PHOTO GALLERY | Virginia Union University welcomed six new members into the "Tricky Tom" Harris Athletic Hall of Fame in a ceremony held Friday, September 22, at the Dr. Claude G. Perkins Living and Learning Center on the VUU campus in Richmond, Va.

Andre Braxton, Wanda Gill, the late Lou Hearn, the late Benjamin Lambert, Dr. Thomas Loughran and the Honorable William Ormsby joined the immortal roster of athletes, coaches and supporters at VUU.

ANDRE BRAXTON
FOOTBALL
Andre Braxton re-wrote the Virginia Union University football record book when he played for the Panthers from 1997 to 2000.  He gained 5,008 career yards, scored 63 rushing touchdowns, rushed for 1,660 yards in 2000, and 28 rushing touchdowns in 2000 alone.

Braxton won the Alonzo "Jake" Gaither Award, otherwise known as the "Black Heisman" in 2000 and was All-CIAA for four straight seasons, including the CIAA Player of the Year Award in 2000.

WANDA (HOBBS) GILL
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
While at VUU, Wanda played for the Lady Panthers under the late Coach Mr. Lou Hearn.  In 1984, Wanda's freshman year, the Lady Panthers reached the Division II National Championship.  Wanda graduated from VUU with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in the Division of Social Sciences, Cum Laude.  After graduating from VUU, Wanda worked for the Department of Child Support Enforcement in Richmond, Va.  She led the team in scoring and rebounding her senior season (1986-87), averaging a double-double in both categories (11.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game).

LOU HEARN
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Lou Hearn guided the Virginia Union University Women's Basketball Team to the 1983 National Championship.  He took over the program after the death of Thomas "Tricky Tom" Harris during the 1982 CIAA Championship Game.  During his six seasons as the head coach of the Lady Panthers, Hearn compiled a won/loss record of 96-61, including three seasons of 20 or more wins.

 
BEN LAMBERT
SUPPORTER
Lambert was born in Richmond, Virginia on January 29, 1937.  He received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Union University and a graduate degree from the New England College of Optometry. He began practicing optometry in Richmond in 1962.

In 1977, Lambert was elected a Member of the House of Delegates from the Richmond-based 33rd district. In 1985, he was elected to the Virginia Senate representing the 9th Senate District, which included all of Charles City County, and parts of Henrico County and the City of Richmond. He was the first African-American in the 20th Century to serve on the Virginia Senate Finance Committee. During his senate tenure, Lambert served on a number of committees, including Education and Health, General Laws, Privileges and Elections, Senate Finance, General Government, and Health and Human Resources. Additionally, he chaired the Subcommittees on Higher Education and General Government, the Brown v. Board Scholarship Commission, and the Lead Abatement Subcommittee.

Lambert served as Secretary of the Board of Trustees of Virginia Union University and Virginia Commonwealth University's Health Systems Authority Board. He also served as a Director of Consolidated Bank & Trust Company and USA Education Inc. He served on many different boards like The Benedictine College Preparatory and other schools.

DR. THOMAS LOUGHRAN
ALL SPORTS
Loughran was introduced to Virginia Union by long-time team doctor Dr. Walton Belle in 1988, and Loughran has been the team doctor to VUU student-athletes since that time.  Dr. Loughran is an orthopedic surgeon in Richmond, Virginia and is affiliated with Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. He received his medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years. He is one of 20 doctors at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center who specialize in Orthopedic Surgery.

WILLIAM ORMSBY
TRACK, TENNIS
Ormsby ran track and played tennis for VUU between 1954 and 1957.  During that time he competed in several regional events, including the Morgan State Relays.  He qualified for the 100-yard dash and graduated from VUU in 1957. 

Ormsby was the President of the Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society inn 1956-57 and VUU Student Body Vice-President in 1956-57. 

From July 1981 until 1997, he was appointed to serve as a judge in the California Municipal and Superior Courts.

He retired from the bench in 1997.