Armstrong Hall of Fame
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University President Dr. Kyle Marrero speaks at the ribbon cutting ceremony
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Observers view the recently opened Hall of Champions
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One of the exhibits celebrating former Armstrong athletes
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Armstrong trophy case
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The speakers immediately following the ribbon cutting
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Lisa Sweeney speaks with Dr. Kyle Marrero and George Brown looking on
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Cliff McCurry makes remarks at the ribbon cutting ceremony (Mark Mamalakis Sr. also pictured)
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George Brown gives remarks at the ceremony with Dr. Marrero in attendance
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(L to R) Jared Benko, Kyle Marrero, George Brown, Lisa Sweeney
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Georgia Southern Athletic Director Jared Benko speaks at the ribbon cutting ceremony
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“Once a Pirate, always a Pirate.”
Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, Georgia Southern unveiled The Armstrong State Hall of Champions. At the ribbon cutting ceremony, nostalgia filled the room and rattled through the bleachers. The new addition to the ARC Center honors the achievements of the incredible Armstrong Athletic Department.
Former alumni and hall of fame members gathered together for the celebration.
“Armstrong’s history is together our history,” President Kyle Marerro said during the opening of the ceremony. “We benefit as an institution from a history of the people of Armstrong State University. We’ll always celebrate that.”
“This campus has a proud history and a rich, rich, legacy,” he continued. “We know that it needs to be remembered and celebrated, and that is why we are here today.”
“What we’ve done here is beautiful and this is our history,” Cliff McCurry, a Hall of Fame member, said, “A lot of you that are members of the Hall of Fame, you’re getting the recognition you deserve for what you’ve done for this university.”
One speaker, George Brown, was a student athlete and a former president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. “I’d like to thank Georgia Southern for honoring us and all of the student athletes, and we appreciate you for giving us something that we can go back to and look upon.”
“The intention behind the space was to recognize the rich history of Pirate athletics. To celebrate the championships, the student athlete successes and the department’s success both academically and athletically,” said Lisa Sweeney, the former Athletic Director of Armstrong.
“I hope it evolves into something more than that for each of you,”she continued. “I hope it’s a space that allows you to reminisce about your time here on this campus, and to reconnect with teammates and coaches and to relieve the huge wins and sorrow.”
Wins that include 11 Tennis National Championships and 63 Peach Belt Championships were highlighted in the hall. The spirit of the Armstrong Pirates radiated through the space. The original flooring from the basketball court was refurbished to have a permanent spot on glistening walls of the new annex.
While it is great that Armstrong is now a member of the Georgia Southern family, it is also a standalone entity. It is important not only for alumni, but also current students to remember the culture and history of the campus.
