The Chesapeake Sports Club Legends of Honor Award was established to honor outstanding athletes, coaches, and individuals for their athletic performance, leadership and or contributions to athletics in Chesapeake. The club will present the following 11 Posthumous Legends of Honor Awards at the February luncheon.
Elizabeth Smith Burton – From 1954 to 1990 she taught and coached at Oscar Smith High School. In the late 50s and early 60s she was instrumental in the formation of the Girls’ Athletic Association which was established for girls to compete in the intramural sports of field hockey, basketball, volleyball, softball and eventually soccer.
Colonel Noah Byrum, Jr. – While attending Oscar Smith High School, Noah participated and lettered in three sports: football, baseball and track. He was inducted into the Oscar Smith High School Athletic Hall of Fame for the sport of football. He was recognized as All Eastern District, All Tidewater Second Team, All Metropolitan, and All State Honorable Mention.
Charles Clinton Caldwell II – For 15 years, Charlie taught and coached football at local high schools, including Norview, Deep Creek, Oscar Smith and Kellam. During the 1960s, Coach Caldwell lead the Oscar Smith Tiger football team to their most successful 4 years of football to that date and the first Eastern District Championship.
Grayson and Lila Inman -It is hard to discuss the history of South Norfolk or Oscar Smith High athletics without bringing up the name of the Inman family. Grayson and Lila Inman, along with their sons, Tommy, Willy, Binky, and Bobby are major contributors to the long and storied history of South Norfolk Sports.
Byron G. “Binky” Inman -While attending Oscar Smith High School, Binky played four years on the varsity baseball team, and played varsity basketball and ran cross country. In baseball Binky played 2nd base and his brother Willie played Short Stop. What a combination that was. The Inman Boys were a big part of the sports scene in South Norfolk and, of course, it all started with Mr. and Mrs. Inman’ s sports mindedness and enthusiasm.
James Harvey “Willy” Inman – Willy played four years varsity baseball at Oscar Smith High School, served as the co-captain of the basketball team and played varsity football for two years. He was an outstanding member of the Oscar Smith football team that won the Eastern District Football Championship in 1964. He was inducted into the Oscar Smith Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 1964 Championship football team.
Thomas Grayson Inman, Jr. – Tommy’s parents were a great influence on his life. He played all sports as a child and his special abilities in baseball and basketball soon became evident. He was the Captain and MVP in both basketball and baseball at Oscar Smith High. He had a promising career ahead of him on the college level until an automobile accident cut short his plans.
William Henry “Jigs” Miller – William “Jigs” Miller played quarterback for Carver High School in South Norfolk as well as St. Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Virginia. He became a teacher at Surry High School in 1967 and remained there until 1999. He was the head Cougar football and baseball coach from 1974 to 1992 and was the assistant head coach in 1995. His name today appears on the Surry High Football Stadium and Sportsplex.
William Hoyt Overton – Billy spent much of his youth at Cascade Park playing football whenever he could and was on the midget football team during his youth. At Oscar Smith High School, he participated in track, football and basketball. He was given the game ball after the Oscar Smith/Jefferson Sr. football game in 1961 and a basketball trophy from the South Norfolk Sports Club for most valuable player in the 1961-62 season.
Constance Pendleton – Connie graduated from Great Bridge High School in 1949 after completing 11 grades with honors. She played varsity basketball, track and softball during her high school years and was an outstanding student athlete in all of the sports. She organized the Girls Athletic Association in basketball, field hockey, softball and track while teaching at Great Bridge.