address to her fellow graduating classmates in May 1992.
At the conclusion of her career in Ashland, Frankenheimer held the Randolph-Macon single-season record for points in a season with 19. She also ranked second in goals in a season with 11. Her 23 goals and 47 career points both rank first on the all-time career lists. Frankenheimer also holds the Yellow Jacket record for career assists.
Frankenheimer joined the Villa Maria Academy coaching staff upon graduation. From 1992-2004, she won three conference championships as head field hockey coach, as well as seven titles as head softball coach.
One of the greatest field hockey players to come through Randolph-Macon, Frankenheimer now resides in Malvern, PA.
Stanley Trimble ‘66
Stanley Trimble stands as one of the most successful two-sport athletes in Randolph-Macon history. As a four-year letterwinner in basketball and baseball, Trimble is twelfth in all-time scoring in basketball, and was named All-American after his senior campaign on the hardwood.
As a freshman in Ashland, Trimble started on the freshman basketball team and batted cleanup in the Yellow Jacket freshman baseball lineup. He would go on to be a three-year starter in the Yellow Jacket outfield. During his junior and senior seasons, R-MC posted a 41-16-1 record. While he remained a staple on the R-MC baseball diamond, Trimble is best remembered for his accomplishments on the basketball court, where he served as a two-year captain for the Yellow Jackets.
A three-year varsity starter at guard and forward from 1963-64 to 1965-66, Trimble’s basketball teams compiled an impressive 81-21 record and won four Mason-Dixon Conference Southern Division championships. They claimed two Mason-Dixon championships and won the Virginia Little 8 Championship as well.
Individually, Trimble built a remarkable resume. He was named All-State, made the All Mason-Dixon Tournament team twice, and was named Honorable Mention All-American at the conclusion of his senior campaign. Trimble led the Yellow Jackets as the team’s top defender, best rebounder, and most prolific scorer of the era. His 1,393 points still rank 14th all-time in Randolph-Macon history.
Due to his accomplishments in the classroom, Trimble was named to the Dean’s List and Honor’s List. He was also a member of the Varsity Club and the Kappa Alpha Order.
A member of the Yellow Jacket Club, Trimble is currently the Owner/President of E.S.T. Computer Services, a software and consulting company. He is active in the Cobb’s Glen Golf Association and a member of Young Memorial Presbyterian Church. He frequently returns to Ashland for participation at Homecoming. He lives with his wife Sandy. His two daughters, Ashley and Dana, are both married. He has one grandson.
Eugene (Cody) Dearing ‘85
Eugene (Cody) Dearing is considered one of the best quarterbacks in the history of Yellow Jacket football. A three-year letterwinner, Dearing is the only Randolph-Macon quarterback to be named first or second-team All-American.
Dearing is best remembered for his remarkable 1984 campaign. Cody led the Yellow Jackets to a 9-1 regular season record, perfect 5-0 conference record, and the ODAC championship. R-MC finished the season ranked fifth in the nation and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.
After the conclusion of this impressive season, Dearing wracked up a plethora of awards. He was named first team All-ODAC, All-State, ODAC Player of the Year, 1st Team Kodak All-American, and 2nd Team Little All-American. In 1984 he was the top-rated quarterback in Division III, and his R-MC single-season records (Most Wins – 9 and Most Touchdown Passes – 27) still stand today. Dearing graduated with eight Yellow Jacket offensive records.
Today, Dearing is involved in the fundraising efforts for Handley High School Booster Club, local Little Leagues, and the new football stadium for Shenandoah University.
W. Jennings Culley ‘48
W. Jennings Culley is the most successful sports columnist to ever graduate from Randolph-Macon College. A writer for the Richmond News Leader for forty-one years, Culley covered national and international sporting events, such as the World Series, Super Bowl, NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four, and the Olympics.
Culley was very active in various facets of Yellow Jacket athletics. He was a member of the freshman basketball team in 1942, as well as a two-year letterwinner in tennis from 1946-47. Off the court, he was Sports Editor of Yellow Jacket Weekly and also served as a student assistant in the Sports Information office. Like many students, his career at R-MC was interrupted by World War II. He enlisted in the Navy and earned the rank of Ensign. After his service, Culley graduated from Randolph-Macon in 1948 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He was also a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Beta Kappa.
After graduation, Culley worked as a sports stringer for the Richmond Times Dispatch and as a sportswriter for the Roanoke World-News. He also hosted a sports commentary program on radio station WSLS. Culley joined the staff of the Richmond News Leader in 1951 and continued his radio career, hosting a sports program on WRNL.
In 1968, Culley was promoted to Sports Editor of the News Leader, a position he would hold for twenty-six years. During his remarkable career in sports journalism, Culley was twice voted Virginia Sportscaster of the Year, served as President of the Virginia & Atlantic Coast Conference Sportswriters Associations, and received outstanding service awards from the Virginia High School League and the All-American Football Foundation. He also received six first-place awards in sports feature writing by the Virginia Press Association.
Culley retired in 1992, but continues to write a Sunday column for the Times-Dispatch, focusing on sports nostalgia and history.
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