Thompson S. Baker '26 Baker, Chairman Emeritus of Florida Rock Industries, Inc., played end during the most successful years in Davidson football history. The Wildcats finished 7-2-1 and 6-2-2 in his last two seasons and had victories over Duke, N.C. State and Clemson. Baker was named to the All-State team as a junior and senior. Baker, also a leader off the field, was student body vice president as a junior and president as a senior. Baker Sports Complex, home to Davidson Athletics, is named for the Baker Family.
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John Belk '43 Belk, Chairman of the Board of Belk Stores Services, Inc., was a four-year starter on Davidson's basketball teams from 1939 to 1943. he was a center and captain and known as "Long John". Davidson's 1943 team finished 18-6 and gave the Wildcats their first win ever in the Southern Conference tournament when they defeated N.C. State. The Wildcats' arena is named in Belk's honor. A former Charlotte mayor and noted retailer, Belk has maintained continual involvement with Davidson since his graduation. He served on the Board of Trustees (1959-1972 and 1985-present) and was Honorary National Chairman of the $250 million Campaign for Davidson. Belk was instrumental in promoting college basketball in the Original Charlotte Coliseum and a pioneer in helping bring NCAA, Southern Conference and ACC basketball to Charlotte.
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Mike Mikolayunas '70 It's been nearly 30 years since Mikolayunas played a football game for the Wildcats but his name still holds several prominent places in the Davidson College and Southern Conference record books. In fact, he's still 17th on the NCAA rankings for career receptions per game (6.0) and 25th on the career reception list (175) and he did that in three seasons before freshmen were eligible for varsity athletics. He led all NCAA receivers in 1970 with 87 catches. That's still a school record. He also caught 17 passes against Richmond his junior year, representing both a school and conference record. Mikolayunas was drafted by Baltimore and played parts of two seasons for the Colts. He was an assistant coach at UCLA when he died in 1979 at age 30.
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Sarah Womack Parham '80 Parham, Director of Psychosocial Club House, Catawba County Mental Health Services, set 18 school records in her four-year career fro 1977 through 1980 and she's the only female athlete whose jersey is retired. When she graduated in 1980, Womack's school records included most career points (1250) and rebounds (601). Still second in career points, she's the all-time leader in points per game (16.7) and field goals (556). She also holds the single game and season records for field goals. She received the Rebecca Stimson Award in 1980 as the college's most outstanding female athlete. |
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