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Archibald W. Archer '47 Archer '47 is legendary for his accomplishments in tennis. As a junior he led the Wildcats to an 8-0 record. He played No. 1 and led Davidson to a 13-4 record as a senior. He's been prominent on the national tennis scene since he graduated, winning a number of championships in his age bracket. One of his most remarkable achievements came in 1974 when Archer defeated Bobby Riggs for the National 60 Clay Court Championship and then teamed with Riggs for the doubles title. He was inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1977. Like many students of his day, Archer was a two-sport athlete and played football.
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George W. Cheek '49 Cheek '49 excelled in two sports - football and basketball - at Davidson and was instrumental in one of the Wildcats' most successful basketball eras. He led Davidson to records of 17-8, 19-9, and 18-8 (54-25) in his three seasons with the Wildcats. Cheek was the first Davidson player to score 1,000 points in his career (including a freshman season at Tulane). He was an All-State and All-Southern Conference selection as a center in basketball and a third team Helms Foundation All-American selection in 1949. Cheek played offensive and defensive end for the 'Cats in football. He led his team with 16 receptions in 1948.
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Hollis F. Cobb '56 To understand the impact Cobb '56 had on Davidson basketball, all one needs to do is look at the retired basketball jerseys hanging in John M. Belk Arena. Cobb's No. 21 is one of five. He scored 1,409 career points for the Wildcats and ranks eighth on teh school's all-time scoring list. When he graduated in 1956, Cobb was Davidson's all time leading scorer. He also held the school record for points in a game (39 against Guilford), field goals in a game and career, best shooting percentage and most free throws made in a game. Before entering Davidson, Cobb was a first team All-State selection at Charlotte Central High.
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James P. Hendrix '25 Hendrix '25 starred in football and track at Davidson and later became one of the nation's leaders in internal medicine. At Davidson he was the student body president and starred on the 1924 football team, which finished 7-2-1 and matched the school record (since broken) for most victories in a season. The James P. Hendrix Award - one of the school's highest athletic awards - is presented in his honor. He served as National Alumni Association President and as a Davidson Trustee for 15 years. Dr. Hendrix was Professor Emeritus at Duke University School of Medicine and professor of pharmacology and therapeutics and for 20 years was a research member for the Encyclopedia Americana Annual.
| Michael G. Kelly '70 Kelly '70 made outstanding contributions to Davidson as a wide receiver in football and as a catcher in baseball. In 1969 Kelly was one of the standouts on what many regard as the school's best football team. The Wildcats finished 7-4, won the Southern Conference championship and went to the Tangerine (now Citrus) Bowl. Kelly was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals and played five seasons in the National Football League with Cincinnati and New Orleans. Kelly caught 156 passes in three seasons for the Wildcats and still ranks ninth on the NCAA all-time list for catches per game (6.8). Kelly twice was named All-Southern Conference. He caught 76 passes to lead the '69 team and rank fifth nationally. Kelly was a hometown product who starred at North Mecklenburg High and was a star for North Carolina in the Shrine Bowl game.
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Martin L. Lafferty '38 Lafferty '38 made a lasting impression on the field and off as a two-sports standout in football and baseball, and student body president in 1938. He was selected All-State and honorable mention All-American in football and the 1938 Quips and Cranks said he "played a brilliant quarterback to win national recognition and served as a capable Student Body President. Unbelievedly modest about it all." His football accomplishments in 1936 were remarkable. Lafferty accounted for two touchdowns in a 38-13 victory over VMI, ran 45 yards for a touchdown to help beat The Citadel, scored a TD against North Carolina and had a hand in three of the team's four scores in a 27-0 victory over Centre. He also scored two of the three touchdowns in a 19-7 victory over Wake Forest.
| Shirley S. Wilson '50 Wilson '50 played center in football and was a catcher for the Wildcats' baseball team. He's one of two former Davidson standouts who have been selected to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. After graduating from Davidson, Wilson established an outstanding record as a football coach in high school and on the collegiate level at Duke and Elon. He was 74-32-2 at Duke and Elon. His Elon teams won six conference championships and advanced to the championship game of the 1973 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics playoffs. After Fayetteville High and Winston-Salem Reynolds High, Wilson had a record of 138-38-11, including two state championships and three undefeated teams.
| William Younger '19 Younger '19 made outstanding contributions to Davidson as a player and coach. He was a student at Davidson for only one year (1915-16) but earned four letters in football, basketball, track, and baseball. Younger transferred the following year to Virginia Tech, where he continued as a multiple sports standout. Younger returned to Davidson in 1923 as athletic director and head coach in football, basketball, and baseball. His 1926 football team finished 7-2-1 and won the state championship, going undefeated against Duke, North Carolina, Wake Forest and N.C. State. Younger returned to VPI in 1932 as head coach in basketball and baseball and assistant coach in football. He was athletic director at VPI from 1935 until 1950. Younger's records in football and basketball at Davidson are still among the best in school history. His football teams were 44-38-7 and the basketball teams were 83-62 in nine seasons. He is in the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and the VPI Sports Hall of Fame. Younger died in 1977 at age 82.
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