COLUMBIA, S.C. (Feb. 26, 2024) – In addition to enshrining 10 more legends, the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame also will honor four individuals with special awards.
George Bennett of Clemson will be recognized with the prestigious Bobby Richardson Sportsmanship Award and Clyde Wrenn of Chester will be honored with the Willie Jeffries Ambassador for Sports Award as part of the 62nd annual South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Banquet on May 20 at the Columbia Convention Center.
Additionally, Otto German of Mount Pleasant will receive the Felix “Doc” Blanchard Citizen for Sports Award and Debbie Antonelli of Mount Pleasant will be bestowed the Herman Helms Excellence in Media Award.
“These four have risen to the top of their respective professions and have made and continue to make positive impacts on countless people around the country and recognition is due,” said Executive Director Andy Solomon.
GEORGE BENNETT 
THE BOBBY RICHARDSON SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
George Bennett has had a strong positive impact on Clemson University and its athletic department since he came to Clemson as a freshman in 1951. As the head cheerleader in 1955, he persuaded his father to buy a toy cannon so he could fire it after each Clemson touchdown. That tradition is still carried on today. He became Clemson’s first alumni field representative in 1967 and moved to the athletic department in 1977 as executive secretary of IPTAY. Annual contributions doubled during his first three years on the job. After seven years at Vanderbilt as associate athletic director for financial development, he returned to South Carolina as the athletic director at Furman. During his tenure, Furman won the Division I-AA national football championship in 1988. Bennett returned to Clemson as executive secretary of IPTAY in 1993 and held that position for 11 more years. Bennett was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 1986 and received the Clemson Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award in 1999. Two years later he received the Order of the Palmetto from the State of South Carolina. To this day the 90-year-old Bennett has continued to contribute to Clemson athletics in various capacities including narration of historical videos.
CLYDE WRENN
WILLIE JEFFRIES AMBASSADOR FOR SPORTS AWARD
Clyde Wrenn returned to the University of South Carolina’s football offices in 2016 having worked in the development arm of the Gamecocks’ athletics department. He has more than 30 years of high school, college and professional experience including years at USC as an assistant athletics director, football recruiting coordinator and later for high school relations, before leaving to pursue other opportunities. Prior to his return to Columbia, he spent one year as the director of football operations at Southern Miss under Ellis Johnson. A native of Chester, Wrenn was a football coach at the high school level for seven years and worked as the recruiting coordinator on the football staff at Clemson for 11 seasons. He also spent two years as a scout with the NFL’s Denver Broncos.
OTTO GERMAN 
THE DOC BLANCHARD CITIZEN FOR SPORTS AWARD
A basketball standout at Mt. Pleasant’s Moultrie High School, Otto German remained in the Holy City and became a four-year letter-winner for the College of Charleston (1970-73) playing for coach Alan LeForce. The College’s second Black student-athlete to earn a basketball scholarship, German, all-Dixie Conference selection in 1970, spent the next half-century at his alma mater serving in several key capacities, first in admissions and student affairs, and 28 years in athletic compliance. Upon his retirement, he was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 2023.
DEBBIE ANTONELLI 
HERMAN HELMS EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA AWARD
Mt. Pleasant resident Debbie Antonelli began her renowned broadcast career in 1987 and has called women’s and men’s basketball games for ESPN, ACC Network, Longhorn Network, and SEC Network, as well as CBS Sports, Fox Sports, RAYCOM Sports, Big Ten Network, NBA TV, and Westwood One. She has also served as a WNBA analyst with the Indiana Fever and Charlotte Sting. In 2017, she became the first female in 21 years to call an NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament game and has occupied the role for Turner Sports and CBS ever since. Antonelli, a three-year starter at North Carolina State, is a two-time Emmy Award winner and Gracie Award recipient for broadcast and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022 and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2021. She was recently recognized as a recipient of the 2024 Curt Gowdy Media Award and John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award during the NBA All-Star Weekend.
THE HALL OF FAME’S CLASS OF 2024
Being enshrined in the hall of fame this year are Oree Banks (SC State football coach), Allison Feaster of Chester (Harvard and pro basketball), Lucas Glover of Greenville (Clemson & PGA golf), Anthony Johnson of North Charleston (College of Charleston & NBA), Ivory Latta of McConnells (UNC basketball), Jack Leggett (Clemson baseball coach), William Partlow (Columbia basketball coach), Clifford Ray of Union (NBA player and coach), Tyler Thigpen of Winnsboro (Coastal Carolina and NFL). The 10 individuals will be forever enshrined with the state’s highest athletic honor.
