Sept. 6, 2007
The seven honorees of the 16th Annual Alabama A&M University Athletic Hall of Fame will be inducted during the banquet and induction ceremony scheduled Friday night at 7 p.m. in the Ernest L. Knight Reception Center on the AAMU campus. The group will receive additional recognition during the halftime of the Bulldogs' Saturday football game. The 2007 inductees include: Roy Avery Dean, Hollywood, Fla. (football); Ernest French, Mobile, Ala., (baseball, football); Reginald Gipson, Montgomery, Ala., (football); Ray Greene, Madison, Ala., (football); Ananias Harris, Pensacola, Fla. (baseball, football); Cleveland Jarman, Jr., Decatur, Ala. (football); and Frank Sillmon, Riverdale, Ga. (basketball).
ROY AVERY DEAN
In 1975, Dean was awarded a full scholarship to Alabama A&M University. He was privileged to be there at the time with the late Louis Crews and Joe Kent. When he landed at the airport, Dean was amazed that there was snow on the ground in the summertime. Upon closer inspection he found it to be cotton. He commented, "Lord, what I have gotten myself into." That was the beginning of just one of the wonderments of his life to come.
During his four years at AAMU, Dean had several coaches: Crews, Gentry, Green, Danzy and Whitch. They were able to keep him focused and on track, enabling him to acquire his degree in May of 1980. He was also fortunate to win the SIAC Championship ring, have great traveling experiences and meet some very outstanding people, who have become friends for life.
After graduation in 1980 he signed with Americas' team--the Dallas Cowboys. He left the team and had an interesting stint playing with the Metro Buccaneers out of Washington, D.C., as well as trying out for the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and the Birmingham Stallions. For personal reasons, he returned to his hometown of Hollywood in 1982. He became head coach of the JV football team at Hollywood Hills and the following year was Varsity receiver coach. While he doesn't remember the records, he does remember having four receivers that "couldn't catch". All four turned out fine with college degrees and two had NFL tryouts.
ERNEST FRENCH
French attended Baldwin County High School in Bay Minette, Ala., where he played football and baseball from 1974-77. In 1995, French was inducted into Baldwin County High School Sports Hall of Fame. He was an all-county defensive back during Baldwin County High School's undefeated 1976 season. He was also an outstanding baseball player, hitting .517 during his senior year. French was an all-county selection as well as all-region and played in the East-­West All Star football game.
He spent four years at Alabama A&M, where he was All-SIAC Conference four years in football and three years in baseball. He became the only player in the last 20 years to gain All-SIAC honors in two sports in the same year. French had 22 career interceptions, 347 tackles and was twice named Defensive Back of the Year in the SIAC. He was acknowledged as the best free safety in the SIAC in both his freshman and sophomore season. French led the AAMU secondary with seven (7) interceptions as a freshman and picked off thirteen (13) in two years.
In baseball, French's most outstanding season was his sophomore year, when he led the nation in batting average. French played first base and catcher at AAMU. He led the NCAA Division II in batting for 1980 with a .525 average, and missed leading the nation in batting by one time at bat to make the national statistics.
REGINALD J. GIPSON
Reginald J. Gipson was recruited by former AAMU Head Coach Theo Danzy and was coached through the years by Eddie Sherrod, Ray Greene and Woody McCorvey. Gipson played football on a scholarship from 1978-1983. He played tailback from 1978-1981 seasons and fullback during the 1982 season. He was the captain of the AAMU football team in 1982. Also, in 1982 he was MVP and 1981 Player of the Year.
Among other record setting and outstanding performances, during the 1982 season, Gipson set the Alabama A&M Single Season rushing record. He played on the 1979 NCAA Div. II semi-finalist team; 1981 All SIAC 100% Wrong Club, Atlanta; 1981 SIAC All Conference; 1981 SIAC Player of The Year; 1982 All-Sport 100% Wrong Club, Atlanta; 1982 Athletic Booster Club, Huntsville and Outstanding First Team SIAC.
