Football | 11/8/2022 12:34:00 PM
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) announced today the names being enshrined into the Hall of Fame Class of 2022, with two former Alcorn State University student-athletes earning the distinction as announced by the conference office in Birmingham, Alabama. Lawrence "Larry" Watkins and Ella Williams have been selected to this year's class from Alcorn.
The 2022 SWAC Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony is set to take place at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. EST.
"We're extremely excited to welcome another stellar class into the SWAC Hall of Fame," said SWAC Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland. "We look forward to formally recognizing each of their respective contributions to our league at the upcoming SWAC Hall of Fame Ceremony in Atlanta."
Ella Williams was a four-year letterwinner for Alcorn Women's Basketball from 1980-84.
As a three-time all-conference honoree (1981-82, '82-'83, '83-'84), Williams was named the SWAC Player of the Year as a senior following the 1983-84 season. She joined the Braves' record book as an all-time leading scorer with 2,111 points and rebounder with 1,058 boards in her stellar career. In addition, she recorded the most points (791), tallied the highest points per game average (26.4), while also setting marks in field goals made (320), and rebounds with 291 (3rd – 1983-84) and 265 (7th – 1981-82).
"Ella Williams played with a passion and desire here at Alcorn that was expected and demanded of by legendary head coach Shirley Walker," said Raynoid Dedeaux, Alcorn Director of Athletics. "Not only was she a prolific scorer, but she was also an outstanding rebounder of the ball."
Lawrence "Larry" Watkins is being enshrined and dubbed a Legend by the SWAC in this year's Hall of Fame Class.
Watkins became a member of the first football class recruited by the late legendary coach Marino H. Casem at Alcorn. During his four years on the Lorman-based campus, Watkins managed to break many barriers and shatter numerous glass ceilings. Some of Watkins' stellar accomplishments include being named Co-Captain of the football team. Other honors that he received include helping Alcorn win its first SWAC Championship in 1968.
In 1969, Lawrence signed his first contract as a free agent with the Detroit Lions. His hard-hitting blocking became an asset for each team that he would have the privilege to play on for a total of nine (9) seasons. During his football career in the National Football League, he played with the following football clubs/teams: Detroit Lions (1969), Philadelphia Eagles (1970-1972), Buffalo Bills (1973-1974) and New York Giants (1975-1977).
"Everyone remembers trailblazers, and that's exactly what Larry Watkins was – not only on the collegiate level at Alcorn, but in his time on the NFL level as well," remarked Dedeaux. "He always did the little things that may have gone unnoticed by the average fan, but certainly not by coaches and players. He was the guy that wasn't afraid to block, and he, I think, enjoyed it. Having spent nine years on the highest level of the sport proves others enjoyed and appreciated it as well."
Other honorees into this year's SWAC Hall of Fame Class include Alabama State's Rickey Jones, Grambling State's Robert J. Williams – Legend, Mississippi Valley State's Jerome Blake along with Robert "Hitman" Gaddis – Legend, and Southern's Rickie Weeks.
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About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, and Tennis.
Women's competitions are offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Volleyball.
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or visit the official website of the SWAC at
www.swac.org.
