Eastern Michigan Athletics
Hall of Fame Weekend at Eastern Michigan
2/13/2014 1:55:00 PM | General, E-Club
Ceremony will be held Saturday, Feb. 15, in the EMU Student Center
More Information About the E-Club.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University E-Club Alumni Chapter, a group of former EMU varsity athletic letterwinners, welcomes seven new members into the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame this weekend. The Class of 2013 will be honored at the Hall of Fame ceremony Saturday, Feb. 15, in the EMU Student Center on campus.
The Class of 2013 includes: Dennis Betts (men's swimming), Earl Boykins (men's basketball), Joyann Clarke (women's track and field), Wondella Devers (women's basketball/track), Derrick Dial (men's basketball), Eugene Smith (administrator) and Don Stewart (men's basketball/football).
In addition to the Hall of Fame inductees, the E-Club will present Ken Behmer with the Ron Oestrike Distinguished Service Award. The award, named after former EMU baseball-coaching legend Ron Oestrike, was first presented at the 2008 Hall of Fame ceremony to Oestrike. The award was developed to reward outstanding service to the Athletic department, E Club and Athletic Club.
This year's class will mark the 38th anniversary of the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. followed immediately by a buffet luncheon. The Class of 2013 will then be recognized during the EMU basketball doubleheader at the Convocation Center at 2 p.m. The men's team tangles with the University of Toledo followed by the women's squad hosting Bowling Green State University.
Tickets for the Hall of Fame ceremony and luncheon, which also includes tickets for the men's and women's basketball game at the Convocation Center that same day, are $45 each and can be purchased by calling the EMU Office for Alumni Relations at 734.487.0250.
Eastern Michigan University Athletics Hall of Fame 2013 Biographies
DENNIS O. BETTS - Men's Swimming
Dennis Betts was a four-year letter winner for the EMU men's swim team. A three sport varsity letter winner, he was the EMU team captain for three years (1967-1969); sophomore year – tri-captain, junior year – co-captain, senior year – captain. Betts earned NAIA All-American honors three times (1967-1969).
A former record holder in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke and the 200- and 400-yard medley relay team, Betts was a member of the 1966-67 team, finishing third at the NAIA National Championship. He also helped lead the men's team to the NAIA National Championship in both 1967-68 and 1968-69.
In 1967, he was among the first NAIA All-American swimmers at EMU as a member of the 400-yard medley relay team. Betts also helped lead the team to a four-year record of 42-14. In 1969, he was a member of the NAIA National Champion 400-yard medley relay team, setting an EMU and a NAIA record. Then in 1969, he set an EMU and a NAIA record in the 200-yard breaststroke as well as an EMU Record in the 100-yard breaststroke. He was also a member of the 1970 NAIA National Championship Team as an assistant coach under EMU Hall of Fame Coach, Mike Jones.
After graduating from EMU in 1971, Betts spent 26 years in law enforcement, retiring from the Michigan State Police in 2001. He represented the Michigan State Police at several state and international Police & Fire Olympics, winning Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in swimming competitions.
Betts is also a member of the EMU Arm of Honor Fraternity.
EARL BOYKINS - Men's Basketball
Earl Boykins was a four-year starter on the EMU men's basketball team. He led EMU to a four-year record of 87-36, two NCAA Tournament appearances and one NIT post-season tournament.
In 1997, Boykins was named USA Basketball's Male Athlete of the Year after leading the U.S. team to the Gold Medal at the 1997 World University Games. Then in 1998, he won the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award as the nation's outstanding senior male basketball player under six-feet tall. Also that season, he received honorable mention Division I All-American accolades.
Boykins finished the 1998 season second in the nation in scoring at 25.7 points a game. He was selected the Most Valuable Player in the Mid-American Conference Tournament, after scoring a record 89 points in three games. A First-Team All-MAC selection twice in the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons, he also earned second team honors in 1995-96 and was named to the All-Freshman Team in 1994-95.
Boykins finished his career with 2,211 points, 512 free throws, 759 field goals, 181 three points baskets, and the EMU all-time record of 624 assists. In 2011, his EMU jersey, No. 11, was retired.
Despite being the second shortest player in NBA history, Boykins went on to play 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Bobcats, Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets.
JOYANN CLARKE - Women's Track
Joyann Clarke was an outstanding EMU women's track athlete. She won five MAC individual titles and ran on relay teams that won four championships.
In 1982, Clarke won the MAC Championship individual titles for the 60-meter dash and 200-meter run. She also ran on the first place MAC Championship 4x200-meter relay team, the 4x100-meter relay team, and the 4x100-meter shuttle hurdle relay team.
Two years later in 1984, she ran on the MAC Championship 4x100-meter relay team and won the MAC Championship individual title for the 55-meter dash.
