The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Athletics Department and the Office of Alumni Affairs announced the Class of 2015 Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees, including the late David Fussell (baseball), Grace Keith (women’s basketball), Lani Marchant (Track & Field/Cross Country), David McCrary (football) and Melissa Ramirez (softball). They were inducted at the annual banquet on Friday, February 20, at the Chattanooga Country Club.
“This class represents many eras of UTC athletics,” stated UTC Vice Chancellor & Director of Athletics David Blackburn. “It celebrates the history of our baseball and football programs, the start of women’s basketball as a varsity sport and more recent success in softball and track. It will be an honor to celebrate their accomplishments at the festivities in February.”
The UTC Athletics Hall of Fame was established to formally recognize outstanding contributions to the heritage and tradition of the university’s intercollegiate athletic program. A total of 199 individuals have been inducted into the UTC Athletics Hall of Fame during special ceremonies held each year.
David Fussell – Baseball – 1966-69
David Fussell was captain of the University of Chattanooga baseball team in 1969 and is considered to be one of the best baseball players in UC/UTC history. He was a standout catcher for some of the best teams in school history. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 1969 following his playing career with the Mocs. Fussell died Octocber 24, 2014, and is inducted posthumously.
Grace Keith – Women’s Basketball Head Coach – 1975-76
One of the founders of the Chattanooga women’s basketball program, Grace Keith coached the first scholarship team at UTC. She headed the Mocs program for two seasons, from 1975-76, and recruited Hall of Famer Sharon Fanning.
Lanni Marchant – Cross Country/Track & Field – 2004-07
The 2007 Southern Conference Female Athlete of the Year, Lanni Marchant is one of the most decorated runners in school history. She was the 2006 Cross Country Champion and Runner of the Year, leading the Mocs to the league championship. She qualified for the NCAAs in 2006 and was a two-time NCAA All-South Region performer in Cross Country. She won three SoCon titles in Indoor Track and four in Outdoor Track. She still holds the SoCon record for the 5,000M and the 10,000M races.
David McCrary – Football – 1982-85
David McCrary was all All-Southern Conference defensive back from 1982-85. In 2003, he was named to the Times Free Press UC/UTC All-Century team as one of the top defensive backs in school history. He earned All-SoCon honors as a defensive back in 1984, helping UTC to the league title and an appearance in the FCS Playoffs. He is tied for fourth all-time at UTC with 11 interceptions, including three pick-sixes. He is one of the top punt returners in SoCon history, holding the league record for returns (118) and second in yards (1,253). He also ran back two punts for touchdowns in his career.
Melissa Ramirez – Softball – 2002-05
Melissa Ramirez was a two-time SoCon Tournament Most Outstanding Player and 2004 SoCon Player of the Year. Her 286 career hits, 63 career doubles and 15-game hitting streak from 2003 remain unbreakable stats in the Chattanooga record book. She was a three-time SoCon All-Tournament selection and two-time SoCon Player of the Week. During her tenure, the Mocs claimed two regular season crowns, three SoCon Tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Tournament three times. She also had 25 homeruns (third all-time) and drove in 177 runs (second all-time) at UTC.
Special Award Winners
The A.C. “Scrappy” Moore Award is presented to a current UTC student-athlete who best personifies the athletic department’s mission of equipping for success, in the classroom, in competition and in the community. Davis Tull was a three-time Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year, a three-time All-American and a two-time Academic All-American. He is the SoCon leader in career sacks and was also named to three FCS ADA Academic All-Star teams.
The Gordon Davenport Award is given annually by the UTC Athletics Hall of Fame to a person who has shown outstanding commitment to the Chattanooga Mocs athletics program. Todd Duff is a long-time season-ticket holder and supporter of the Mocs men’s basketball program.
The Joe Morrison Award is given annually by the UTC Athletics Hall of Fame to a former student-athlete or coach for notable accomplishments and life experiences. Former Chattanooga football standout Pete Pullara (1974-77) is the superintendent of Yankee Stadium. He oversaw stadium operations during the transition from the old stadium to the new facility in 2009.
The Harold Wilkes Award was established to recognize a volunteer, coach, staff member or University administrator who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in furthering the Vision of Chattanooga Athletics – to achieve excellence. Dale Rutemeyer has been volunteering his services as the unofficial staff photographer for over six years. His countless hours of work on the sidelines helped UTC publications win a number of national awards, as well as record traffic on GoMocs.com.
