Tigerville - North Greenville welcomed the Athletics Hall of Fame and Hall of Legends class of 2025 on September 27th, a class which included Pam Adams (Class of 1977), Chad Poole (Class of 1998), Tevin Richardson, Class of 2021, and Bea Dillard, a Hall of Legends honoree.
Pam Adams (Class of 1977) was a trailblazer in South Carolina women's basketball in the 1970s, starting at Slater-Marietta High School then transferring to Travelers Rest High School. She graduated in 1975, gaining recognition as the Greenville News Upper South Carolina High School Female Player of the Week twice and earning Western AAA All-Conference honors. Adams continued her education and basketball career at North Greenville Junior College (NGJC), graduating in 1977 with an Associate in Arts. She was one of the first women of color on the NGJC women's basketball team and the first female athlete to receive an athletic scholarship there. In the 1975–1976 season, the team achieved a 14–5 record, defeating larger schools and finishing seventh in the AIAW Junior College National Tournament. Adams was co-captain, named one of the Region II Top Ten Players, and received South Carolina All-State Honorable Mention. In the following season, she led the team to its best results in history, finishing first in South Carolina, second in the region, and third nationally. She resides in Easley, SC.
Chad Poole (Class of 1998) made a significant impact on the golf team at North Greenville University, formerly North Greenville College,leading to numerous tournament victories. Chad became team captain in his sophomore year and earned All-Tournament Team honors at the NGC SpringInvitational and was the medalist at the Cumberland College Invitational during his junior year. The team also won the conference championship that year and qualified for the NAIA Golf National Championship in 1997. Over his four years, Chad helped the team win multiple tournaments and reach the national championship. After graduating, he pursued a career as a professional golfer and joined the PGA. Tragically, Chad was diagnosed with ALS at 27 and passed away in 2016 at 40. He is survived by his wife Erin and their two children, Maggie and Nick.
Tevin Richardson (Class of 2021) redefined speed at North Greenville University, setting records for the Trailblazers in both indoor and outdoor events. A FIVE TIME All-American, he won eight Conference Carolinas championships and competed in the NCAA Division II National Championships in 2018-2021. On the national stage, Richardson achieved top five finishes in three events: fifth in the 200 meters in 2019 and third in2021, along with a fourth-place finish in the 100 meters in 2021. He also anchored the men's 4x100 relay to a second-place finish in Division II in 2019. Richardson holds the school records for the indoor 200 meters (21.30), outdoor 400 meters (46.56), and shares the 4x400 (3:14 and 3:12) and outdoor 4x100 (40.40) records. Now residing in Anderson, SC, Richardson has retired from professional track and works as a personal trainer and private track coach.
Bea Dillard has played a crucial role not only for North Greenville but also for NGU baseball. In 2018, the baseball field at NGU underwent an upgrade to turf. Bea Dillard from Spartanburg, along with an anonymous donor, provided the primary contributions to initiate the project. The newly installed turf field was named Ray Dillard Field, honoring Dillard's husband, who had a long-standing baseball career with the City of Spartanburg. Bea remains a steadfast supporter of NGU through various means. She is a member of First Baptist Spartanburg and is actively engaged with her Sunday School.
