Edward M. Armfield '37 Armfield, a single wing blocking back and defensive halfback, made the most of Davidson's first year as a member of the Southern Conference. He scored nine touchdowns and 54 points to win the Southern Conference football scoring title. He accomplished that with a touchdown in a 19-6 win over Wake Forest in the Wildcats' final game. He scored the only touchdown in a 6-2 win over N.C. State and also had three touchdowns in a 38-13 victory over VMI. In those days it was unusual for a blocking back to score a lot of points. Armfield was the beneficiary of a play specially designed by coaches Gene McEver and Doc Newton. He also played one year of baseball for the Wildcats. He was the 1991 recipient of the James P. Hendrix Award, which is presented to the Davidson College football letterman who by use of the lessons learned on the playing field has gone on to achieve outstanding success in his chosen profession. Formerly vice chairman of the board of Armtex, Inc. of Greensboro, a company he founded in 1946, Armfield passed away in July of 1999.
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Prosser S. Carnegie '50 Carnegie's influence was evident at every turn when Davidson set a record in 1990-1991 for athletics fund raising with more than $600,000. At the 20-year mark in his career as Executive Director in 1972 the Wildcat Club (now DAF) had raised more than $6 million and Carnegie's contributions to Davidson had spanned nearly 50 years. He came to Davidson in 1946 after serving in World War II with the 30th Infantry Division. Carnegie was as four-year starter at offensive guard and defensive tackle. The 'Cats were sixth nationally in total defense in 1946 and fourth in 1947. He counts Oct. 8, 1949, among his proudest days. He played in the Wildcats' 20-14 victory over N.C. State at Charlotte. Only a few blocks away, his daughter, Helen, was born. Carnegie was one of several players who came to Davidson in 1946 with Coach Bill Story from Granby High School in Norfolk. The water boy of Carnegie's teams at Granby was Charles G. "Lefty" Driesell, who later coached Davidson basketball to a number of top 10 finishes in the 1960s. Sadly, Carnegie passed away in June of 1996 at the age of 70.
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Richard S. Johnson '37 Johnson, like Ed Armfield, capitalized on Davidson's newly-gained membership in the Southern Conference in 1936. Johnson played offensive guard and defensive line for the Wildcats and in 1936 was the school's first All-Southern Conference selection. After Johnson in 1936, it would be 30 years before the 'Cats had another all-league player. Johnson was second team All-American in 1936 and All-State in 1935 and 1936. In track, Johnson participated in track, specializing in the javelin and discus. It is fitting that Armfield should enter Davidson's Hall of Fame together. They were classmates at McCallie School in Chattanooga before enrolling at Davidson. Johnson considered the rigors of playing offense and defense (rules permitted only one substitution per quarter) as good training for his 30-year career as a Marine Corps Officer. Johnson, who passed away in 1993, participated in three wars - World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam - in his military career. He reached the rank of full colonel.
| Charles W. Parker '38 Several areas in the Baker Sports Complex on the Davidson Campus are testimony to the impact Charlie Parker had on wrestling at Davidson College. The Charles W. Parker Wrestling Room and the Wildcats' dressing room were both given in his honor by former Davidson wrestlers. Except for a five-year break with the U.S. Army Air Corp in World War II, Parker spent four decades as the Wildcats' wrestling coach. One of the highlights of his career was in 1963 when he coached the U.S. wrestling team in the Pan-American games in Brazil. He served in several national amateur wrestling associations, including the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Committee (1959-1960) and the National AAU Committee. Parker edited the NCAA Wrestling Guide and was secretary-treasurer of the Carolina Wrestling Officials Association. He was a certified international wrestling official and a charter member of the National Athletic Trainers Association. |
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