It was a night of celebrating legends when Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia welcomed its 2006 class into the college's Athletic Hall of Fame. The inductees will included: Paul “Sandy” Brown ’70, former standout in men’s swimming; Carl Koenig ’61, a star on the men's basketball court; and Charlie Kuehn ’88, who made his impact on the baseball field.
These three individuals were honored for their achievements on and off the playing fields and courts at the college's annual Athletic Hall of Fame banquet and induction ceremony, which was held Saturday, October 28, 2006. The Hall of Fame festivities are held annually in conjunction with the college's Homecoming weekend events. That weekend also included the inauguration of R-MC’s 15th president, Mr. Robert R. Lindgren.
The Randolph-Macon College Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1996 to honor and memorialize those individuals who, by outstanding achievement in athletics or service to the college's sports teams, have made lasting contributions to the cause of sports at the college. The Hall of Fame may also honor former athletes who have made outstanding contributions to society in general. This year’s four new members will bring the total number of individual inductees to 54. The 1969 football team was inducted as a whole in 2004.
Paul “Sandy” Brown ’70 (Takoma Park, Maryland)
A native of York, Pennsylvania, Sandy Brown came to Randolph-Macon College as a student in 1966. A history major, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970. Brown went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in international studies from The American University in Washington, D.C. in 1974.
Brown was a four-year letterwinner and three-year captain on the men’s swimming team. During his four seasons, Brown set and reset multiple school records. They included: the 100, 200 and 400 individual medley; the 100 and 200 backstroke; the 100 and 200 breaststroke; the 200 butterfly; the 500 freestyle; and the 400 medley relay and 800 freestyle relay. He was a Mason-Dixon Conference champion in the 100 and 200 breaststroke. His senior season, Brown set a state record in the 400 individual medley.
Brown closed out his career that year by participating in the NCAA Division II Championships in Michigan, placing 17th in the 400 IM.
Two of Brown’s individual R-MC records still stand: the 200 backstroke (2:10.70) and the 400 individual medley (4:44.60). In addition, he was a member of a 400 medley relay team which still holds a school record (3:59.50). All three of the records were set February 19, 1970. The Randolph-Macon team had a 26-13 record during Brown’s time as a Yellow Jacket.
In addition to his success in the pool, Brown was a Dean’s List student and a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society, the Pi Gamma Mu social sciences honor society and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He was also recognized in Who’s Who Among American College and University Students and was on the R-MC judicial counsel.
Brown served in the United States Army in Vietnam from 1970 to 1972. Currently, he is a senior program analyst in the U.S. Department of Education’s Student Achievement and School Accountability office. Brown remained active in athletics, as he competed as a runner in numerous road races as well as triathlons. He also serves as a swim meet referee, starter, and stroke and turn judge in the Montgomery County (Md.) Swim League.
Brown’s wife is Suzanne Hubbard, and they have two children – a 28-year-old son, Peter, and a 15-year-old daughter, Renee. He lives in Takoma Park, Maryland.
Carl Koenig ’61 (Bedford, Virginia)
Originally from Springfield, Illinois, Carl Koenig served in the United States Army at Fort Lee in Petersburg, Virginia, just south of Richmond, before coming to Randolph-Macon College as a student in 1957. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from R-MC in 1961, and went on to earn a Master of Science degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.
As a forward on the men’s basketball team, Koenig was a four-year letterwinner and two-year captain. He was named Honorable Mention All-American as a senior in 1960-61 as the Yellow Jackets won the Little 8 conference. R-MC also won the Little 8 in Koenig’s sophomore season, and was second his freshman year. For his career, Koenig finished with 1,294 points, which are 20th on the R-MC all-time career list, and a free throw percentage of 81.5%, which is tied for 10th in R-MC history.
Koenig was active at R-MC off the court, as he served as Varsity Club president and was a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society. He went on to have a successful career as a history teacher and coach for 36 years at St. Christopher’s School in Richmond. Koenig also had coaching stints at Henrico High School and Douglas Freeman High School, both in Richmond, as well as Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria.
A father of three, Koenig’s adult children include sons C.J. Koenig and Lon Koenig and daughter Becky Mason. He also has seven grandchildren. Koenig lives in Bedford, Virginia.
Charlie Kuehn ’88 (Roanoke, Virginia)
Charlie Kuehn came to Randolph-Macon College as a student in 1984 from Roanoke, Virginia, and continues to live there now. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology in 1988.
Kuehn was a four-year letterwinner on the R-MC baseball team as a third baseman, right fielder and pitcher. He was the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Player of the Year and first-team all-ODAC as a senior in 1988, and was also first-team all-conference in 1985 and 1987 and second-team all-ODAC in 1986. In addition, Kuehn was named all-state in Virginia in 1987, and served as a team captain in 1988.
Prior to the 2006 R-MC baseball season, Kuehn was the program record-holder in career triples (19), runs batted in (101) and extra-base hits (51), as well as single-season triples (8 in 1988). Also on the career list, he was second in total bases (219), third in hits (119) and sixth in runs scored (83). On the single-season list, Kuehn was second in batting average (.500 in 1987), third in extra-base hits (18 in 1988) and fifth in home runs (6 in 1987), In addition to batting .500 with six home runs as a junior in 1987, he had 26 RBIs and a .883 slugging percentage. As a senior in 1988, Kuehn batted .416 with four home runs and a .857 slugging percentage. He was also successful as a pitcher, especially earlier in his career. In his freshman season, Kuehn pitched 57.0 innings, recording 33 strikeouts and going 6-1 with a 3.16 earned run average. He was on the hill for 44.2 innings as a sophomore in 1986, striking out 38 batters.
Off the field, Kuehn was a brother in the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. After his successful collegiate baseball career, he went on to play outside hitter for an open division USVBA volleyball travel team based in Richmond and shortstop for a Class B slow-pitch softball travel team based in Roanoke. Kuehn has also competed in golf tournaments.
Kuehn and is wife, Sandra, have two young sons – 9-year-old Ryan and 7-year-old Bret. Kuehn coaches his sons in soccer, basketball and baseball. He is a sales account executive with Select Group in Roanoke, formerly Gurtner Printing.
Click Below to Read About Each Randolph-Macon Hall of Fame Class