More than 40 years after leading Winston-Salem State to the 1967 College Division (Division II) championship, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe finally got his championship ring. Monroe and his teammates received their rings on November 2 at WSSU’s Celebration of Champions.
“I couldn’t be happier,” Monroe said. “There are a lot of things that I’ve done in my life, but the most important thing that I’ve done in my life was come to Winston-Salem State University . The preparation I got here at Winston-Salem taught me how to handle those things out in the world.”
He credited the closeness he and his teammates shared off the court for their success on it.
“After all these years, we’re still best friends. That’s the thing that made us be winners.”
Monroe also took the time out to acknowledge Clara Gaines, widow of former basketball coach Clarence “Big House” Gaines.
“Mrs. Gaines, thank you for all the times you let Coach out the house,” Monroe said. “We knew practice was over when he got the call.”
After Monroe spoke, his framed No. 10 jersey was unveiled and it was announced that it would be retired and hung up in the rafters at the Gaines Center .
“Your legendary exploits catapulted the name of a small teachers college to national prominence,” WSSU Chancellor Donald J. Reaves told Monroe. “Yours is an honored place in our history and should always be held in the highest of esteem.”
Also honored were the members of WSSU’s 1977 and ’78 football teams, both of which went undefeated in regular season en route to CIAA championships. Those teams were headlined by future Dallas Cowboy running back Timmy Newsome and current Rams head football coach Kermit Blount; and coached by current North Carolina Central Athletic Director Bill Hayes.
Blount jokingly recalled how Hayes used tears as a way of motivating his teams.
“In the offseason of ’77, I saw Bill Hayes cry more than I’ve seen a baby cry,” he said.
Several times during the ceremony, Reeves said that the celebration was long overdue. He also said he would recommend that a committee be formed to honor the school’s legendary athletes and teams.
“With such a committee in place, the national achievements in our athletic teams will never be overlooked again,” he said.