2013 Sports Hall of Fame inductees announced

10/4/2013 11:01:00 AM

The 2013 class for the Hinds Community College Sports Hall of Fame has been announced, as the college has selected Bill Buckner, Wendell "Moose" Campbell, Billy Rhodes, Willis Steenhuis and Gary Walker as the new inductees into the distinguished club.

The five-member crew will be honored with an induction ceremony at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17 in the Troy Arlis Ricks Wellness Complex on the Raymond Campus.

For details, please contact the Advancement office at 601.857.3363.

Bill Buckner, Football Coach, 1978-1987

Buckner, a former Starkville native, was the head football coach at Hinds from 1978-1987.

Buckner, who also served as director of development and on the President's Cabinet during his stint in Raymond, compiled a 39-40-1 record in his eight years at the helm. He came to Hinds after spending time as an assistant coach at Mississippi State University (1977) and Delta State University (1975-1977). He also held two different stints as a head coach, one at East Mississippi Community College (1973-1974; 22-18 overall record) and Starkville Academy (1970).

He had a highly-decorated college playing career after his time at Starkville High School, one that got its start in the town of Scooba under legendary coach Bob "Bull" Sullivan. He was a two-time National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American, two-time Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) All-State selection and Most Valuable Player in 1963 and 1964 as a record-setting quarterback for the Lions.

After spending the 1965 season at Mississippi State, Buckner would transfer to Delta State for the 1966 and 1967 seasons, where he was a two-time Little All-American. After four All-American seasons in college, Buckner finished with 6,577 yards passing and 57 touchdowns.

Buckner earned Bachelor of Science and master's degree in school administration/physical education from Mississippi State.

He is also a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, the Mississippi Community and Junior Colleges Sports Hall of Fame, the Delta State University Sports Hall of Fame and the East Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame.

He currently serves as the regional and state director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a role he has held since leaving Hinds in 1987.

Wendell "Moose" Campbell, Football and Track and Field, 1957-1959

Campbell, a former standout at Tate High School in Gonzalez, Fla., was a multi-purpose player for the undefeated 1957 Hinds Junior College football team, and also competed in track and field during his time with the Eagles.

He played end on both offense and defense, and also split his duties at the fullback position during the 1957 and 1958 seasons, and was designated as a team captain during his sophomore season by head coach Joe Renfroe.

Campbell then signed with Mississippi Southern College, where he played fullback for the Golden Eagles for the final two seasons of his collegiate career. He earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration and a minor in psychology in 1963 from the Hattiesburg school.

After his time at Mississippi Southern, Campbell entered the workforce by starting at Armstrong Rubber Company in Natchez before selling life and health insurance in both Mississippi and Florida.

Campbell, who was born in Pensacola, Fla. and currently resides in Blakely, Ga., then spent nine years at St. Joe Paper Company in Port St. Joe, Fla., before owning Sure Shot Pest Control, Do-It-Yourself and Campbell's Pest Control until retiring in 2011.

Billy Rhodes, Basketball, 1959-1961

Rhodes, a native of Pelahatchie and graduate of Pelahatchie High School, was a star on the Hinds hardwood under coaching legend Troy Arlis Ricks from 1959-1961.

Rhodes, a two-year starter at the guard position for the Eagles, was known as a hard-nosed defender and averaged in the double digits in scoring average over his career.

He would then move on to Mississippi College, where he was a guard for the Choctaws. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from MC in 1963 and would later earn a master's degree in school administration from MC in 1977.

Rhodes entered into the world of teaching and coaching immediately after leaving Mississippi College, starting at Raleigh High School (1963-1966), where he coached boys' and girls' basketball, football and girls' track and field. He was chosen as the Rebel Conference Coach of the Year after compiling a 78-18 record as boys' basketball coach.

He then moved onto Brandon High School (1966-1970), where he was twice selected as the Little Dixie Conference Coach of the Year for his work as the girls' varsity basketball coach, and was also chosen as the Outstanding Young Educator at BHS.

From 1970 until today, Rhodes has served in a variety of roles at East Rankin Academy, including headmaster (in the early 1970s), math teacher (until 2012), boys' basketball coach (18 years), girls' basketball coach (31 years), athletic director (18 years) and his current role as elementary physical education teacher and assistant basketball coach. He won three consecutive state championships (1975-1977) and finished runner-up in girls' basketball in 1980.

For his efforts, he was inducted into the Mississippi Private School Association (MPSA) Coaches Hall of Fame and the gym at ERA is named Billy Rhodes Gymnasium.

Willis Steenhuis, Baseball and Basketball, 1954-1956

Steenhuis, a Jackson native, was a two-sport standout as a baseball and basketball player for the Hinds Junior College Eagles from 1954-1956.

Steenhuis, a dominating pitcher at Central High School in Jackson, was the Eagles pitching ace during his two years in Raymond, and at one time held the school record for most wins and strikeouts. He also played one season for the tradition-rich Hinds basketball team.

He would then head to Mississippi College for the 1958 and 1959 seasons, where he was selected as the Choctaws' Most Valuable Player as a senior after setting a then-school record for wins on the mound. Due to his success on the field, Steenhius was chosen in the Major League Baseball Draft by the Baltimore Orioles.

Steenhuis was also later inducted into the Mississippi College Sports Hall of Fame in 2011. He received both his bachelor of science in physical education and his master's degree in education from MC.

He would then make his mark on the coaching community after his lone season with the Orioles. He had an illustrious 34-year coaching career with his first 18 years spent as the head basketball and assistant baseball coach at his alma mater, Central High School. He would then move on to Wingfield High School, where he served as the head baseball and girls' softball coach for his final 16 years, winning a state championship in baseball in 1979.

Steenhuis, who won a state championship at both Central and Wingfield, was also an influential figure in semi-pro baseball in the state of Mississippi, as he was the state commissioner for several years and is in the National American Semi-Pro Baseball Hall of Fame.

Gary Walker, Football, 1991-1993

Walker, a Lavonia, Ga., native, was a star on the gridiron as a defensive lineman for the Hinds football team from 1991-1993.

He was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American team after a standout sophomore season in 1992. His prowess on the field earned him a football scholarship to Auburn University, where he collected 148 tackles and 15 sacks in two seasons and was named to the All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) second team after his senior season in 1994.

Walkerwas then drafted in the fifth round of the 1995 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers, who later became the Tennessee Titans. After playing for the Oilers and then Titans from 1995-1998, he was picked up by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1999, where he played for three seasons that were highlighted by a Pro Bowl selection in 2011.

Despite his Pro Bowl selection in 2001, Walker was traded to the Houston Texans in 2002 and was selected to the Pro Bowl again, despite fighting through injuries all season.

He was an alternate selection to the 2001 Pro Bowl. Signed by the Houston Texans in 2002, he was selected to the Pro Bowl in that year, though he was subsequently plagued by injuries. He eventually finished his playing career with the Texans in 2005 after a triceps tear forced him to end his career.

He ended his 12-year playing career with 319 tackles and 46.5 sacks.

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