April 15, 2008

The Southwestern University Athletic Department inducted Dwight L. Haley, Kimberly Long Harmer, Marvin D. Henderson and the 1981 volleyball team during a ceremony on Saturday (Apr. 12).

Haley was an outstanding football and baseball player at Tyler High School. Turning down football scholarship offerings, he enrolled at Southwestern University in the fall of l959. He was an outstanding catcher until injury forced him to move to center field where he promptly earned three All-Conference honors. As one of the leaders of the l963 conference championship team, he batted .333. He maintained a batting average of above .300 for four straight years and was the conference leader in stolen bases.

As a member of the track team, he led the Pirates to the conference championship in l960, winning the 100, 220, long jump, and anchored the winning 440 relay team. The next two years he was undefeated in the 100, 220, long jump and the 440 relay. After completing his eligibility, he went on to a successful business career including serving as a Vice-President with Packaging Corporation of America for 22 years. Throughout his athletic and business careers he has been recognized as a person of tremendous integrity and character and has brought great distinction to Southwestern.

Harmer currently stands as the only three-time All-American, male or female, in the history of Southwestern University intercollegiate athletics. During her career, Kimberly helped lead her team to the NAIA National Tournament three times, highlighted by a third place finish in the National Tournament in 1989. The other two appearances were almost as impressive with both the 1988 and the 1991 teams finishing tied for fifth in the nation. The teams that Kimberly played on during her four year career had a combined record of 143 wins against only 42 losses.

Along the way, Kimberly served as a team captain and garnered multiple individual awards as she was named to the NAIA All-America Teams in 1988, 1990, and 1991. The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) named her as a 1st Team All-American in both 1988 and 1989. She also received multiple All-Tournament honors, including being named All-Tournament at the NAIA National Championship. Kimberly graduated from Southwestern University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Henderson was a four-year member of Southwestern University's varsity tennis team, lettering his last two years. After graduating from Southwestern in 1941, Marvin joined the U.S. Navy and served during the Korean War. After the war Marvin really got serious about competitive tennis as he took on the Texas tennis circuit. He has become legendary on the courts of Texas and since 1981 has held thirty-six state rankings which includes twelve rankings at #1 and ten at #2. With wife Ouida by his side, he has played extensively on the USTA Senior Tour, racking up many awards and memories which include competing against such tennis legends as Bobby Riggs and Bob Sherman.

Marvin has earned over 36 USTA National Rankings since 1981 including four rankings at #2 in the nation for his age group. He has won at least five Gold Balls (USTA National Champion) and at least 12 Silver Balls (USTA National Runner-Up). Since playing for the Southwestern University Pirates, Marvin has truly served as an ambassador for the ideals of intercollegiate athletics and the high standards of Southwestern University.

The 1981 volleyball team was the Runner-Up at the NAIA National Championship tournament, the best finish ever for a Southwestern volleyball team. En route to the National Championship tournament, the 1981 Pirates won the Big State Conference Championship, the District Championship and then the Bi-District Championship. The team was coached by current Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Glada Munt and compiled a record of 45 wins and 11 losses.

The team also had three players named both NAIA All-America and to the NAIA National Championship All-Tournament Team. They were Jeanne Bulla, Alfie Vela Perrin and Robyn Hall Spencer. The 1981 volleyball team is the first Southwestern University team to be inducted to the SU Hall of Fame.