Frankfort, Ky.—As a part of the Homecoming festivities at Kentucky State University, six former student-athletes were inducted into the prestigious KSU Hall-of-Fame on Friday night.
 
Claude Chenault
Sport:  Track and Field
KSU – 1924 Graduate
***Third year on the ballot
 
Claude Chenault was known as "the Jesse Owens" of the early days.  As records were seldom kept, he was credited as the Kentucky Champion in the Kentucky Negro Education Association.  He was proclaimed as one of the first champions, in the sport of track and field, for Kentucky State College (KSC).  He earned the State of Kentucky Gold medal in the 100-yard dash with a world record time of 9.4 in 1924.
 
There are no written documents of the many accomplishments this great man may have earned, however, to be considered the fastest man in the State of Kentucky some 90 years ago. This is what keeps his history alive and is the reason he stands tall as a champion for Kentucky State University.
 
Alfred Smith
Sport:  Basketball
KSU – 1982 Graduate – (Double Major) Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and African American Studies
 
Alford Smith, a Louisville, Kentucky (Butler High School) native, earned All-State honors during his senior year in high school. He entered KSU in 1978, and was a standout 6'6", forward/center who used his height, athletic ability and competitive edge, earning athletic letters during his junior and senior years.
 
During Smith's four years at KSU, he was unfortunate to have had four Head Coaches.  He was recruited by John B. McLendon, who he credits as his mentor.  Coach McLendon, a Hall of Fame coach, instilled in Smith, pride and tradition for KSU. During his last two years, he was coached by Floyd Theard, Ron Mitchell and Silas McKinnie.
 
Smith had many memorable games and was able to compile many double-double's (points and rebounds).  During the time of his attendance, KSU did not keep career double-double stat's, but if they had, Smith would be high on that list.  One of the best games of his career occurred when KSU upset, Norfolk State University, the nation's 5^th ranked NCAA Division 2 team, 80 – 73.  At that time, Norfolk State was coached by KSU's Legendary Former Coach and College Basketball Hall of Famer, Coach Lucius Mitchell.  Smith had 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in this victory.
 
Smith is listed in the top 25 in several categories.  When graduated in 1982, he was ranked number seven on the Career Rebound List, with over 550 rebounds (7.1 per game). His career statistics will remain in the record books for years to come.
 
Smith was the leader in Field Goal Percentages for three consecutive years.  His 1979-1980, his field goal percentage was .548.  In 1980-1981 his average was .557, and during the 1981-1982 season, it was .565.  Previously, only two KSU Hall of Famers had lead their teams in scoring percentages in 3 or more seasons and they were Travis Grant and Gerald Cunningham. 
 
Upon his final game in 1982, Smith was listed as the eighth-all-time leading scorer with over 1,150 points (averaging 12.4 points per game). Amazingly, he accomplished so much, having only played 10 games as a freshman. 
 
Smith currently resides in Louisville, KY.  He's married to Wina Smiley, and they are proud parents of two daughters, Tenea and Eleanor, and son Brandon.  He's a teacher and a high school basketball coach with the Jefferson County Public Schools.  He is also a member of the K-Club.
 
Sean A. Stevenson Sr.
Sport:  Football
KSU – 1996 Graduate – Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
***Second year on the ballot
 
In 1991, Sean Stevenson was recruited out of Indianapolis, Indiana, to play football, by head coach Maurice Hunt.  In his sophomore year, he began playing football, and was a starter each year.  He established himself as the number one receiver for the mighty Thorobred football team, earning an athletic letter yearly.
 
From 1992 to 1994, Stevenson was the Thorobreds' top wide out, leading all receivers in receptions, yards and touchdowns.  He played in more than a dozen games where he averaged over 100 receiving yards per game.  During his impressive sophomore season in 1992, he had 60 receptions for 1028 yards and 9 touchdowns, averaging 17.1 yards per catch and 114 yards per game.  His most impressive game, as a sophomore, was against Clark Atlanta University where he made a touchdown and had 205 receiving yards.  Stevenson was listed in the NCAA Division II Top 20 ranking with a pass completion average of 5.5 catches per game. He was honored by the KSU Football team as the Most Valuable Receiver.
 
In 1993, Stevenson began his junior season as a Pre-Season All-American, continuing his stellar performance, setting nine receiving records.  He earned both the Most Valuable Receiver and Most Valuable Player.
 
As a senior, Stevenson received the Most Valuable Player Award for the second time.  In 1995, as he concluded his KSU career, as the all-time leader, he held nine reception records in the following categories:  Receptions in a single game (9);  Reception yards in a single game (205);  Reception yards in a season (1,028);  Touchdown receptions in a season (9);  Receptions in a single season (60);  Career receptions (178);  Career reception yards (2,794);  Career yards per catch (15.7);  and Career touchdown reception (20).  At this time, Stevenson continues to hold seven of the KSU all-time reception records. Also, in 1995 Stevenson's KSU career was highlighted when he was selected for the NCAA Division II All-Star Snow Bowl Game.
 