In 1985, Clarke won both MAC Championship individual titles for the 100- and 200-meter races and ran on the first place 4x100-meter relay team.
Clarke graduated from EMU in 1989.
WONDELLA DEVERS - Basketball and Track
A pioneer in EMU women's athletics, Wondella Devers, was a women's basketball and track & field athlete from 1971-73. At EMU, she claimed two first-place honors in the high jump and played on a third place women's basketball team. In 2000, she received a varsity letter from EMU honoring her years as an EMU athlete before women's teams were recognized at the collegiate level.
Prior to attending EMU, Devers played basketball and ran track for Belleville High School from 1966-69. In 1969, she joined the women's basketball team at Washtenaw Community College.
After graduating from EMU in 1974, Devers spent 31 years as a physical education and math teacher for the Van Buren Public Schools, retiring in 2005.
In 2012, Devers joined the Michigan Spirits Women's Senior Basketball Team representing the State of Michigan at the National Games, winning a Gold Medal at the Cleveland Games, and a Bronze Medal at the Huntingsman Games in their first year. In 2013, the Michigan Spirits received a Bronze Medal at the Cleveland Games.
DERRICK DIAL - Men's Basketball
Derrick Dial was a four-year starter for the EMU men's basketball team. Despite joining the team as a walk-on, Dial helped lead the team to a four-year record of 87-36, two NCAA Tournament appearances and one NIT post-season tournament.
Dial finished his career by playing in 124 games, starting 115 times, and recording 1,528 points, 317 rebounds and 521 assists. He was named the Chevrolet Player of the Game for EMU at the NCAA Tournament game against Michigan State University, March 12, 1998.
Following his senior season, Dial was drafted in the second round as the 52nd overall pick by the National Basketball Association (NBA) San Antonio Spurs. He played in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets, Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic.
EUGENE SMITH - Athletic Administrator
Eugene Smith joined the EMU athletic department in 1983 as an assistant athletic director, before he was named interim executive athletic director in 1985. He then became the athletic director in 1986.
During his EMU tenure he saw the 1987 football team win the MAC championship on the way to a victory in the California Bowl, directed the $13 million renovation of Rynearson Stadium, watched the EMU men's basketball team win the MAC title in 1987 and 1991 and make the NCAA Tournament both years, making it to the "Sweet 16" in 1991. Smith was also the director when EMU won two Reese Trophies as the top men's athletic program in the MAC.
Smith left EMU in 1993 to become the athletic director at Iowa State University, before serving as the athletic director at Arizona State University and is in his ninth year as the athletic director at The Ohio State University.
Smith is widely identified among the leaders of his profession. He was named as one of Black Enterprise's "50 most powerful African-Americans in sports" and was honored in 2010 as the Sport Business Journal's Athletic Director of the Year.
The first African American President of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Smith has served on numerous committees within the NCAA namely; the NCAA Management Council, NCAA Committee on Infractions, NCAA Executive Committee, NCAA Football Rules Committee, President's Commission Liaison Committee, NCAA Baseball Academic Enhancement Task Force and the National Football Foundation Honors Court. In 2006, was named to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Committee and in 2010 became the chair.
DON STEWART - Football and Basketball
Don Stewart was a three-year letter winner in football (1968, '69, '70) and earned one varsity letter in basketball in 1971. An outstanding quarterback in football and point guard in basketball, Stewart completed 136-of-269 passes for 2,018 yards and 20 touchdowns during his football career.
Following his graduation from EMU in 1971, he went on to become a coach and teacher. Stewart was the boys' basketball coach at Lely High School in Naples, Fla. for more than 26 years, retiring after the 2008-09 season with 456 career wins, ten 20-win seasons, and eight district championships. During his tenure, he was named Southwest Florida Coach of the Year 10 times.
KEN BEHMER - Ron Oestrike Distinguished Service Award
Ken Behmer is this year's recipient of the Ron Oestrike Distinguished Service Award. The award, named after former EMU baseball-coaching legend Ron Oestrike, was developed to reward outstanding service to the Department of Athletics, E-Club and Athletic Club.
Behmer earned two varsity letters in track and another in cross country before graduating from EMU in 1964 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He added a master's degree in guidance and counseling in 1970.
Behmer taught physical education in Detroit for nine years. He was also a counselor, assistant football coach and head track coach at Lincoln Alcona High School for 12 years. In addition, Behmer served as the Director of Counseling and Dean for Student Development at Kellogg Community College for 13 years. He was selected by the Governor to serve on the State of Michigan Board of Counseling and was the president of the Calhoun Area Counseling Association and the Michigan Community College Student Services Association.
