Glenville State College inducted five individuals into the Curtis Elam Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 19. The induction ceremony and banquet were held at the Mollohan Campus Community Center Ballroom. The 2008 class of five join fifty previous inductees in the Hall of Fame, which was established in May of 2001 through the

generosity of Curtis Elam, a 1949 graduate of Glenville State College.

Russell Porterfield a native of Webster Springs, West Virginia, was inducted posthumously. Porterfield graduated from Glenville State Teachers College in 1939 lettering in football and basketball. Playing for the legendary Nate Rohrbough, Porterfield led the Pioneers to their first WVIAC football title in 1937. He earned all conference honors in football in 1938. Porterfield became a highly successful educator and coach.

Former teammate and Inaugural Hall of Fame inductee, Frank Martino presented Porterfield for induction. Porterfield’s son John accepted the Hall of Fame induction for his late father. “I knew there was no way that I could top my father’s coaching accomplishments, so I got out of coaching and into administration. I am thrilled to accept this great honor for my father,” said John Porterfield.

Inductee Bob Armstrong, a native of Warren, Ohio, graduated from Glenville State Teachers College in 1942. He was an outstanding basketball player for the Pioneers. He was team co-captain in both his junior and senior years, WVIAC All Conference in 1941 and 1942, and named to the WVIAC 50th Anniversary All Time All Conference WVIAC Team in 1974. He twice led the Pioneers to the national tournament in Kansas City, Missouri.

Armstrong was presented by former teammate and life long friend Jack Conrad who said, “Bob was a coach on the floor. He was a terrific athlete and a very special person.”

Coach Earl ‘Whitey’ Adolfson was presented for induction by his son Greg. “My father goes into the Hall of Fame as a Coach. What his players did, and what they are doing today is a tribute to his leadership,” said Greg Adolfson.

‘Whitey’ was defensive coordinator for the Pioneer from 1968-1974 and celebrated the 1973 team’s NAIA National Championship Runner-Up honors. He was head football coach from 1975-1979. Adolfson was also assistant basketball coach in 1966, and he revived the school’s wrestling program from 1968-1975. He also served as assistant athletic director from 1980-1985. In 1996 Adolfson received the West Virginia Coaches Association’s ‘Retired Coach of the Year’ award for his contributions to coaching. Now retired, ‘Whitey’ continues to be one of the Pioneer’s biggest fans.

“I am so blessed to be included with the likes of the outstanding men and women that are in the Hall of Fame. Thank you so much for this wonderful honor,” said Adolfson.

“Whitey always was and continues to be a great ambassador for Glenville State College,” said Bill Hanlin former head coach and Hall of Fame member.

Steve ‘Reno’ Gandee a native of Clendenin, West Virginia, graduated from Glenville State College in 1982. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a member of the Pioneer football and baseball teams. ‘Reno’ scored 127 points for the including eight touchdowns and a then school record 47 yard field goal. As a pitcher for the Pioneer baseball team he finished his career with a winning record. He was captain of the baseball team in 1981 and 1982.

Gandee has been officiating high school basketball in West Virginia for 24 years and 14 years in the WVIAC. In 2001 he was selected as the National Federation Officials Association Boys Basketball Official of the Year in West Virginia.

“As a student athlete at Glenville State College I could not have dreamt of ever being inducted into the Hall of Fame. It is rewarding to be honored for the little that I did for a school that has done so much for me,” said Gandee.

Gandee was presented by former baseball coach Ollie Pottmeyer and former football coach Whitey Adolfson.

Gandee is chairman of the Department of Litigation for the statewide law firm of Robinson & McElwee, PPLC. He is married to the former Tamra Burkhamer `83. The Gandees have two children and live in Jane Lew, West Virginia.

The fifth class of 2008 inductee was Carlos Ferralls, a native of Miami, Florida. Ferralls graduated from GSC in 1998 after a stellar football career. He was a three time WVIAC All Conference performer and a three time All American. During his playing career Ferralls was 1st in all time career receptions with 268. In 1996 and 1997, he led the nation in receptions per game, and in 1997 led the nation in yards per game. For his career, he had 268 receptions for 4,101 yards and 46 touchdowns. In 1998, he was awarded GSC’s prestigious Montrose Award.

“Coach Rich Rodriquez taught me how to be a champion. It is because of him that I am here today as an inductee to the Hall of Fame. I am living the American dream. Glenville State College helped give that to me,” said Ferralls.

Tim Carney, former GSC Athletic Director and 2005 Hall of Fame inductee, presented Ferralls for induction into the Hall of Fame.

Ferralls currently serves as Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Principal for Miami Dade County Public Schools. Carlos and his wife Belkys reside in Coral Gables, Florida.

Plaques of all inductees of the Curtis Elam Athletic Hall of Fame are displayed in the lobby of the GSC Physical Education Building.