ATHLETICS and western civilization. He served on the VMI faculty until his retirement in 2007. Davis received the VMI Distinguished Service Award in 1986 and was awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1987 and 2007. In 1992, he was appointed to occupy the General Edwin Cox Distinguished Professorial Chair in History and Economics. Davis has been active in community affairs and has served as president of the Lexington Parent-Teacher Association, the Lexington Kiwanis Club and the English-Speaking Union. He is a former trustee of the Historic Lexington Foundation and served a three-year term on the Lexington School Board. In June 1989, he was appointed acting dean of the faculty, with a succeeding year as associate dean before returning full time to the VMI faculty. Currently, he serves as secretary of the VMI Sports Hall of Fame.
George D. Henning ’61, M.D. (Special Citation)
A long-time team doctor and orthopaedic surgeon, Henning began working with the Keydets and legendary Martin D. “Doc” Delaney ’28 during VMI football games in the 1970s and has devoted his skills to VMI athletic teams for 36 years. Henning, who conducts clinics at Catawba Hospital and Bedford Community Hospital, is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a clinical associate professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University of Virginia. His practice includes nearly every aspect of orthopaedics, including joint replacement, sports medicine and fracture management. A native of Roanoke, Virginia, Henning joined the Roanoke Orthopaedic Center in 1972. Prior to that, he served as a captain in the U.S.
Army Medical Corps and received the Army Commendation Medal in 1966 after completing a tour in Vietnam. He obtained his general and orthopaedic surgery training at Vanderbilt University and became board certified in 1973.
Darrius D. Jackson ’98 (Track and Football)
Jackson, who legally changed his last name to Walker after graduating from VMI, was a dual-sport standout in track and football, but he received most of his accolades through track. He was awarded the “Son” Read trophy and also received the Harden Massie Award twice as the track team member who best exemplified the spirit of VMI. As a first classman, he was named Southern Conference champion in the indoor track 200 meter and long jump and also captured the same events in the 1998 SoCon outdoor meet. At the 1997-98 Southern Conference Indoor Track Championship meet, he was named the outstanding meet performer. He earned all-conference honors in seven events (indoor and outdoor) his senior year and concluded his VMI track career by running a winning leg in the Military Classic 4 x 100 at the Penn Relays, defeating five other academies. He won the 1997 SoCon Outdoor 100-meter dash and 400 relay. In addition, Jackson lettered during each of his four years in football at defensive back and was a starter all years at cornerback. He was sidelined the entire 1995 football season with a foot injury but came back the following spring and won the Southern Conference Outdoor long jump event.
Michael R. Rogers ’98 (Football)
2009 Sports Hall of Fame Inductees: George D. Henning ’61 (Special Citation); Charles T. Cole ’64 (Football); Michael R. Rogers ’98 (Football); Darrius D. Jackson-Walker ’98 (Track and Football); Col. Thomas W. Davis ’64 (Special Citation); Andrew G. Beasley ’90 (Baseball). Not pictured: Tom Van Fossen, who accepted the induction on behalf of his father, William Van Fossen ’56 (Swimming).
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Rogers ranks as VMI’s all-time leader in career total tackles with 457, surpassing a 21year-old record held by former linebacker John Willison ’77. VMI ALUMNI REVIEW