Alexandria, Va. — Alexandria City Public Schools inducted seven exceptional athletes into the Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday night, including a football player from the first graduating class of then George Washington High School in 1935 and honored a basketball coach at GW from the 1950s.
Athletes representing eighty years of outstanding athletic performance at the high school level across all disciplines came together to honor the latest group of inductees and honorees and see their names immortalized on the Athletic Hall of Fame wall. Athletes from six of those decades were inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“It’s wonderful to be able to celebrate our athletic successes and the history of athletics at T.C. Williams High School. Athletics are essential for a well-rounded high school experience and the skills that athletes hone through sports — grit, endurance, teamwork, leadership and sportsmanship — all contribute to creating students who go on to see all-around success throughout their lives,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr.
The athletes include two football stars, Paul Shu and Carl Carr, both of whom went on to play for the National Football League; a soccer player, Eduardo Lopez, who went on to play professionally for the Baltimore Blast; a track and field star, Kelli Flynn; and three basketball stars, Karen Bowles, Earl Quash and Kihlon Golden.
After passing under the sabers, the inductees were honored through a rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” before pulling down the red cloth unveiling their plaques. T.C. Williams students from the Provázek Quartet and four trumpeters played during the induction ceremony.
Since its inception, ACPS has inducted 44 athletes into the Hall of Fame and honored seven coaches. Inductees include a star player in the 1971 State Championship football team and team coaches Herman Boone and Bill Yoast, who were memorialized in Remember the Titans. Another student from the all-black Parker-Gray High School went on to coach football for the Olympics.
“This event has seen such tremendous growth over the past five years. That growth and the enthusiastic involvement of our community in recognizing these athletes is a tribute to the value that our community places on the contributions they have made to the Titan legacy. This truly is a celebration of Titan pride,” said School Board Chair Ramee Gentry.
Inductees include basketball stars Karen Bowles, the second leading rebounder in Titan history, and Earl Quash who led George Washington high School into the State tournament, was named to the All Tournament Team and was honored as an All Met selection. Also honored was four-sport star, Kihlon Golden who earned a full scholarship to Bucknell University for basketball.
Football talent Carl Carr earned not only First Team All Met and All State honors as a linebacker, he was also honored as a Parade All America and earned All Met honors in both indoor and outdoor track. Paul Shu, a member of the first graduating class at the then George Washington High School in 1935, excelled at basketball, baseball and track but made a name for himself on the football field.
Also honored was Kelli Flynn, the greatest high jumper in Alexandria history, who also shined in field hockey and cross country. On the soccer field, Eduardo Lopez led the Titans soccer squad to two Northern Region titles and was also an All District and All Northern Region selection in football as a kicker.
Basketball Coach Steve Osisek was honored as head coach at George Washington High School during the late 1950s and 1960s.
