Compton heads West Virginia Hall of Fame class

MORGANTOWN — Former West Virginia center Mike Compton led a class of six inductees into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Joining Compton were multi-sport athletes Marvin “Bucky’’ Bolyard and Charley Hockenberry; basketball standouts Jim McCormick and the late Roger “Shorty’’ Hicks, and all-American hurdler Connie Ellerbe.

Compton, who started for the Mountaineers from 1990-92, was a first team All-American, Lombardi Award finalist and team captain. He played eight years with the Detroit Lions and won two Super Bowl rings during his stint with the New England Patriots from 2001-03.
- advertisement -

Compton, who was introduced by his 16-year-old daughter, Jessica, called his induction the greatest accomplishment of his athletic career.

He thanked former coach Don Nehlen for giving a “pudgy little fat kid from Richlands, Va., a chance to play major college football.’’

Compton said his mother worked two jobs to support him and his sister.

Bolyard lettered three years in baseball and two in basketball from 1957-59 despite being blind in his left eye as a result of an accident in high school. He platooned in the same backcourt as NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West. Bolyard died in September 2001.

He was the only Mountaineer baseball player to ever play all nine positions.

Hockenberry lettered in baseball (1939-41), football (1938-39) and basketball (1939). He also coached the baseball and golf teams after graduation.

Ellerbe was the first Mountaineer woman to earn all-American status in track, a feat she achieved four times.

She finished second at the 1992 NCAA championships, fourth in 1991, seventh in 1988 and ninth in 1989 in the 400-meter hurdles.

McCormick led the Mountaineers to three Southern Conference regular-season titles and a pair of NCAA tournament appearances from 1961-63.

Hicks played on WVU’s 1942 NIT championship basketball team. His foul shot with just seconds remaining gave WVU the lead over Western Kentucky in a 47-45 win. He was killed in combat during World War II in November 1944.