VIRGINIA SPORTS HALL UPGRADED BY NUNNALLY ADDITION

 Finally … at last … all’s well that ends … with Hal Nunnally going into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

For reasons never articulated, the late Randolph-Macon College 

basketball coach was by-passed for a long time … too long as far as 

former rivals and players as well as anyone who knew and recognized 

the genius of the man could understand.

In fact, because nominations last only five years, his had to be re-

submitted at least once before the Honors Committee -- which makes 

the final choices – was moved to do the right thing. We’re told Phil 

Stanton, legendary R-MC sports information director, made a 

thorough presentation to the committee ... that included making sure 

every member was aware of former Maryland coach Gary Williams’ 

heart-felt, best-we’ve-ever-seen letter of its kind on Nunnally’s behalf.

Even so, despite having credentials that can only be described as first-

ballot, Nunnally wasn’t a lock for admittance this time either … being 

bypassed in his category before becoming one of three at-large 

inductees in the nine-member class, largest in state hall history.

And, said Stanton, who replaced R-MC athletic director Jeff Burns on 

the 50-man honors committee, “It was close … really close.”

Nunnally spent three years on Paul Webb’s staff at Randolph-Macon 

as JV coach – his teams finished 38-6 – and varsity assistant before 

replacing him starting with the 1975-76 campaign when Webb left for 

Old Dominion University. In Nunnally’s second season, the Yellow 

Jackets were NCAA Division II runners-up after being the last named 

to the 32-team field.

In all, Nunnally had a record of 431-232 in 24 years in charge of the 

R-MC program … with 20 winning seasons and 10 of 20 wins or 

more. He was a 10-times coach of the year … and named to the 

Ashland-based school’s hall of fame.

From Petersburg, Nunnally (R-MC, ‘62) is one of only four college 

coaches to win 400 games in Virginia. Among the others – Dave 

Robbins (Virginia Union: 713-194, 30 years), Tony Shaver 

(Hampden-Sydney/William & Mary: 584-388, 33 years) and Webb (R-

MC/ODU: 511-257, 29 years) – only Shaver has been ignored by the 

Virginia HOF. Webb, 94, was inducted in 1993, Robbins, 81, in 2010.

“I don’t care who you talked to … who knew anything about sports … 

whenever I mentioned Coach Nunnally wasn’t in the state hall of fame 

… I always got the same reaction: ‘He isn’t? You’ve got to be kidding 

me!’” said Richmond’s Reed O’Brien (R-MC, ‘78).

It was O’Brien along Dave Meleski (‘81) and Paul Gartlan (‘81) who 

were at the forefront in recent years attempting to right a wrong and 

get their former coach into the state hall – where he belonged – by 

exerting whatever pressure they could.

“I wouldn’t call it pressure,” said Will Driscoll, the hall’s executive 

director and voting member of the Honors Committee. “But, I can say 

the group behind Nunnally was large and very passionate.”

It should be noted that a few months ago Driscoll said he thought the 

2024 induction ceremony … being held at the new Henrico Events 

Center for the first time … should help nominees from the Central 

Virginia area like Nunnally and former Richmond Newspapers sports 

writer and columnist Paul Woody, who also was included in the class 

of ‘24.

Think about it. This will mark the first time in 52 years that the state 

hall will hold its induction ceremony outside the Hampton 

Roads/Tidewater area … and sponsors need a large turnout for the 

two-day event (April 19-20) to be successful ... and be held here again. 

Chances are they won’t be disappointed.

For sure there will be a large contingent from Randolph-Macon. 

Gartlan is compiling a list of names and addresses to make people 

aware of the event. Walter Westbrook, who played for Nunnally at 

Tidewater Academy in Wakefield and later became the private 

school’s athletic director, is putting together a similar list of people 

from the Petersburg area. “It’s very encouraging to see their passion 

continues,” Driscoll said.

Williams will be there, Gartlan said. He also hopes other coaches – 

like Dave Odom, J.D. Barnett and Mike Pollio -- who wrote letters 

to the committee will find time to come, too.

H. Winston Nunnally II died Nov. 10, 2004 at age 65 … of a heart 

attack … although ill health, which forced him to retire prematurely in 

1999, had been a problem for some time.

We can only imagine how many wins would have been added had his 

body not betrayed him. Nunnally, after all, was a hoops lifer for whom 

eating, big cigars and reading (history books, primarily) were close 

seconds.

Now, for Gartlan, comes the tough part. He’s been asked to accept the 

award on Nunnally’s behalf, and this self-made millionaire wants to 

make sure he does the occasion justice.

“I want people to know about [Nunnally], the man. The record speaks 

for itself,” Gartlan said long distance from Costa Rica.

He gave the eulogy at Nunnally’s funeral … but that was almost two 

decades ago. One thing is for sure: He won’t mention the hall of 

fame’s long, hard-to-understand exclusion of the man who meant so 

much to so many people … most of all his players.

“It’s done … water over the dam,” Gartlan said.

Oh, and some of you who fought the good (winning) fight can expect 

a call between now and April, Gartlan said. “I want them to tell me 

why [Nunnally] was so special to them. I know how special he was to 

me.”

Until next time ...