Lincoln University, PA - In a ceremony held on Friday, September 27, The Lincoln University honored five former standout student-athletes by inducting them into the Athletic Hall of Fame.
 
The Induction Class of 2013 includes Wendell Brown, '38, a football and track & field standout, former coach and professor Robert Gardner, '86, track & field standout Colonel George Hadrick, '87, men's basketball star Darrel Lewis, '99, and former wrestling, baseball, and meritorious service standout Gary Michelson, '65. These five individuals were voted into the Hall of Fame by the Athletics Hall of Fame committee.
 
Wendell Brown came to Lincoln as a recognized football and track star at Howard High School in Wilmington, DE.  Brown was a two-sport athlete at Lincoln from 1934-37. He ran track and played football. At the 2^nd Annual Testimonial Banquet for the football team, he received a golden football and the 1937 MVP trophy from then President Walter L. Wright. In a win over Hampton in 1937, Brown scored the lone touchdown of the game, a 79-yard run. While a student at Lincoln Brown was a member of the Glee Club and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Brown served in the United States Army (1947-1967) and was employed by the United States Civil Service (1967-1987) where he specialized in defense logistics and defense supply. In his spare time, Brown was a member of Toastmasters International and the Philadelphia Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi for 70+ years.  As a member of Wharton-Wesley United Methodist Church, he served as the Sunday School Superintendent for 38 years and the Finance Committee Chairman for 25 years.   In 1988 and 1993 he attended his 50^th and 55^th Class Reunions.  As faithful supporter of The Lincoln University, in 2003 he was one of the Class of 1938 members to make a noteworthy donation to the Langston Hughes Memorial Library. Brown, who passed in 2009 at the age of 92, earned degrees in Education and English.
 
Robert Gardner was known to some as "Prof" to others as the "Godfather," or to many as simply "Bob," Gardner left his mark on Lincoln University. He was the school's coach in wrestling (1947-69), football (1952-60), boxing (1947-52), soccer (1947), and cricket (1947). He holds the distinction of coaching Lincoln's lone NCAA individual national wrestling champion. In addition, he served as the chairman of the school's Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics department from 1977 to 1986. Gardner was a tenured member of The Lincoln University faculty who taught for 39 years (1947-1986). He was a stellar collegiate athlete, versatile coach, inspiring educator/administrator, and WWII veteran. He was the impetus and major supporter of the nationally ranked The Lincoln University Track & Field team that won numerous indoor and outdoor championships, during the successful tenure of Coach Cyrus Jones. To honor his legacy at Lincoln, the University named the campus fitness trail, The Robert N. Gardner Jogging–Fitness Trial.  Gardner earned his B.A. degree in biology from Macalester in 1940, and B.S. and masters of education degrees from the University of Minnesota. He was inducted into the Macalester College Hall of Fame in 1987. During WWII he was a Tuskegee Airman in the U.S. Air Force. Gardner received the 1990 Distinguished Citizen award from his alma mater, Macalester College for career achievement and service. Professor Gardner served as a director of several Peace Corps training programs in Africa and in the Caribbean. He was also involved in volunteer work for the Red Cross.
 
George Hadrick is a seven-time track and field All-America and member of The Lincoln University's first NCAA Division III outdoor track and field national championship team in 1985. He was part of the school record 4 x 400-meter and 4 x 800-meter relay teams. Hadrick received eight varsity letters. Hadrick earned All-American honors in the 400-meter and 800-meter runs as well as a member of the 4 x 400-meter relay teams.  Hadrick was the 1^st Lincoln student to complete the Army ROTC Program at the University of Delaware in 1985 and received a US Army 2^nd Lieutenant Commission during his junior year at Lincoln. Hadrick received the Professors' Award for Business Administration and Economics and was a member of the Business and Spanish Clubs.  As a Colonel in the US Army, he has protected the homeland by deploying on numerous occasions to Desert Shield/Storm, Bosnia, Kosovo, East Timor, and Iraq.  He was the only American selected to work for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.  He is one the most decorated service members within the Department of Defense. Hadrick currently serves as the Chief, Europe/Eurasia Area desk Officer for Weapons of Mass Destruction for the United States Strategic Command Center for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction, The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and Army Senior Service Advisor. He was the third person to ever be inducted in the Norristown Area High School Hall of Champions and Hall of Fame. Hadrick, who earned a degree in business administration, currently resides in Triangle, Virginia.
 
Darrel Lewis was one of the most prolific scorers in Division III history during his time with Lincoln (1996-99). Lewis ended his career as the all-time leading scorer in Lincoln men's basketball history with 2,294 points and helped the Lions qualify for postseason play three times. He is the only men's basketball player in school history to score 2,000 career points. Following his senior season, Lewis was named a D3hoops.com first team All-American and named to the ECAC South Region first team. He was also named the Sam Cozen Small College Player of the Year in 1999. During his senior season at Lincoln, Lewis was named ECAC-South Player of the Week (three times) and to the D3hoops.com Team of the Week three times. He scored a career high 48 points in a road win over Salisbury State. Lewis ended his senior year, second in scoring (27.2), and fifth in 3-pointers made per game (4.5). Lewis led Lincoln to the 1995-96 ECAC South Region championship as a freshman and was named MVP of the event. The following year, Lewis finished second in Division III in scoring (26.7 ppg) while leading Lincoln to an ECAC South Region postseason appearance, which Lincoln hosted. Lincoln lost in the championship game in overtime despite a 34-point performance from Lewis, who was named to the all-tournament team. The Coatesville, PA native is currently playing professionally in Iceland where he has enjoyed a successful 12-year career overseas. He earned his degree in criminal justice.
 
Gary Michelson competed on the varsity wrestling team for four years and baseball team 2 years where he lettered in each sport.  He was elected captain of the baseball team his senior year. He was named most improved wrestler in 1964 and qualified for the NAIA national championships in 1965. In his first year at Lincoln, Michelson was elected Vice President of his freshman class. He also had the distinction of leading the class in a Lincoln tradition of Wood Night," an event on homecoming weekend that welcomed the freshman into of the Lincoln student body. He also was vice President of the International Relations Club, which gave him a basic understanding of the University's many foreign students and their cultures. Following his graduation from Lincoln, Michelson had a successful business career as he worked for IBM in several locations throughout the United States. While employed with IMB, Gary received professional recognition as Rookie Salesman/Manager of the Year and Salesman of the Year.  He was recognized as an Officer in IBMs 100% Club, President of the 100% Club and as the nation's top sales manager at 3 progressive levels of management from 1975-83.  He retired from IBM in 1984 and started his first business called Liberty Sales and Marketing Group that he sold to River Associates, a private equity group from Chattanooga, Tenn. where he serves as a member of the Board of Directors. A current member of The Lincoln University Board of Trustees, Michelson contributed one of the largest gifts in the history of the University. Gary is a 1965 graduate with a degree in Business.  He is retired and living in Scottsdale, Arizona.