EAST ORANGE, NJ — The East Orange High School Basketball Hall of Fame’s inaugural induction ceremony took place on Friday, May 20, at the Appian Way in Orange. The turnout was great, with more than 100 people in attendance.
The master of ceremonies was Thelma Ramsey Bryant, a longtime educator and principal in the East Orange school district. She is the younger sister of the late George “Silk” Ramsey, a 1970s inductee.
The host of the evening was Laurie Williams. April Apple Wells belted out a lovely rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Stephen Webb, an educator and administrator in the EO school district, delivered an inspiring invocation.
The EOHS Basketball Hall of Fame committee — Bob Lester, Gwendolyn Barnes (EOHS Class of 1968), Mike McNair (Class of 1967), Roy Hinton (Class of 1973), Laurie Williams (Class of 1979), Rodney Williams (Class of 1975), James Pitchford (Class of 1977) and Ken Macklin (Class of 1966) — played a significant role in the event’s success. Barnes was the driving force behind the event journal and was a significant fundraiser.
The hall of fame inducted 47 players from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.
“Our goal was to highlight one of the premier high school basketball programs in the state of New Jersey,” Williams said. “From 1969 to 1979, EOHS won 243 games, losing just 30, for an 890 winning percentage, which came with five ECT (Essex County Tournament) titles; eight North Jersey, Section 2, titles; five state Group 3 or 4 titles; and seven Big Ten titles, several high state rankings and two national rankings.
“Our inductees included several all-state, all- county and all-American performers.”
Here are the inductees:
1960s category:
- Billy Raye.
- Ken Moss, deceased.
- Bob Pierce.
- Harry James, deceased.
- Billy Lovett, deceased.
- Luther Bowen.
- Hassan Greg Ali James.
- Morris Turner Jr.
- Myron Turner.
- Gary Turner, deceased.
- Lenny Williams.
- Ken Macklin.
1970s category:
- Mike Booker.
- Mike Dabney.
- Dennis Motley.
- Clyde Bradshaw.
- Cleveland Eugene.
- James Gist.
- Craig Euston.
- Charles Blue.
- George Ramsey, deceased.
- Ken Young, deceased.
- Kim Fisher.
- Daryl Roberts.
- James Pitchford.
- Dennis Ross.
- Daryl Gregory.
- Warren Melvin III.
- Reggie Baker.
- Cathy Baker.
- Rodney Williams.
- Tyrone Miles.
1980s category:
- Mark Gray.
- Erroll Flanigan.
- Russell Scott.
- Greg McLaughlin.
- Shawn Jackson.
- Jamal Williamson.
- Tony George.
- Wallace Williams, deceased.
- Janice Walker.
- Paulette Bigalow.
- Shawn Jackson.
1990s category:
- Thomas Frazier.
- Eric Watkins.
- Rodney Brutton.
2000s category:
- Aaron Nelums.
Photo Courtesy of Rodney Williams
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