MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis M Club, the official letterwinners’ organization of the university, will welcome six Tigers to the Hall of Fame on Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Penny Hardaway Hall of Fame in its annual induction ceremony, presented by First Horizon. The class will also be recognized at halftime of the Memphis men’s basketball game against Cincinnati on Sunday, Feb. 26 at the FedExForum.
The class of 2022 includes football’s Wade Smith, men’s basketball’s Omar Sneed, baseball’s Drew Martinez, softball’s Lelani Bernardino, women’s soccer’s Shelley Heinz and women’s track and field’s Susan King.
The M Club will also present four special awards. John Wilfong will receive the Billy J. Murphy Award, while Jackson and Betty Moore will be presented the Dr. Cecil C. Humphreys Golden Tiger Award. Joyce Wiuff will receive the Murray Armstrong Award, while Clayton “Roger” Sapp will be presented the Ralph Hatley Silver M Award.
To purchase tickets to the M Club Hall of Fame induction ceremony, please click here.
Wade Smith
Football | 1999-2002
Smith was a four-year letterman for the football team from 1999-2002, playing in 45 games with 26 starts over his career. After seeing totaling six receptions for 31 yards as a tight end in 1999 and 2000, Smith was moved to right tackle in 2001, where he started all 11 games for the Tigers despite breaking his hand midway through the campaign. Smith, a two-year captain, started all 12 games at left tackle for Memphis in 2002. In 2000, Smith was named the team’s recipient of the Glenn Jones 12th Man Award.
Smith was selected in the third round (78th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. He would go on to play 12 years in the NFL with Miami, the New York Jets, Kansas City, Houston and Philadelphia, playing in 143 games with 98 starts. In 2012, Smith was named to the Pro Bowl as a member of the Houston Texans.
Omar Sneed
Men’s Basketball | 1997-99
A junior college transfer who made an immediate impact for the Tigers in the late 1990s, Sneed became the 34th Tiger all-time to join the 1,000 point club. He poured in 605 total points and led the team in scoring (20.9 ppg) as a junior in 1997-98 en route to being named to the USBWA All-District team and the NABC All-District squad as well as being selected the Tennessee Sportswriters Player of the Year. He totaled 467 points during his senior campaign and averaged 16.7 points each time out. Sneed was named to the 1999 All-Conference USA Team and was selected for a second time to the NABC All-District Squad. He earned 18 double-doubles over his two years as a Tiger and registered a career-best 37 points against DePaul.
Drew Martinez
Baseball | 2009-11
Martinez started 162 of his 163 career games for Memphis. Martinez was a two-time Second-Team All-Conference USA selection (2010-11) and was also named to the 2009 Conference USA All-Freshman Team. His 2010 campaign was one for the record books, when he led the team, C-USA and ranked 29th nationally with 98 hits. He also led the Tigers and ranked fifth in the league with his 62 runs scored. Martinez’s 98 hits, 260 at-bats and 22-game hit streak in 2010 all rank second all-time on Memphis’ single-season lists. For his career, Martinez batted .342 with 152 runs scored, 237 hits, 35 doubles, five triples, 78 RBI and 48 stolen bases.
After being taken in the 23rd round (692nd pick) in the 2010 MLB Draft by the New York Mets, Martinez returned to Memphis for the 2011 campaign. Following his third season, he was selected in the 10th round (315th pick) in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Angels. Martinez played six seasons professionally in the minor leagues, reaching as high as the AA level.
Lelani Bernardino
Softball | 2009-13
Bernardino, a C-USA All-Freshman Team and Second Team All-Conference selection, ranks fifth in program history in runs scored (104) and triples (8), fourth in hits (175) and is third in doubles (31). Bernardino also ranks in the top-10 in on-base percentage (.373), games played and started (211), walks drawn (72) and sacrifice hits (27). Bernardino was part of a Memphis Tiger team that played to the program’s best winning percentage (.720) during the 2011 season while ranking second in most wins in a season at 36.
Shelley Heinz
Women’s Soccer | 1995-97
Heinz, a two-time First-Team All-Conference USA selection, was part of the inaugural Memphis Tiger team and recorded 15 goals on 73 shots during the 1995 season. Heinz currently holds the record for points scored in a single game (9), goals scored in a single game (4) and shots in a single game (10).
