MOUNT BERRY, Ga. – The Berry College Athletic Department and Director of Athletics Dr. Angel Mason are excited to announce the Vikings 2026 Inaugural Hall of Fame class. The inaugural class will see one team and three individuals inducted. Among the three individuals one athlete, one athletic administrator and one coach were chosen.

The three individuals that will be inducted into the Hall of Fame are Garland M. Dickey, Dr. Joanne Rowe and Charles "Whitey" Tucker.

The first athletic administrator, inducted into the Hall of Fame, will be the first full-time Athletic Director of Berry College Garland M. Dickey. A graduate of the college, Dickey returned to his alma mater in 1946 to become the first full-time athletic director where he first launched a collegiate basketball program. Originally the Blue Jackets Dickey held a contest on campus where the present-day Vikings mascot was chosen. During his tenure he guided the college into joining the GIAC and the NAIA while also coaching men's basketball, baseball, track and field, golf and soccer. He oversaw the addition of women's athletics in the 1960s, which culminated in multiple conference championships and the college's first National Championship in 1976.

The first coach inducted into the Hall of Fame will be Dr. Joanne Rowe. When the college added women's athletics in the 1960s Rowe was tasked to lead the program. She coached the women's basketball, volleyball and softball teams as well as both the men's and women's tennis teams. Under her guidance she helped establish the Southern Women's Athletic Conference and led the women's basketball team to three consecutive tiles compiling an overall record of 125-25. Rowe established a winning tradition at Berry with multiple players being selected as MVPs and all conference players.

The first athlete inducted into the Hall of Fame will be Charles "Whitey" Tucker. Tucker was an all-around athlete at Berry competing in basketball, baseball, cross country and track. During his time, he was named All Conference and All District 25 in baseball. He also received All Conference and All State honors in cross country, All Conference honors in track and basketball while also captaining the baseball and basketball teams.

The first team that will be inducted into the Hall of Fame is the 1976 Berry College women's basketball team which captured the school's first National Championship.

The Vikings led by Head Coach Kay James averaged 83 points per game and won the GAIAW, Region III of the AIAW and the AIAW National Championship. The Vikings entered the regional tournament as the second seed where they took down George William College 88-54 and Union College 84-83. The Vikings then advanced to the final round where they took down Ashland College 84-83 and then West Georgia State 68-62. Captain Nancy Paris was named Most Valuable Player and was named an All-American along with teammates Deborah Rice, Paula Dean and Sharon Adamson.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 2.