Nine former student-athletes, coaches and staff members have been selected
for induction into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, the F
Club announced Wednesday. The 2000 induction class will be inducted into
the UF Athletic Hall of Fame on April 7. Among the Class of 2000 inductees
are Gator Greats Trace Armstrong (football), Karen Davies (golf), Julie
Gorman (swimming), Brooks Henderson (basketball), Louis Oliver (football)
and Wayne Peace (football). Former football standout Jimmy Dunn was chosen
as a Distinguished Letterwinner and Bud Fernandez and James McCachren were
both chosen as Honorary Letterwinners.
Armstrong, who played only one season at Florida, provided one of the most
productive season in Gator history after transferring from Arizona State
University. In 1988 he accumulated the most tackles for loss by a defensive
lineman in school history with 19. He was named first team All-American
and first team All-SEC. After being drafted by the Bears in the first
round, he played five years in Chicago and has played with the Miami
Dolphins since 1995. He currently serves as president of the NFL Players
Association.
Davies, a former Lady Gator golfer, joins the Florida Hall of Fame as UF's
all-time record holder for individual titles with nine. She helped lead
Florida to back-to-back NCAA team titles in 1985 and 1986 and was named
Southeastern Conference Player of the Year in 1987. She was named All-SEC
in each of her four years at Florida. Davies has spent the last 10 years
on the LPGA Tour.
Dunn was a three-year starter for the Gators at quarterback and free safety
from 1956-58. He led the Southeastern Conference in interceptions in 1957
and was named in the National UPI "Backfield of the Week" in the same year.
He also was the first quarterback in school history to defeat Georgia three
consecutive times. After graduation Dunn was offensive coordinator under
Doug Dickey at Tennessee and later served in the same capacity for Dickey
when he became head coach at Florida.
Fernandez has served the Florida football team since 1971, dedicating more
than 28 years of service to Gator football and the overall athletic
program. As the Director of Athletic Equipment, he is responsible for
supervising the athletic equipment needs for the University Athletic
Association and establishing inventory procedures. He also assists the
Athletic Director with special projects as an Assistant to the Athletic
Director. Prior to Florida, he retired as a command sergeant major after a
26-year military career.
Gorman, a four-time NCAA Champion, received 14 All-America honors during
her three-year Gator career. She won national titles in the 200-yard
butterfly (1989), 200-yard and 400-yard individual medley (1988) and
200-yard butterfly (1988). She also won seven SEC individual titles,
averaging 53 points for three years. She also earned three Academic All-SEC
honors.
Henderson, a guard from Coral Gables, Fla., stared for the Gators from
1963-65. He was named second team All-SEC by AP and UPI in 1964 and All-SEC
by the league coaches in 1965. He was also a second-team All-SEC selection
by UPI in 1965 and third-team by AP, as well as earning Helms Foundation
All-American honors in 1965. A fourth round pick in the 1965 NBA Draft by
Los Angeles, Henderson scored 1,001 career points in just three years of
varsity play - reaching the 1,000-point plateau ninth quickest in UF
history.
McCachren spent 22 years associated with the Flordia basketball program,
doubling as an assistant coach and head freshman coach. He joined the UF
coaching staff in 1949, assisting four different head coaches during his
tenure. Along with his basketball duties, he taught in the College of
Physical Education.
Oliver began his Gator football career as a walk-on and ended it as the one
of the most honored defensive back in school history. He became the first
Defensive back from UF to garner first team All-American honors in two
separate seasons (1987 & 1988) and was also named All-SEC choice in the
same two years. Oliver was one of three finalists for the Thorpe Defensive
Back of the Year award. In 1989 he signed with the Dolphins after being
drafted in the first round and started from 1990-1993.
Peace, a quarterback standout for UF, was a starter for the Gators midway
through his freshman year and held his position for the remainder of his
college career. He finished his career second on the SEC career charts in
total offense. After college he played for the Tampa Bay Bandits as part
of the USFL.
2000 Florida Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
Gator Greats
Trace Armstrong ( Football, 1988-89)
Karen Davies (Golf, 1986-89)
Julie Gorman (Swimming, 1986-89)
Brooks Henderson (Basketball 1963-65)
Louis Oliver (Football 1985-88)
Wayne Peace (Football, 1980-83)
Distinguished
Jimmy Dunn (Football, 1956-58)
Honorary
Bud Fernandez (Equipment, 1971-Present)
James McCachren (Basketball Coach and Professor, 1049-72)