URI Athletics Announces 2013 Hall of Fame Inductees

KINGSTON, R.I. -- The newest class of inductees for the University of Rhode Island Athletics Hall of Fame has been announced. Five outstanding individuals – Lynn Lanzel LaValley, Anthony J. Rose, Jr., Thom Spann, Raymond Williams, and Andrew Yosinoff - will be honored during Hall of Fame weekend – Feb. 8-9, 2013.

"It is an honor to induct five fine representatives of URI Athletics into our Hall of Fame," director of athletics Thorr Bjorn said. "It will be a special weekend for Lynn, Tony, Thom, Ray, and Andy and I congratulate their many achievements.  It will also be special for our fans to welcome them home and celebrate their induction into the Hall of Fame."

The full slate of Hall of Fame events kicks off on Friday, Feb. 8, with an induction ceremony and dinner held at Quidnessett Country Club in North Kingstown, R.I. The following afternoon, the Hall of Fame class will be honored at halftime of the men's basketball game versus St. Bonaventure.

2013 University of Rhode Island Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees

Lynn Lanzel LeValley – Women’s Track & Field
Lanzel LeValley finished her career with the University of Rhode Island women’s track & field team with numerous school records and championships in the shot put and 20 lb. weight throw.  She currently holds the URI records for indoor shot put (49 feet, one inch) set at the 1988 New England Championship and the outdoor shot put (48 feet, seven inches) at the URI Invitational in 1988.  Throughout her career, Lanzel LeValley won individual titles in the shot put at the New England and ECAC Championships.  A standout in the classroom, she was a member of the Dean’s List and earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Anthony J. Rose, Jr. – Football/Basketball/Track & Field
An All-State football, basketball and track star out of New Jersey, Rose competed in all three sports for the University of Rhode Island when he arrived in Kingston in the fall of 1951.  He played for head coaches Hal Kopp (football), Paul Cierzo (basketball) and Fred Tootell (track).  In September, 1952, Rose received military notice and spent two years with the United States Marine Corps.  Despite being re-recruited to the Rams’ football program for the fall of 1954, Rose decided instead to embark on a highly successful business career in Wakefield, R.I.  An integral and continuous supporter of the University, Rose received the Alumni Association’s Ram Award for Meritorious Service in 1989 and was awarded an honorary doctorate in 1991.  Among his many other philanthropic endeavors at URI, Rose has established endowment funds for academic scholarships, the university library, and the athletics department.

Thom Spann – Football/Track & Field
Spann was a standout two-sport student-athlete at the University of Rhode Island.  As a member of the football team from 1975-77, Spann saw action as a wide receiver and punt returner for the Rams.  During the 1976 season, he led the Yankee Conference in receptions with 20 catches for 341 yards.  The Brooklyn, N.Y. native was also a four-year letterwinner in track & field.  Since his graduation from URI in 1978, Spann has served as a highly successful and influential track & field coach at Hope H.S. and Johnson & Wales University.  He founded the Providence Cobras youth track club and is a member of the Halls of Fame for the Rhode Island Interscholastic League and the Rhode Island Track Coaches.  Most recently, Spann was the recipient of the 2011 Ben Mondor Community Service Award, by Words Unlimited.

Raymond Williams – Football/Track & Field
From 1983-87, Williams was a standout two-sport student-athlete, competing for the Rams’ football and track & field squads.  On the gridiron, Williams was a key component of Rhody’s nationally-ranked football teams that captured back-to-back Yankee Conference titles and competed in the NCAA Playoffs in 1985 and 1986.  An All-Yankee Conference first team selection in 1985 as a defensive back, Williams still holds Rhody’s career record for pass breakups (25).  He played one season in the National Football League (NFL) with the Pittsburgh Steelers.  As a member of the track & field team, Williams set the school record in the triple jump.  He graduated from Pepperdine Law School in 1992 and is currently a partner in the global law firm DLA Piper.

Andy Yosinoff – Men’s Tennis
From 1966-70, Yosinoff competed on the men’s tennis team at the University of Rhode Island.  Throughout his Rhody career, he held the #1 singles position and won the Yankee Conference individual tennis title in 1970.  That season, he helped lead Rhode Island to a undefeated 14-0 regular season record, en route to the Rams’ team title in Yankee Conference play.  Yosinoff finished his Rhody tennis career with an overall singles record of 48-12.  After his graduation from URI, he earned master’s degree in physical education from Miami (Ohio) and has served as the highly successful women’s basketball coach at Emmanuel College in Boston for the past 36 years.  The third-winningest active women’s basketball coach in Division III, Yosinoff is also a member of the New England Basketball and Great Northeast Athletic Conference Halls of Fame.

The 2013 Hall of Fame weekend is a collaborative effort between the athletics department and the alumni association, as part of their Big Chill Weekend.  For more information on the Hall of Fame weekend events, please contact the athletics development office at (401) 874-5287, or visit GoRhody.com.

For more information on the Big Chill Weekend, please contact the alumni relations office at (401) 874-5808 or visit the Big Chill Weekend website: http://advance.uri.edu/alumni/bigchill