Susan King
Women’s Track and Field | 2005-08
King came to the University of Memphis in 2005 after an All-American career at Barton County Community College where she was the 2005 JUCO National Champion in the discus. King was a four-time JUCO All-American in shot put and discus. She helped her team to the NJCAA National Championship both indoors and outdoors in 2004 and 2005. At Memphis, King qualified for the NCAA Indoor Regional in the shotput in her first season as a Tiger. Additionally, King qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Regional in the hammer throw, shot put and discus. She was named as the Conference USA Athlete of the Week three times in 2008, was the Outstanding Performer at the C-USA Championships and was named C-USA Outdoor Athlete of the Year in 2008. King was the C-USA Indoor and Outdoor champion in shot put in 2008 and was an NCAA Regional champion in shot put in 2008 to qualify for the NCAA Championships where she finished as NCAA runner-up.
King was a three-time All-American at Memphis, held the Memphis and C-USA record in shot put and the Memphis record in discus. In 2008, she set the school record in shot put indoors and outdoors with throws of 58’6.5 (indoor) and 59’4.75 (outdoor), as well as the outdoor discus record with a throw of 51.19 meters. King still holds both Memphis shot put records. She went on to compete in the US Olympic Trial finals in 2008, finishing fifth place.
John Wilfong
Billy J. Murphy Award
Presented to former student-athlete who excelled in his/her profession since leaving the University of Memphis.
John Wilfong is a lifelong Memphian. He completed his high school career at Briarcrest Christian School and went on to the University of Memphis. He played for the Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team from 1983-87, graduating in 1987 and earning his MBA in 2004. During his Memphis career, the team went to the NCAA Final Four in 1983, won the Metro Conference Championship in 1984, 1985 and 1987 and had a record of 111-25 during his career.
Currently, Mr. Wilfong services as a Senior Vice President – Private Wealth Management, Financial Advisor at UBS Private Wealth Management. He is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor. His career began in 1987 with Morgan Keegan & Co. Inc. He served as the Managing Director at Morgan Keegan from 1989 – 2007. In 2022, he was recognized in the Forbes/Shook Best-in-State Wealth Advisors, Tennessee.
He actively services the community involving himself with several impactful charities in our community: Coaching for Literacy, (Board Chairman), The University of Memphis Foundation, (Investment Committee Chairman), and the National Christian Foundation Memphis, (Founder).
John and his wife, Catherine, have been married for over 25 years and are proud parents of three sons – Jonathan, Bennett, and Luke.
Jackson & Betty Moore
Dr. Cecil C. Humphreys Golden Tiger Award
Presented to individuals for their financial support of Memphis Athletics.
Jackson Moore is the retired Executive Chairman, President and CEO of Regions Financial Corporation (RF on the NYSE), headquartered in Birmingham, AL, one of the nation’s largest regional financial companies, which conducts its business activities through banks and affiliated companies. Moore had served as Chairman, President and CEO of Union Planters Corporation, based in Memphis, TN, prior to its merger with RF in 2004.
Jack has a lifelong commitment to religious, civic and educational organizations and has served in many capacities over the years. He is an Emeritus Trustee of Vanderbilt University having formerly served as the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and is a member of the board of Youth Programs, Inc. which supports the PGA Tour Fed Ex Cup Playoff event in Memphis, the Fed-Ex Invitational, and is past Chairman of the National Board of Vanderbilt Law School, where he was an Order of the Coif graduate in 1973 and was named its Distinguished Alumnus in 2012. He is the former Chair of the President’s Cabinet at the University of Alabama, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1970. He was a Director of Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare, one of the country’s largest private healthcare providers, based in Memphis. He is a former member of the Economic Growth Engine of Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee and the Memphis Port Authority. He is a former Chair of the Church Council of Christ Church, Memphis, TN. He currently serves on the Steering Committee of the University of Memphis Capital Campaign.
Moore has previously served as Chairman of the Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Chickasaw Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award bestowed by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America and was presented the Distinguished Citizen Award in 2004 for his lifelong contributions to the American Mid-South community.