Gipson caught the eye of several NFL scouts and coaches, especially then Buffalo Bills and later Seattle Seahawks Assistant Head Coach Chick Harris. Seattle selected him with its 3rd pick of the 1983 NFL Draft. Gipson began his NFL career as Seattle's 2nd string running back in 1983. He was traded to the Buffalo Bills, where he spent two years (1984 and 1985) until suffering a career ending injury. While at Buffalo, he was the starting running back for a brief period.
RAY GREENE
In 1978, Ray Greene accepted his first head coaching position at North Carolina Central University. The Eagles only won three games during his one season there; however, it was more games than they had won the previous three years. In 1979, he accepted the head coaching position at Alabama A&M University. During his first season, the Bulldogs won the SIAC Championship, and he had the honor of coaching the first A&M team to advance to the NCAA play-offs. The Bulldogs advanced to the second round before losing to Youngstown State, who eventually won the championship. Under Greene's direction the Bulldogs won two SIAC Championships and were runner-ups twice between 1979 and 1983.
In 1984, he accepted a position at Alabama State as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. After one season at ASU, Greene moved to Jackson State University, where he was the offensive coordinator. The Tigers won the SWAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Play-offs. Greene was named the SWAC "Assistant Coach of the Year".
In 1986, he returned to AAMU as the head coach. The Bulldogs won the SIAC Championship in 1986 and was runner-up in 1987. Greene was awarded the SIAC Coach of the Year honor in 1986 and remained at AAMU through the 1988 season. He went into private business during the next two years before accepting a position on the Mayor of Huntsville's staff as Youth Services Director for the City in 1990.
ANANIAS HARRIS
Ananias Harris played various sports as a youth at the Salvation Army Community Center. It was there that he was taught the fundamentals of football, basketball and baseball by men in the community volunteering their time.
As a youth he excelled as an athlete. As can be seen when he entered high school, he excelled in football as well as baseball. He caught the eye of colleges and universities across the country. He chose Alabama A&M University, a decision he has always been proud of.
At Alabama A&M he excelled and caught the eyes of Professional Scouts. Today, he is giving back to the community by volunteering his time as a coach at The Salvation Army Community Center and West Florida High School.
Harris has not forgotten about Alabama A&M. Harris has made financial contributions, he has attended football reunions, and he has given recruiting tips to local athletes.
CLEVELAND JARMAN, JR.
Upon his arrival at Alabama A&M University, Cleveland Jarman, Jr.'s football skills were further enhanced by Coach Louis Crews. He began his college football career as a defensive back during his freshman year and continued as a starter for the remaining three years.
Jarman was selected as the outstanding defensive back in 1962 and during the Alabama State/Alabama A&M Magic City Classic game, he was selected as most valuable player in 1963. Additionally, he was selected by his teammates and coaches as co-captain of the team within two years of his football career as a "Bulldog".
Once his football career was completed at Alabama A&M, he tried out for the Dallas Cowboys in 1964. He also played semi-professional football for six years as a defensive back with the Decatur Rough Riders. The Decatur Rough Riders had a fifty-four and two (54-2) win-lost record. Both losses were to the Tennessee State University Tigers.
FRANK SILLMON
Frank Sillmon first attended Alabama State University, where he was a two-year starter. He received First­Team All Freshmen honors during his first year and in his second season, he was named SWAC Player of the year. After his second year, he transferred to Alabama A&M University. While sitting out his first year at Alabama A&M, he was named to the Street and Smith's Division Two All-American basketball team. The next two seasons on "The Hill" were the most exciting and rewarding years in his basketball life.
He played on an excellent team and with great teammates, receiving numerous honors and awards while helping his team achieve a two year record of 55 wins, and only 9 losses. After completing a successful collegiate career Sillmon, along with teammate Willie Hayes, received tryouts with the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association and the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the Continental Basketball Association.
Sillmon did not have much success with either team, so he relocated to Atlanta, Ga. He found employment with the Atlanta Public Schools system and worked as a substitute school teacher for one year. In 1991, the World Basketball League was formed. He decided to tryout with the team in Huntsville, Ala.
He played with the team for one year and received notice of opportunities to play basketball in Europe. The AAMU grad played for several years in three different countries: France, Germany, and Finland.
