Fork Union Military Academy Sports Hall of Fame to Induct Five Athletes

Fork Union Military Academy will induct five new members into its Sports Hall of Fame at a banquet dinner to be held on Thursday evening, June 15, 2006. This year’s class of inductees includes an international track champion, two former NFL football players, an all-around athlete respected for his leadership on and off the field, and one of the Academy’s longtime coaches who was an All-State athlete during his playing days at FUMA and in college.

Fork Union, VA (PRWEB) June 11, 2006 -- Fork Union Military Academy will induct five new members into its Sports Hall of Fame at a banquet dinner to be held on Thursday evening, June 15, 2006. This year’s class of inductees includes an international track champion, two former NFL football players, an all-around athlete respected for his leadership on and off the field, and one of the Academy’s longtime coaches who was an All-State athlete during his playing days at FUMA and in college. These honorees will join the twenty-five members previously inducted into the school’s Sports Hall of Fame. This year’s class of inductees are:

Ibrahim M. Aden, FUMA Class of 1992 – In his senior year at FUMA, this Somalia-born track athlete was the world’s fastest high school miler, sweeping all major U. S. races with a time of 4:05. He excelled in the 1500-meters in college, winning multiple championships in that event. He went on to compete extensively in international events and represented Somalia in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, carrying his national flag during the opening ceremonies in Sydney.

William A. Blair, FUMA Class of 1949 – Coach Bill Blair served as a multi-sport coach and Athletic Director at Fork Union Military Academy for more than thirty-five years. He was the architect of FUMA’s current prep athletic program, providing interscholastic competition for the Academy’s high school undergraduates, and he initiated the Academy’s entrance into the Virginia Preparatory League. In his own playing days, Blair was Co-Captain of the Academy’s football and baseball teams and went on to compete at Hamden-Sydney College where we was an All-State player in both sports.

Charles J. Bossolina, FUMA Class of 1949 – Being honored posthumously, Charlie Bossolina is fondly remembered as an athlete whose leadership was respected both on and off the athletic field. Rated as one of the best high school centers in the state, Bossolina was known as FUMA’s “coach on the field,” as he helped lead the team to success for four years. He was Captain of the 1949 team and was named All-State his senior year. He received a scholarship to attend Furman University where he continued to play as a lineman and earned Honorable Mention for the All-State team. While his playing days ended at the college level and he went on to a life in business as a restaurant owner, teammates still remember Charles Bossolina as one of the uniquely inspiring figures in the Academy’s sports history.

Erik R. Christensen, FUMA Class of 1951 – Nicknamed “The Ox” by his teammates because of his terrific strength, Erik Christensen competed in football, basketball, and track in his years at the Academy. He was Co-Captain of the football team in 1950 with FUMA Sports Hall of Fame member Herman Clark. Christensen lead the defense on that undefeated team, allowing opposing teams only 22 points in the entire season, including five shutouts. Christenson was All-State for both of his years at FUMA and went on to be a four-year starter at the University of Richmond. Christensen was the only college player in Virginia named to the All-State team for two different positions, tackle and end. He played in the 1956 College All Star Game and was drafted to play for the Washington Redskins, where he played alongside another FUMA alumnus, Sports Hall of Fame member Steve Meilinger. Christensen also played professionally for the Calgary Stampeders before moving on to a ten year active duty career in the Army, having earned his commission through the ROTC program at the University of Richmond.

Will Furrer, Class of 1987 – Will Furrer came to the Academy for a postgraduate year from Pullman High School in Washington, where he won all-league honors his senior year at quarterback. At FUMA, he alternated at quarterback with two other players, but he caught the eye of Virginia Tech coaches during the Academy’s annual game against their junior varsity team, completing 9 of 16 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown during his time on the field. Furrer went on to become one of the top Virginia Tech quarterbacks in history. He holds several individual records at Virginia Tech and - with 5,915 total yards and 43 touchdowns during his college career - Furrer remains one of the most productive quarterbacks in school history. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1992 and played for seven years in the NFL as a quarterback, including time with the Denver Broncos, Houston Oilers, and St. Louis Rams.

About the Banquet and Celebrity Golf Tournament Events

The banquet and ceremony honoring the inductees will be held on the campus of Fork Union Military Academy beginning at 6:30pm on Thursday, June 15, 2006. The annual Sports Hall of Fame Celebrity Golf Tournament will be held Friday morning, June 16, 2006 with tee-off at 9:30am at Laurel Ridge Golf Course in Palmyra, Virginia. Persons interested in attending either event should contact the Development Office at FUMA by calling 434-842-4370.

About the FUMA Sports Hall of Fame

The FUMA Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1995 to honor those who, by outstanding achievement in athletics or service to FUMA athletics, have made lasting contributions to the cause of sports at the Academy. A public display of the Sports Hall of Fame bronze plaques and Waterford crystal trophy is located in the lobby area of the Estes Athletic Center at FUMA.

Members of the FUMA Sports Hall of Fame are selected by a Hall of Fame Honors Committee from nominations submitted by alumni and other friends of the Academy. An athlete may be named for his achievement in more than one sport. To be eligible for selection, the candidate’s most recent participation in an Academy sport must have occurred ten or more years prior to his induction. In addition, the Committee shall consider basic qualifications, such as (but not limited to): All-American, All-Conference, All-State honors; team captaincy; comparison with other athletes of his era; published information from school publications or daily newspapers; the character of the individual; and testimonials from sports writers, coaches, athletic directors, teammates and opposing coaches and players.

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