His service to EMU continued as he was a member of the EMU Alumni Association Board of Directors for six years. Behmer was also a member E-Club Board of Directors for 23 years and served as the president for six years of those years.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University E-Club Alumni Chapter, a group of former EMU varsity athletic letterwinners, welcomes seven new members into the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame this weekend. The Class of 2013 will be honored at the Hall of Fame ceremony Saturday, Feb. 15, in the EMU Student Center on campus.
The Class of 2013 includes: Dennis Betts (men's swimming), Earl Boykins (men's basketball), Joyann Clarke (women's track and field), Wondella Devers (women's basketball/track), Derrick Dial (men's basketball), Eugene Smith (administrator) and Don Stewart (men's basketball/football).
In addition to the Hall of Fame inductees, the E-Club will present Ken Behmer with the Ron Oestrike Distinguished Service Award. The award, named after former EMU baseball-coaching legend Ron Oestrike, was first presented at the 2008 Hall of Fame ceremony to Oestrike. The award was developed to reward outstanding service to the Athletic department, E Club and Athletic Club.
This year's class will mark the 38th anniversary of the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. followed immediately by a buffet luncheon. The Class of 2013 will then be recognized during the EMU basketball doubleheader at the Convocation Center at 2 p.m. The men's team tangles with the University of Toledo followed by the women's squad hosting Bowling Green State University.
Tickets for the Hall of Fame ceremony and luncheon, which also includes tickets for the men's and women's basketball game at the Convocation Center that same day, are $45 each and can be purchased by calling the EMU Office for Alumni Relations at 734.487.0250.
Eastern Michigan University Athletics Hall of Fame 2013 Biographies
DENNIS O. BETTS - Men's Swimming
Dennis Betts was a four-year letter winner for the EMU men's swim team. A three sport varsity letter winner, he was the EMU team captain for three years (1967-1969); sophomore year – tri-captain, junior year – co-captain, senior year – captain. Betts earned NAIA All-American honors three times (1967-1969).
A former record holder in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke and the 200- and 400-yard medley relay team, Betts was a member of the 1966-67 team, finishing third at the NAIA National Championship. He also helped lead the men's team to the NAIA National Championship in both 1967-68 and 1968-69.
In 1967, he was among the first NAIA All-American swimmers at EMU as a member of the 400-yard medley relay team. Betts also helped lead the team to a four-year record of 42-14. In 1969, he was a member of the NAIA National Champion 400-yard medley relay team, setting an EMU and a NAIA record. Then in 1969, he set an EMU and a NAIA record in the 200-yard breaststroke as well as an EMU Record in the 100-yard breaststroke. He was also a member of the 1970 NAIA National Championship Team as an assistant coach under EMU Hall of Fame Coach, Mike Jones.
After graduating from EMU in 1971, Betts spent 26 years in law enforcement, retiring from the Michigan State Police in 2001. He represented the Michigan State Police at several state and international Police & Fire Olympics, winning Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in swimming competitions.
Betts is also a member of the EMU Arm of Honor Fraternity.
EARL BOYKINS - Men's Basketball
Earl Boykins was a four-year starter on the EMU men's basketball team. He led EMU to a four-year record of 87-36, two NCAA Tournament appearances and one NIT post-season tournament.
In 1997, Boykins was named USA Basketball's Male Athlete of the Year after leading the U.S. team to the Gold Medal at the 1997 World University Games. Then in 1998, he won the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award as the nation's outstanding senior male basketball player under six-feet tall. Also that season, he received honorable mention Division I All-American accolades.
Boykins finished the 1998 season second in the nation in scoring at 25.7 points a game. He was selected the Most Valuable Player in the Mid-American Conference Tournament, after scoring a record 89 points in three games. A First-Team All-MAC selection twice in the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons, he also earned second team honors in 1995-96 and was named to the All-Freshman Team in 1994-95.
Boykins finished his career with 2,211 points, 512 free throws, 759 field goals, 181 three points baskets, and the EMU all-time record of 624 assists. In 2011, his EMU jersey, No. 11, was retired.
Despite being the second shortest player in NBA history, Boykins went on to play 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Bobcats, Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets.
JOYANN CLARKE - Women's Track
Joyann Clarke was an outstanding EMU women's track athlete. She won five MAC individual titles and ran on relay teams that won four championships.
In 1982, Clarke won the MAC Championship individual titles for the 60-meter dash and 200-meter run. She also ran on the first place MAC Championship 4x200-meter relay team, the 4x100-meter relay team, and the 4x100-meter shuttle hurdle relay team.
Two years later in 1984, she ran on the MAC Championship 4x100-meter relay team and won the MAC Championship individual title for the 55-meter dash.
In 1985, Clarke won both MAC Championship individual titles for the 100- and 200-meter races and ran on the first place 4x100-meter relay team.
Clarke graduated from EMU in 1989.
