Aug. 7, 2008

GREENVILLE, N.C. --- Bill Carson, Wallace "Butch" Davis, Brian Irvin, the late Howell "Hal" Morrison and Reggie Pinkney will be enshrined into the East Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame this fall.

The group will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at a ceremony held inside the Murphy Center on Friday, Oct. 17 and then introduced to the public during halftime of the ECU-Memphis football game on Saturday, Oct. 18.

Carson served as head men's track and field coach for 40 years. Carson, who retired prior to the start of the 2007-08 season, accepted the top Pirate track position in 1967 and guided the program from ground level to one that developed Olympic competitors. Under his direction, ECU athletes advanced to the NCAA National Championships in 18 of the last 19 years. In addition, he produced 70 All-America selections and 40 individual event champions at the IC4A, Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) or Conference USA Championships. Carson also earned his share of coaching honors during his illustrious career, including being named the NCAA District III Coach of the Year in 1988 and Southeast Region Coach of the Year in 2002. He also served as the Broad Event Chairman for Sprint Development for USA Track and Field from 1991-97.

Davis was a three-year letterman from 1978-80, playing for coaches Monte Little and Hal Baird. As a senior in 1980 he led the Pirates in all three triple crown categories: batting average (.362), home runs (12) and RBI (27), while leading his team to an NCAA regional appearance. He graduated as the school's all-time leader in home runs (26) and total bases (250), and he stills owns the ECU career record for triples with 10. After completing his collegiate career, he played part of eight seasons for five Major League teams including the Kansas City Royals which selected him the 11th round of the 1980 MLB Draft.

The most decorated track athlete in ECU history, Irvin was a six-time All-America selection. Irvin earned All-America status in the 400 meters in 1990, '91, and '92 while setting the school-record (45.32) in the event at the '92 NCAA Outdoor Championships. A four-year letterman (1989-92), Irvin set six track records during his career with his mark in the 400 meters still standing as the top time in ECU history. He helped the U.S. capture the gold medal at the 1991 World University Games as a member of the 4x400m relay team. He earned a first-place finish in the 400m at both the indoor and outdoor IC4A Championships in '92.

The late Hal Morrison served as the Pirates' head golf coach from 1986-95 and guided ECU to seven CAA championships during his tenure and was named CAA Coach-of-the-Year seven times. His team won back-to-back titles in his first two years, and then claimed five consecutive conference championships from 1990-94. ECU tallied 13 team titles under Morrison's watch and earned an invitation to the NCAA East Regional Championships in 1991. Four players claimed individual CAA titles under his guidance with Mike Teague earning a spot in the 1992 NCAA East Regional as an individual.

An All-Southern Conference defensive back as a senior in 1976, Pinkney set the ECU record for interception return yardage with 197. Pinkney intercepted a team-high six passes during the '76 campaign, one of which included a 98-yard return against Richmond. He also led the Pirates in interceptions as a freshman in 1973 with three. As a kick-off return specialist, Pinkney averaged 23.1 yards per return, which ranks as the ninth-highest return average in school history. After concluding his collegiate career, Pinkney was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the 1977 NFL Draft. He played five years professionally.

Since it was established in 1974, 125 former student-athletes, coaches, administrators and donors have been elected to the ECU Athletics Hall of Fame.