Jack served on active duty in the United States Military holding the rank of Captain in the United States Army and Army Reserves.
Betty Wilson Moore was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, the daughter of Dorothy and Kemmons Wilson. She graduated from East High School in 1966 and the University of Alabama in 1970, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.
Volunteerism has played a major role in her life. Active involvement in her church and her family foundation, The Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation, which she chaired until recently, continue to be her ongoing commitments. This foundation manages and stewards grants annually within the Memphis community.
In Brunswick, Ga., Betty serves on the board of Hand in Hand of Glynn, a charitable organization building 60 homes for those experiencing homelessness. It is the belief of Hand in Hand that “housing first” and “permanent, affordable, supportive housing” will change the trajectory of the lives we touch.
She and Jack have been a part of the founding families of a new 501C3 charitable organization that is promoting laity discipleship, mental health and the Christian journey.
What keeps her active and motivated today is reading and studying God’s word, prayer, gardening, traveling, exercising, investing in friendships, and loving and being involved in the lives of her children and grandchildren. Raising a family and supporting her husband in all areas of his career has been her devotion.
She met her life partner, Jack Moore, while in college and they married in 1971 and moved to Nashville, TN where Jack was attending Law School at Vanderbilt.
They reared three children; two sons, and one daughter, and she now treasures time spent with their adult children and their spouses and their ten grandchildren living in Nashville and Memphis, ages 17 to 9 (eight boys and two girls).
Joyce Wiuff
Murray Armstrong Award
Presented to a Tiger coach, administrator or employee for distinguished service to Memphis Athletics.
At the age of 18, Wiuff was hired as secretary for the Memphis department of athletics on a six month trial basis. Wiuff was hired by Dr. C.C. “Sonny” Humphreys, the former athletic director and president of Memphis State University. She worked in the football office for 14 years and for three athletic directors – Billy “Spook” Murphy, Bob Patterson and Charlie Cavagnaro.
In the early 1970s, Coach Murphy named Wiuff ticket manager. After six weeks, I told him to “move out that other secretary, I’m coming back.”
Coach Murphy retired as football coach after the 1971 season and stayed as athletic director. Soon after, Wiuff left the football office to remain his secretary. She kept the same job under ensuing athletic directors. Wiuff retired in 1987 after 30 years.
Murray Armstrong, a Tiger coach and administrator aid who had been at MSU 25 years once made the statement “Heck, she could run the place, and did.”
Clayton “Roger” Sapp
Ralph Hatley Silver M Award
Presented to a dedicated supporter who has given multiple years of exceptional service to Memphis Athletics.
Clayton “Roger” Sapp is a native of Atlanta, Ga. and moved to Memphis in the early 1950’s. He attended grade school at University of Memphis Campus School (then Training School) and Messick High School. Sapp went on to attend college at Mmephis, graduating in 1971 with an accounting degree.
Mr. Sapp is no stranger to the restaurant business with his mother, Mary, working for Buntyn Café and his stepfather, Richard, managing the dining hall at Rhodes College (then Southwestern College). In 1972, Sapp was hired by Wurzburg Bros. Inc as their accountant, serving for 34 years. In 2001, business partner and friend, Craig Blondis and Sapp bought Tony’s Pizza on Central Avenue and Central BBQ was born. Sapp supported the business, while Blondis managed the restaurant. Then in 2005, Sapp stepped away from his accountant position to open the second Central BBQ location on Summer Avenue. In 2010, Sapp and Blondis opened a third location downtown on Butler Avenue near the Civil Rights Museum. In present day, Sapp is a co-owner in three Central BBQ locations and catering, 117 Prime Steakhouse, Sunrise Memphis (2 Locations), and various rental properties around the city of Memphis.
Sapp has been a lifelong support of the University of Memphis and Memphis Athletics. He first bought football season tickets in 1972 and basketball season tickets since 2002. Since the birth of Central BBQ, Mr. Sapp has been a staple and an integral part of Memphis Athletics events and supporting our student-athletes with his catering services. He is married to Kathy Coleman Sapp. The couple have four grown children – two are graduates of the University of Memphis and two are graduates of University of Mississippi. He also has two grandchildren.
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