WONDELLA DEVERS - Basketball and Track
A pioneer in EMU women's athletics, Wondella Devers, was a women's basketball and track & field athlete from 1971-73. At EMU, she claimed two first-place honors in the high jump and played on a third place women's basketball team. In 2000, she received a varsity letter from EMU honoring her years as an EMU athlete before women's teams were recognized at the collegiate level.
Prior to attending EMU, Devers played basketball and ran track for Belleville High School from 1966-69. In 1969, she joined the women's basketball team at Washtenaw Community College.
After graduating from EMU in 1974, Devers spent 31 years as a physical education and math teacher for the Van Buren Public Schools, retiring in 2005.
In 2012, Devers joined the Michigan Spirits Women's Senior Basketball Team representing the State of Michigan at the National Games, winning a Gold Medal at the Cleveland Games, and a Bronze Medal at the Huntingsman Games in their first year. In 2013, the Michigan Spirits received a Bronze Medal at the Cleveland Games.
DERRICK DIAL - Men's Basketball
Derrick Dial was a four-year starter for the EMU men's basketball team. Despite joining the team as a walk-on, Dial helped lead the team to a four-year record of 87-36, two NCAA Tournament appearances and one NIT post-season tournament.
Dial finished his career by playing in 124 games, starting 115 times, and recording 1,528 points, 317 rebounds and 521 assists. He was named the Chevrolet Player of the Game for EMU at the NCAA Tournament game against Michigan State University, March 12, 1998.
Following his senior season, Dial was drafted in the second round as the 52nd overall pick by the National Basketball Association (NBA) San Antonio Spurs. He played in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets, Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic.
EUGENE SMITH - Athletic Administrator
Eugene Smith joined the EMU athletic department in 1983 as an assistant athletic director, before he was named interim executive athletic director in 1985. He then became the athletic director in 1986.
During his EMU tenure he saw the 1987 football team win the MAC championship on the way to a victory in the California Bowl, directed the $13 million renovation of Rynearson Stadium, watched the EMU men's basketball team win the MAC title in 1987 and 1991 and make the NCAA Tournament both years, making it to the "Sweet 16" in 1991. Smith was also the director when EMU won two Reese Trophies as the top men's athletic program in the MAC.
Smith left EMU in 1993 to become the athletic director at Iowa State University, before serving as the athletic director at Arizona State University and is in his ninth year as the athletic director at The Ohio State University.
Smith is widely identified among the leaders of his profession. He was named as one of Black Enterprise's "50 most powerful African-Americans in sports" and was honored in 2010 as the Sport Business Journal's Athletic Director of the Year.
The first African American President of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Smith has served on numerous committees within the NCAA namely; the NCAA Management Council, NCAA Committee on Infractions, NCAA Executive Committee, NCAA Football Rules Committee, President's Commission Liaison Committee, NCAA Baseball Academic Enhancement Task Force and the National Football Foundation Honors Court. In 2006, was named to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Committee and in 2010 became the chair.
DON STEWART - Football and Basketball
Don Stewart was a three-year letter winner in football (1968, '69, '70) and earned one varsity letter in basketball in 1971. An outstanding quarterback in football and point guard in basketball, Stewart completed 136-of-269 passes for 2,018 yards and 20 touchdowns during his football career.
Following his graduation from EMU in 1971, he went on to become a coach and teacher. Stewart was the boys' basketball coach at Lely High School in Naples, Fla. for more than 26 years, retiring after the 2008-09 season with 456 career wins, ten 20-win seasons, and eight district championships. During his tenure, he was named Southwest Florida Coach of the Year 10 times.
KEN BEHMER - Ron Oestrike Distinguished Service Award
Ken Behmer is this year's recipient of the Ron Oestrike Distinguished Service Award. The award, named after former EMU baseball-coaching legend Ron Oestrike, was developed to reward outstanding service to the Department of Athletics, E-Club and Athletic Club.
Behmer earned two varsity letters in track and another in cross country before graduating from EMU in 1964 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He added a master's degree in guidance and counseling in 1970.
Behmer taught physical education in Detroit for nine years. He was also a counselor, assistant football coach and head track coach at Lincoln Alcona High School for 12 years. In addition, Behmer served as the Director of Counseling and Dean for Student Development at Kellogg Community College for 13 years. He was selected by the Governor to serve on the State of Michigan Board of Counseling and was the president of the Calhoun Area Counseling Association and the Michigan Community College Student Services Association.
His service to EMU continued as he was a member of the EMU Alumni Association Board of Directors for six years. Behmer was also a member E-Club Board of Directors for 23 years and served as the president for six years of those years.
2024 E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Saturday, September 21
E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame - Gina Tempro
Thursday, September 19
E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame - Matt Shoemaker
Thursday, September 19
E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame - Tavelyn James
Thursday, September 19