By Dan Ryan
B-CUAthletics.com

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Jeff Parker admitted the mixed emotions Friday night as a Tennessee State assistant coach being inducted into the Bethune-Cookman Hall of Fame on the eve of the Tigers-Wildcats meeting in Municipal Stadium.

"I have been a Wildcat all my life; I'll be a Wildcat forever," Parker said. "But tomorrow ..."

One of the most prolific wide receivers in Wildcat history, Parker played just two seasons after transferring from Tennessee State following a coaching change in Nashville. Having to redshirt a season, Parker became friends with quarterback J.D. Hall while running with the scout team.

Parker briefly broke into tears when recalling his late friend.

"We made it happen every Saturday," Parker said. "I'll always remember the last game at Municipal Stadium when someone told us ' thanks for the memories.' That's how I feel."

Parker was one of 12 inductees honored Friday night in the President's Dining Hall inside the Michael & Libby Center for Civic Engagement on the Bethune-Cookman campus.

Highlights from each inductees remarks, including the widow of Band Director Samuel Berry:

Dr. Everett Abney, Lifetime Achievement

Dr. Abney admitted that he didn't even know where Bethune-Cookman was when his father suggested a college for him after graduating high school in Philadelphia.

"What I found here was something  I couldn't find anywhere else," Abney admitted.

While principal at Miami's Northwestern HS, Abney hired fellow inductee Walt Frazier as head coach. Frazier's best days followed when he moved up to Carol City, where he won three state championships.

"I wanted him to do that when he was at Northwestern," Abney kidded.

Walt Frazier, Lifetime Achievement

Frazier is the younger brother of B-CU playing legend and coach Bobby Frazier.

"I thought the selection committee got the wrong number when they called me about a Hall of Fame, " Frazier kidded. "I'm a hard work, just a plain old guy who works for what he has."

Dr. James E. Huger, Humanitarian

Dr. Huger told a story about the time he was a ninth grader and told Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune he wanted to be an actor like "Rudolph Valentino because they have the nicest clothes and prettiest girls."

"Send him to Bethune-Cookman and we'll straighten him out," Dr. Bethune told Huger's father.

"It took a lifetime," Huger said. "Everything I am is because of Dr. Bethune and my wife."

Alba Berry, Widow of Samuel Berry, Humanitarian

Every time the B-CU band performs is a tribute to Berry,  the former Bethune-Cookman band director who laid the ground work for what is today's edition of the Marching Wildcats.

"That bold sound emanates from the work Samuel did," she said.

Dr. Larry Handfield also paid tribute to Berry.

"If it weren't for Samuel Berry, I wouldn't be here," Handfield said.  

William Rasberry, Football

"Bethune-Cookman is my school," said Rasberry, who scored a safety for the Wildcats in the legendary 1952 win over Florida A&M. "I will continue to encourage students to come here. There is no other school. I will always love it."

Carl Fuller, Basketball

The greatest big man in Bethune-Cookman basketball history was impressed with the school's growth.

"I got lost when I came on campus," Fuller said. "I was proud to see what it has become. I knew where my dorm was, where my wife's dorm was, that was it."

Fuller praised former Head Coach Jack "Cy" McClairen for providing an example he carried into his coaching career.

"I cared for my kids the same way Cy cared for us," Fuller said.

Willie Jackson, Football

Still an ardent Wildcats football fan, the former free safety warned the audience that he and his family get carried away at games.

"You're going to think 'He's in the Hall of Fame and he acts like that?' " Jackson smiled. "Yes, and I'm not going to be alone."

Erma Jones-Westbrook, Women's Basketball

The all-time leading scorer in Lady Wildcats history said she was simply making the most of an opportunity.

"I played basketball all the time," Jones-Westbrook said. "Bethune-Cookman gave me a chance to showcase what I could do."

Amber Jackson, Softball

The greatest softball player in B-CU history was happy to share this moment with her coach and fellow inductee, Laura Watten. Jackson is Watten's assistant at the University of Maryland.

"All those early morning beach runs and late night practices have paid off," Jackson said. "I'm honored to call her boss now.  Coach [Watten]told me I could make a difference here and I'm honored I could."

Laura Watten, Softball Coach

From the moment she walked on the campus to interview for the job, Watten said she felt something special.

"The spirit here was amazing," said Watten. "I absolutely loved this place when I was here."

Watten, who quit her job as a restaurant manager to take the job, is pleased that many of her former players are now coaches.

"All those Criminal Justice majors are now coaching," Watten said. "That's okay, my degree is in art."

Charles Wesley Moore, Football Coach

The coach who beat Florida A&M twice in three years delivered both a rousing tribute to Founder Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and a simple reason for his success.

"I had great men around me," Moore said. "Cy McClairen, Tank Johnson. They are why we succeeded."