The West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences will induct five graduates into its 2012 Hall of Fame and name its 2012 Outstanding Alumnus at a ceremony at the Erickson Alumni Center, Friday, Oct. 12.

The event will mark the 25th anniversary of CPASS’ Hall of Fame. A reception will be held from 6-7 p.m., and the formal induction ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.

Those to be inducted into the 2012 Hall of Fame are: Linda Carson, George Nedeff, Samuel Pinion, Alfred Purello and Leon Ryan. The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will conclude with the 2012 Outstanding Alumnus Award presented to Stephen L. Douglas.

The College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences is proud to add the names of this year’s class of inductees to its growing list of outstanding alumni. More than 115 alumni have previously been inducted into the College’s Hall of Fame.

Ferris Antoon and Anita Fleming and John Fleming will receive the 2012 Dean’s Service Award for their ongoing dedication and support of the College.

To be eligible for nomination, an individual must hold a degree awarded by CPASS or a certification in Athletic Training prior to 1997; have been a faculty or staff member; and have made significant contributions to the College, their profession, and or society. Those presently employed by the College are not eligible.

Brief bios for the honorees follow:

Linda Carson , the Ware Distinguished Professor Emerita at WVU, served on the faculty of CPASS for 30 years. Dr. Carson is the founder and CEO of Choosy Kids, LLC, a West Virginia company devoted to developing healthy habits early in life. Choosy Kids quickly grew into a highly regarded source for professional development training and educational resources for child care, early childhood educators, and allied health professionals. Choosy Kids has partnered with Lakeshore Learning Materials, to develop and distribute educational products and training to teachers and families nationally and internationally.

Dr. Carson and Choosy Kids are currently providing services and support for “Choose to Change,” a 4.8 million dollar USDA grant awarded to WVU to promote healthy lifestyles for West Virginia families and their young children. She also serves on the advisory board of the Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play. Dr. Carson has received many honors and awards for distinguished service to teaching and health promotion. She has devoted her career to promoting healthy preferences for young children and the adults who make decisions on their behalf.

George Nedeff graduated from Parkersburg High School, where he was named captain of the West Virginia High School all-state football team and was a state heavyweight wrestling champion. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from WVU’s School of Physical Education in 1963 and his master’s degree in secondary education from WVU in 1965. While enrolled at WVU, he was captain of the wrestling team and a letterman in football. Nedeff became an ordained Catholic priest in 2007 and is currently serving as a parochial vicar at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Robstown, Texas.

Nedeff served as WVU’s wrestling coach from 1967-1972 and director of athletic facilities from 1972-1997. He was inducted into the WVU Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1990 and awarded the WVU Presidential Safety Award in 1996. He is the author of “The Emergence of High School Wrestling in West Virginia” and received the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s “Outstanding American” award in 2008. Each year, the WVU Wrestling team awards the “George Nedeff Outstanding Wrestler Award” in his honor.

Sam Pinion, an all-state football player at Wheeling High School, moved on to WVU where he became a three-year letterman. At 5-foot-5, 128 pounds, Pinion was reportedly the smallest player in Mountaineer football history.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree from WVU in 1940, he returned to Wheeling High for one year as a freshman coach in football, basketball and track. He then went on to serve four years in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. Discharged in 1946, Pinion returned to Morgantown and helped organize West Virginians Inc., a public fund-raising unit that was a precursor to the Mountaineer Athletic Club. Pinion was in charge of gathering money for athletic scholarships from all over the state.

Pinion held a varied background in state athletic circles and was appointed an alumni representative on WVU’s Athletic Council. He was actively involved with the Morgantown Touchdown Club, the Pines Country Club in Morgantown, the U.S. Olympic Committee in West Virginia, and the West Virginia Sportswriters Association. He passed away in October 2005.

Leon Ryan, a native of Newark, Del., earned his undergraduate degree from WVU in 1978, where he was also a member of the swimming and diving team. He then joined the coaching staff of Marshall University as assistant swimming coach and helped recruit to enable the Thundering Herd to become Southern Conference Champions. While at Marshall, Ryan earned a master’s degree in Sports Administration.

In 2009, Ryan joined the University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics staff as associate athletic director for development with more than twenty-five years of experience in financial planning and wealth management. At UAB, Ryan was responsible for coordinating major gifts and planned giving efforts for athletics.
Ryan became General Manager for Blazer IMG Sports Marketing in March of 2011.

Alfred Purello earned his bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education from WVU in 1952. He then went on to earn his law degree from Union University, Albany Law School, Albany, NY. After his career at WVU, Purello served in the United States Air Force in a variety of assignments. While in Europe he was involved in the athletic programs in his command.

While serving in the military, Purello started his pursuit of a law degree. Although retired, he continues to work as a pro bono attorney in New York, helping family, friends and those in need.

Stephen L. Douglas earned his bachelor’s degree from WVU’s P.I. Reed School of Journalism in 1974 and his master’s degree from the WVU School of Physical Education in sports administration. The Clarksburg native has been a professional in the alumni relations and institutional advancement field since 1977.

Douglas was named executive director of the WVU Alumni Association in 1988 and has led the organization to unprecedented growth. Under his tenure, investments and assets of the Alumni Association have increased by 500 percent, while new projects and enhanced programs were responsible for retiring the mortgage of the Alumni Center in only five years.

Douglas returned to WVU in 1982 as associate director of the WVU Alumni Association and held that position until 1988 when he was selected executive director. He has received numerous professional and individual awards and honors and is only the seventh alumni director in an organization that was founded more than 125 years ago. He is a member numerous University and alumni-related committees such as the University President’s Committee, the Honorary Degrees Committee and the Order of Vandalia Committee.

-WVU-

10/09/12

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CONTACT: Kimberly Cameon, CPASS
304-293-0827, Kimberly.Cameon@mail.wvu.edu