SHS announces Fifth Class of Athletic Hall of Fame

The Athletic Department at Seneca High School announces this year’s five-member class of the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.  The 2013 class includes contributor Dean Davis, coach Tim Howard, athletes Dennis Hughes, Caroline Rochester Kalchthaler, and Debra Roper. Dean Davis attended Bountyland School and graduated from Seneca High School in 1940.  He loved sports and played football for the Bobcats and ran track.  In 1941-42 he was on the Clemson football team.  In 1942, he, along with thousands of others, went to war.  He fought with the Big Red 1 in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. After returning home, he went back to Clemson University and graduated in 1948 with a degree in agronomy.  Dean taught school at Keowee High School and farmed.  He was a leader in Richland Presbyterian Church, The Grange and other civic organizations including American Legion, the Lions Club, and Boy Scouts.  He also coached little league baseball for a number of years.  Dean loved Seneca High School, was a Bobcat Booster and operated the score board for home Seneca football games from the 1960’s through the 1992 season.  Dean never missed a home game. While attending Seneca High School, Coach Tim Howard played baseball and lettered in track.  He graduated in 1969 and then attended Mars Hill College earning a teaching degree.  He later attended Clemson University and earned a Masters of Administration degree.  Coach Howard taught at Utica Elementary, and Seneca Middle School.  While teaching at Seneca Middle School he was named Teacher of the Year in 1981-82. He coached various sports including varsity football, JV football, golf, tennis, varsity basketball, middle school basketball, and Legion baseball at Seneca Middle and Seneca High from 1973 to 1998.  He was Athletic Director for Seneca Middle School and coached in the 1996 State Football Championship game.  Coach Howard coached at Seneca High School until his retirement.  The gymnasium at Seneca Middle School was named Tim Howard Gym in 2002. Dennis Hughes graduated from Seneca High School in 1966.  He lettered in football (3), track (4,) and baseball (3).  In 1965 Dennis was named All-Conference and All-State in football and All-Conference in track.  The following year he was All-Conference and All-State in track.  Upon completion of high school Dennis signed a football scholarship with the University of Georgia where he was awarded one of only eight scholarships offered.  He was All SEC Freshman Team in 1966, led the SEC in yards per reception in 1967, and was All SEC in 1968.  Dennis played professional football for five years with the Pittsburg Steelers, Houston Oilers, Jacksonville Sharks, and Jacksonville Express.  In 1976 he returned to his alma mater as an Undergrad Assistant coach at the University of Georgia.  In 1978 he coached at East Carolina University, and then in 1980 volunteered at Clark Central High School (GA) for 20 years. Caroline Rochester Kalchthaler graduated from Seneca High School in 1999.  While competing athletically at Seneca High School, Caroline earned 15 varsity letters in softball (6), volleyball (6), and basketball (3).  She was selected All-Region nine times, softball All-State two times,  MVP for volleyball two times, and MVP for softball two times as Best Defensive player and Most Offensive player.  Caroline was named North/South All Star 1999 for softball, 1999 Wendy’s High School Heisman Award, 1999 Tommy Shaver Award, and as a senior lead softball and basketball teams to state championships.  Following high school, Caroline attended Anderson University where she played softball and was named All Conference two times and Most Offensive Player.  She had hitting records for the conference and nationally while at Anderson University and was 2nd in the nation for Hardest to Strike Out for 2 years in Division II. Debra Roper graduated from Seneca High School in 1976 and lettered in three sports while in high school.  She played basketball, tennis, and volleyball.  In basketball, Debra was awarded the Captains Award in 1975 and 1977, was the Best Defensive Player in 1975, had the best free throw percentage in 1974, was named All-County in 1975 and 1976, All-Region in 1974 and 1975, and All-State in 1975.  In 1976, Debra was named the team Most Valuable Player in tennis and volleyball.  After high school Debra went to Appalachian State (1976-1980) and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education.  In 1982 she earned a Master of Religious Education at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and in 1999 earned a Master of Art; Health & Exercise Science degree from Furman University.  She was named Teacher of the Year at Greenview Elementary School in Greenville, South Carolina for the 2000-2001 school-year.  Debra has National Board Certification in Physical Education and is currently teaching physical education at Thomas E. Kerns Elementary in Greenville. The five-member classof 2013 will be enshrined in the Athletic Hall of Fame at Seneca High School on Hall of Fame Night, which is scheduled for September 13, during halftime of the Seneca versus Westside varsity football game.