Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1985
Few who did not actually suit up for the Thundering Herd made a bigger impact on Marshall athletics than Neal “Whitey” Wilson. Coming to Marshall to restart a dormant golf program in 1953, over the next 15 years Wilson became the school’s athletic business manager and eventually the athletic director from 1959-67. Even after retiring, Wilson stayed active with Marshall athletics and, along with Dr. Sam Clagg, was a co-founder of the Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame. Wilson made an endowment to ensure the continuation of an annual Hall of Fame induction banquet.
As the Marshall golf coach, Wilson built some of the most successful teams in school history, taking teams to the NCAA Tournament in 1955, ‘57 and ‘62, when Marshall finished a school record-best 11th in the nation at the tourney the Duke Golf Club in Durham, N.C. Under Wilson, Marshall Hall of Famers Jack Freeman, Linden Meade, Pete Byer (twice) and Jim Ward won Mid-American Conference championships.
As Marshall’s athletic director, Wilson hired Ellis Johnson – who would take the Marshall basketball program to some of its greatest successes – Marshall Hall of Fame baseball coach Jack Cook, and one of his former players and Marshall Hall of Famer Buddy Graham as his replacement as golf coach. Wilson was inducted into the Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985.