In 1992, Stevenson became a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.  Currently, he resides in Indianapolis, Indiana where he is the Director of Information Technology Services for Head Start.
 
James Lester Strode
Sport:  Baseball
Attended KSU 1978 to 1980
 
James Lester Strode is a native of McMinnville, Tennessee where he started his baseball career at Warren County High School. Lester Strode, as he is known by his KSU baseball family, was an outstanding pitcher for the Thorobreds. In 1977, he began his college career as a Cumberland Bulldog at a Junior College before transferring to KSU in 1978.
 
While at KSU, Strode dominated the pitcher's mound and is considered one of the Thorobreds' all-time greats.  During his three-year career, Strode led the NAIA in strikeouts twice, earning athletic letters each year.
 
In 1980, Strode was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the fourth-round.  He then went on to play nine seasons in the minor league with the Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs farm systems.  In 1984, he was named to the Southern League All-Star team after posting a 9 win - 2 lost record, with seven complete games for Double-A Memphis.
 
After Strode concluded his playing career, he worked with several minor-league Class "A" baseball organizations.  In 1989, he was with Wytheville (Rookie League), and in Peoria, IL from 1990-1991, Winston Salem, NC in 1992 and Daytona, FL in 1993.  Each team listed is a part of the Chicago Cubs minor league system.
 
He is currently the longest tenured coach on the Cubs' staff and is in his 28^th season as a member of the organization. In the 1994-1995 season, he became a pitching assistant with the Chicago Cubs. From 1996 through 2006, he became the Clubs minor league pitching coordinator, and in 1997 became the Cubs bullpen coach, and has served in this position under five managers, including the great "Lou Piniella and Joe Maddon".
 
In 2016, Strode was the first ever athlete to become a member of a World Series Champion, when the Chicago Cub's defeated the Cleveland Indians.
 
Strode is married to Angela and currently resides in Chicago, Illinois.
 
Jerome Williams
Sport:  Baseball
KSU – 1977 Graduate
***Second year on the ballot
 
Jerome Williams was an all-star first team high school baseball player recruited out of Mackenzie High School in Detroit, MI, in 1973, by head coach James Oliver. While playing at Kentucky State University, Jerome was a starter for four-years.  He had a tremendous freshman year, earning him the honor of "KSU Freshman of the Year".  He batted .362 and was selected to the NAIA All-District Team.
 
In Williams' sophomore season, he finished with an astounding .477 batting average, second to his teammate, KSU Hall of Famer, Gregory Carter whose batting average was .500.  Nationally, Williams' batting average was the seventh best among the NCAA Division II teams.  As a result of his accomplishments, he was selected to the NAIA All-District Team for the second year.  His talents helped lead the KSU baseball team to the best record in school history.  The team finished with 43 wins and 10 loses.
 
In 1976, his junior year, he continued his torrid hitting with an astounding .525 average, which was fourth nationally among the NCAA Division II teams.  Williams' outstanding hitting assisted KSU's baseball team to earn a trip to the NAIA College World Series for the first time in school history where KSU finished third. He was selected to the NAIA World Series All-Tournament Team.  During this season, Williams became the first KSU baseball player, in the school's history, to be selected to the NAIA All-America Baseball first team.  In addition, he was selected to the NAIA All-District Team for the third straight year.
 
In 1976, Williams was a major reason the baseball team obtained the best record in the program's history, as they compiled an impressive 55 wins and 6 losses.
 
Williams finished his KSU career as the leader in batting average, hits, games played, and was a four time NAIA All-District Team selectee, earning an athletic letter each of his four years.  In addition, he received the KSU Best Defensive Player award in 1976.
 
Williams currently lives in Warren, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan.
 
Larry "Yang" Young
Sport:  Football
KSU – 1968 Graduate
***Third year on the ballot
 
Larry Young was considered, by many, as one of the most dominant defensive line players in the 1960's and played under one of the National Football League greats, coach Charles Bates. 
 
Prior to the 1970's, it was extremely difficult for college football players attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities to receive national attention or recognition from the National Football League.  Young, however, dominated the football field and was able to break through barriers previously preventing many of the great players to achieve success and be recognized.  However, Young's abilities and tenacity allowed him to be recognized as "one of the best" nationally.
 
Young was a starter for four consecutive years earning an athletic letter each year.  His skills and athleticism lead him to earn the position of team Captain in 1966.  He was named to the All-Conference team on several occasions.  Kentucky State University also honored him as the team's defensive player of the year and the most outstanding defensive lineman of the year.
 
Young currently resides in Columbia, South Carolina.