Former FCA National Board President and philanthropist Don Chalmers, former LSU and Army football coach Paul Dietzel, University of North Carolina women’s basketball head coach Sylvia Hatchell and former OU All-American Clendon Thomas have been named to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Hall of Champions, Les Steckel, FCA’s president and CEO, announced today.
“This is an outstanding class entering the Hall of Champions,” Steckel said. “These four individuals have spent decades making a tremendous impact on the world for Jesus Christ through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. They’ve given selflessly to ensure the word of God continues to stand at the forefront of FCA’s mission to present to coaches and athletes, and all whom they influence, the challenge and adventure of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, serving Him in their relationships in the fellowship of the church.”
Don Chalmers
Chalmers’ involvement with FCA began when he attended one of the first sports camps in Estes Park, Colo. While at camp, he gave his life to the Lord and has since supported the ministry with his time, resources and vision. Greatly involved with FCA Wrestling, he volunteered and financially supported the ministry, and he served as the National Board of Trustees Chairman from 2010-2011.
Diagnosed with a rare form of cancer only a few years ago, Chalmers resolved to make the most of his opportunities and influence and initiated the re-launch of FCA New Mexico. He made the initial pledge to fund the position of State Director, served on the task force to help build awareness and momentum, and assisted with the search and hiring committee of the new position. Chalmers went to be with the Lord on Easter Sunday this spring. His life was spent helping others, and in his own words, “giving hand ups, not hand outs.”
Paul Dietzel
Coach Dietzel used his influence as one of the most recognized names in college sports to help pioneer FCA in its infancy as a board member, national speaker, donor, volunteer and coach. He played football at Duke University until enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a B-29 Bomber Pilot for WWII. After the war, he continued to play at Miami of Ohio until 1947. He attended his first summer camp in Estes Park in 1958 and returned as a speaker for the next five years, continuing to inspire athletes for decades.
Dietzel’s head coaching career includes LSU, Army and South Carolina. He was the recipient of numerous football coaching awards, such as SEC Coach of the Year and AFCA National Coach of the Year with LSU’s national championship in 1958, and the inaugural FCA Christian Coach of the Year in 1971. Coach Dietzel spoke with passion and conviction at hundreds of FCA events throughout his lifetime and served as FCA Board of Trustees Chairman from 1963-1967, and Vice President from 1961-1962. He commanded respect, and though he passed away in 2013, Dietzel’s influence lives on in service to the ministry to which he dedicated himself.
Sylvia Hatchell
Hatchell has been a constant encourager and friend of FCA for over 25 years, speaking at campus Huddles and leading a women’s Bible study while amassing over 900 wins in a 38 year coaching career, standing number two all-time in women’s basketball history. AP National Coach of the Year in 2006, she was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame two years prior. A 2013 member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Hatchell attends various fundraising events and avidly supports her players who want to go to FCA Camp.
Hatchell recognizes that her platform comes as an opportunity to impact athletes for Christ. Bringing her expertise and insight to faith and athletics, she wrote as a regular contributor to Sharing the Victory magazine on topics such as performance, Bible reading and body image. Diagnosed with leukemia in 2013, she is now in remission and a true pioneer of competing through challenges while staying fully committed to God’s work.
Clendon Thomas
Active in FCA as a speaker, leader and volunteer for 58 years, Thomas gave himself to the ministry through his platform as a standout athlete. He led the nation in rushing in 1955, ’56 and ’57 as a running back at the University of Oklahoma and was an All-American in 1957 before an NFL career that spanned 11 years. Thomas has been a pivotal part of cultivating the ministry in Oklahoma, even helping to secure a plane and volunteering as a pilot to fly staff and speakers around the state.
He attended his first FCA Camp in Estes Park in 1956 and has served on FCA’s National Board of Trustees, chairing the board for two years, and on the State Executive Board in Oklahoma, becoming Oklahoma’s first board president. Thomas is a humble man who loves Christ and the ministry of FCA and has devoted countless hours, talents and resources to further God’s kingdom through the vehicle of athletics. His faithful support to the ministry is invaluable.
With the addition of Chalmers, Dietzel, Hatchell and Thomas, the Hall of Champions now includes 86 members. The honorees are determined by an FCA selection committee following a nomination process that includes staff, volunteers, athletes and members of the organization’s Board of Trustees. The full list of Hall of Champions members is available at FCA.org.
The Hall of Champions was established in 1991 to honor individuals who have demonstrated a consistent commitment to Jesus Christ through the ministry of FCA. They are considered volunteer “All Stars” who have given above and beyond the call of duty and have upheld the Four Core Values of FCA – Integrity, Serving, Teamwork and Excellence.
ABOUT FCA The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the heart and soul in sports, is touching millions of lives... one heart at a time. Since 1954, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes has been challenging coaches and athletes on the professional, college, high school, junior high and youth levels to use the powerful medium of athletics to impact the world for Jesus Christ. FCA focuses on serving local communities by equipping, empowering, and encouraging people to make a difference for Christ.