COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Four former Golden Eagle student-athletes
whose playing careers reach back through 56 years have been
selected as the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2010.
They will be inducted on Friday, Nov. 12, at the annual Hall of
Fame Dinner during Homecoming festivities on campus.
The four new inductees are Steve Hawkins, a
power-hitting shortstop on the baseball team from 1984 to 1987;
Diane Seng Haynes, a three-sport participant who
was a basketball All-American; Brandy Henry
Kleeman, a record-setting pitcher on the softball team in
1999-2000; and Gene Palmer, a track and cross
country standout from 1956-60.
In addition to their formal induction at the Hall of Fame Dinner on
Friday night, the four will also be recognized at the Homecoming
football game on Saturday, Nov. 13, which kicks off at 1:30
p.m. Their induction will lift the total of people in the
Hall of Fame to 154 since it was established in 1975.
* Steve Hawkins was a smooth-fielding shortstop
on the Golden Eagle baseball team who also became the first Tech
player to earn the "slugger" label, setting records for numerous
offensive categories including home runs in a season and career. He
led the OVC in home runs one season and triples another, and helped
Tech claim the 1988 OVC Southern Division championship.
* Diane Seng Haynes ranks as one of the top
women's basketball players in Ohio Valley Conference history after
leading Tech to back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances in 1999 and
2000 and four consecutive league crowns. A versatile athlete, she
also helped the TTU volleyball team reach the NCAA Tournament, and
added track & field to her Golden Eagle resume. Twice named the
OVC Female Athlete of the Year, she was a four-time selection as
Tech's Outstanding Female Athlete and also earned Academic
All-America honors.
* Brandy Henry Kleeman was a dominant pitcher for
two seasons on the softball team, earning back-to-back first-team
all-OVC honors and team MVP awards while setting the school records
for victories. She was both an All-Region pick and an Academic
All-District selection.
* Gene Palmer was the most dominant middle
distance runner in the Ohio Valley Conference during his four
seasons on the Golden Eagle cross country and track teams, setting
Tech and conference records. He was a four-time OVC individual
champion and twice capture conference titles as a member of a
Golden Eagle relay team.
In-depth biographies of each of the four inductees will be
published as the Hall of Fame Dinner approaches. Tickets for the
Hall of Fame dinner are on sale soon at the Athletics Ticket Office
in Eblen Center or by calling (931) 372-3940. Tickets may also be
purchased online at TTUsports.com (or by clicking here).
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