September 19, 2008

Storm's Samuels elected to UWA Athletic Hall of Fame

Tampa Bay Sports Net

LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama announces its 2008 Athletic Hall of Fame class. Lawrence Samuels, former Tiger and current Arena Football League player, and Melvin Chance, former baseball standout, become the 51st and 52nd members inducted at UWA.

Samuels, a Mobile, Ala.-native, left his mark in the Red and White record books. After his career in Livingston, he is tied for seventh all-time in receptions at UWA with 89 for 1,426 yards and holds two of UWA’s individual career performances with 185 yards against Albany State (third most in a game) and 182 yards against Jacksonville State (fourth most in a game) both in 1992. Samuels is also part of the seventh longest, pass play in school history, as he caught an 84-yard pass from Marty Washington in the Albany State game in 1992.

Since his collegiate career, Samuels has become the all-time reception leader in the AFL with 1,020 and is fifth all-time in professional football (CFL, NFL, USFL and WFL). He has tallied 135 consecutive games with a reception, also first in the AFL. He ranks fifth all-time in receiving yards (11,708) and is 16th all-time in all-purpose yards (12,287), and 13th in tackles (484). He has played 203 games in 15 seasons and is a three-time ArenaBowl Champion, a two-time All-Ironman Team member, a four-time All-Arena Team selection and nine-time AFL Ironman of the Week and is the first player to be named the ArenaBowl XVII MVP and Ironman of the Game. In the off-season, he is a high school teacher.

Melvin, a Brandon, Miss-product, left his mark on the UWA baseball records. He is the UWA career leader in batting average with a .431 mark. Melvin also holds the school record for RBI in a game with nine against Alabama A&M and season marks for 91 hits, 83 RBI, .435 batting average, 28 doubles, 168 total bases, 10 sacrifice flies and a 23-game hitting streak. Melvin was a two-time All-American; two-time All-Gulf South Conference Team selection and the 1999 GSC Player of the Year.

Currently, Melvin is a Special Agent for the United States Inspector General’s office in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Samuels and Melvin will have their names inscribed into UWA athletic history with other UWA Hall of Fame members displayed in the James P. Homer Field House. Their official induction ceremony will take place at the UWA National Alumni Association meeting on October 25 in the Bell Conference Center at 1:00 p.m. and they will be recognized as honorary game captains for the Homecoming contest against West Georgia.

---TAMPA BAY STORM---