The Induction Ceremony and Banquet is set for Monday, May 20, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. It is the largest annual celebration of Palmetto State sports stars under one roof. The tradition of recognizing past inductees, the “Walk of Legends,” is one of the event’s highlights. The affair, which includes a reception and dinner, begins at 5:30 p.m. Tables of eight may be purchased online at https://www.SCAHOF.org/banquet.
SOUTH CAROLINA ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME ANNUAL AWARDS AND PAST RECIPIENTS
WILLIE JEFFRIES AMBASSADOR FOR SPORTS AWARD
Named for the longtime head football coach at South Carolina State and SCAHOF inductee, the recipient should be someone who has brought great honor to the State of South Carolina, who has merited a high degree of national acclaim, and who has demonstrated consistent and spirited diplomacy in building friendship and coalitions that benefit others like his namesake.
2024 – Clyde Wrenn, Columbia
2023 – Hootie & the Blowfish, Charleston
2019 – Julian Smith, Charleston
2018 – Sam Wyche, Greenville
2017 – Fisher DeBerry, Isle of Palms
2015 – Dawn Staley, Columbia
2014 – Mike Veeck, Charleston
2013 – John Rhodes, Myrtle Beach
2012 – Steve Wilmot, Hilton Head Island
2011 – Ray Tanner, Columbia
BOBBY RICHARDSON SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Named for the Sumter native who played second base for the New York Yankees in the late 1950s and early 1960s, this award reflects the personal character and moral strength of its namesake. The recipient should emerge from a proposed list of individuals who have edified the qualities of perseverance, teamwork, mentorship and sportsmanship. High moral character is essential.
2024 – George Bennett, Clemson
2023 – Charlie Dayton, Hilton Head Island
2018 – Tim Bourret, Clemson
2017 – Danny Morrison, Charlotte
2015 – The Jacobs Family, Clinton
2014 – Billy D’Andrea, Clemson
2012 – Bobby Cremins, Charleston
2011 – Les Robinson, Sullivan’s Island
2010 – Armanti Edwards, Greenwood
2008 – Andre Roberts, Columbia
2006 – Sam Gado, Columbia
2005 – Kevin Kimery, Columbia
DOC BLANCHARD CITIZEN FOR SPORTS AWARD
Named for the native South Carolinian who captured the Heisman Trophy while at West Point, this award is not necessarily for an athlete, coach or administrator; however, the recipient must have demonstrated a history of support for athletic endeavors that have benefitted the State of South Carolina. The perception is that this person has performed both behind-the-scenes and in leadership roles to advance the value of athletic endeavors in a community or across the State.
2024 – Otto German, Mount Pleasant
2023 – Rex Maynard, Belton
2018 – Louis Sossamon, Gaffney
2017 – Joseph P. Riley, Jr., Charleston
2015 – Gregg Nibert, Clinton
2011 – Shrine Centers of the Carolinas
2010 – Judge Sol Blatt, Jr., Charleston
HERMAN HELMS EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA AWARD
Named for the longtime sports editor of The State newspaper and co-founder of this organization, the recipient is selected from the very best of various media outlets covering sports within South Carolina. The media representative should exude impeccable fairness and dedicated service to the integrity of the industry.
2024 – Debbie Antonelli, Mount Pleasant
2023 – Willie T. Smith, III, Greenville
2019 – Bob Gillespie, Orangeburg
2018 – Phil Kornblut, Latta
2016 – Bob Spear, Columbia
2015 – Warren Peper, Charleston
2014 – Rick Henry, Columbia
2013 – Ken Burger, Charleston
2012 – Bill Hamilton, Orangeburg
2011 – Ron Morris, Columbia
DOM FUSCI LEADERSHIP IN ACTION AWARD
Named in memory of our longtime board member and inductee, this award is for the individual who is a driving force behind the annual operations and camaraderie of the SCAHOF. The recipient should be recognized amongst peers for service that has profoundly advanced the functionality of the SCAHOF. Typically, this person is an active and indispensable member of the SCAHOF.
2023 – Doug Bridges, Blythewood
2019 – Kay Fortune, Columbia
2018 – Paul Kennemore, Greenwood
2017 – Jay Pitts, Lexington
2016 – Julian Gibbons, Columbia
2015 – Sonny Dickinson, Columbia
2014 – Dennis Powell, Columbia
2013 – Jeff Grantz, Columbia
2012 – Ken Wheat, Columbia