The Legacy Vault™ | 2.08.2014 at 9:00 AM
SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- A pair of four-time NAIA All-Americans, a four-time multi-sport NCCAA All-American and a two-time nation's best free-throw shooter join a former three-time World Series champion to highlight this year's Golden Eagle Hall of Fame induction class, Director of Athletics Robyn Daugherty announced this morning.
The Class of 2014 features three male and one female student-athletes in the sports of men's and women's swimming and diving, men's basketball and men's cross country while one served as former director of athletics and long-time baseball coach at John Brown University. The five additions join the already 24 members and four teams already cemented in the Hall of Fame.
The 10th induction class will be honored in a ceremony for family, friends and guests at the Simmons Great Hall on the campus of JBU this Saturday, Feb. 8, and will be introduced on the court at halftime of the men's basketball game against Oklahoma City later in the afternoon. The induction ceremony will begin at noon and will be streamed live, courtesy of JBUathletics.com.
The five-person class includes four-time NAIA All-American and three-time NAIA national champion swimmer Nikki (Peterson) Duncan; four-year NAIA All-American and two-time NAIA national champion swimmer Bill Seabert; four-time NCCAA All-American and two-time NCCAA national champion runner Matt Pearson; games played, steals, free throws made and free throw percentage record-holding guard Shad Miller; and 12-year coach and the 1954 Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year winner Wally Moon.
SHAD MILLER
Athlete
A key member of the rising Golden Eagle basketball teams of the mid-1990's, Shad Miller set a new standard for the Department of Athletics when he was named the institution's first team-sport NAIA All-American in 1996-97. He followed up his third team accolades a year later by earning an honorable mention All-America nomination in 1997-98.
The Tahlequah, Okla., native set numerous men's basketball records during his time from 1994-98, including one that still stands to this day. In 1996-97, he finished with an NAIA-best 93.5 percent mark from the free throw line, still a program record, but his single-season mark also currently sits third in the all-time NAIA record book. A year later, Miller led the nation again in conversions from the charity stripe. This time he posted a 90.8 percent clip from the line, which still paced the nation in that category. During his historic two-year run, Miller knocked down 64 consecutive free throws, which landed him just 10 shy of the all-time NAIA record but tied him with the then-current NCAA I record. Over his four-year career, Miller hit 88.9 percent of his free throws (506-of-569), which placed him sixth all-time in the NAIA's 51-year history.
At the time of his graduation, Miller paced JBU records in free throws made, free throw percentage, steals (197) and games played (124), having never missed a collegiate contest. He was also awarded All-Conference first team honors during his junior and senior campaigns while notching the 1997-98 Sooner Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
WALLY MOON
Coach
As a member of the John Brown University faculty and athletic administration for 12 years from 1966-77, Wally Moon held the titles of head baseball coach, director of athletics, head of the physical education department and the President's assistant for fundraising.
Originally from Bay, Ark., Moon graduated from Bay High School in spring of 1947 and was recruited by Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. There, Moon participated as a two-sport athlete in baseball and basketball for the Aggie before graduating in the spring of 1951. After completing his graduate degree in 1952, Moon played professional baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals for five seasons before suiting up for the Los Angeles Dodgers for seven years. During his time in Major League Baseball, he earned the National League's Rookie of the Year award in 1954 while being chosen to three All-Star teams. During his stint with the Dodgers, Moon helped Los Angeles win World Series titles in 1959, 1963 and 1965. In 1960, Moon was named a Gold Glove recipient as well.
After retiring in 1966, Moon was persuaded to join the Department of Athletics by the late Bill George and former President John E. Brown, Jr. Regardless which facet of the university he served in, Moon always found joy in the development of student-athletes into fine men and women.
MATT PEARSON
Athlete
As John Brown University's first-ever multi-sport All-American, Matt Pearson was also able to capture the Golden Eagles' first-ever individual national championship in 1983.
A native of Siloam Springs, Ark., Pearson entered his collegiate career having held the two-mile record in the state of Arkansas. From 1981-85, Pearson racked up four NCCAA All-America nominations while garnering one NAIA All-America honor. His sophomore year began with his first NCCAA All-America nod, leading the way for his extremely successful junior and senior campaigns. In 1983-84, Pearson nabbed both a National Title and an All-America accolade from the NCCAA. Finally, in his last season of competition, Pearson finished his collegiate career with an NCCAA National Championship and both NAIA and NCCAA All-America honors before capping the season with an NCCAA National Title and All-America status in the 5,000 meter run in track and field action. His NAIA accolades were won in Kenosha, Wis., where Pearson became the first-ever Golden Eagle to earn an individual sport NAIA All-America nomination.
For his five All-America award-winning effort in four years, Pearson was named the JBU Male Athlete of the Year twice during his career.
NIKKI (PETERSON) DUNCAN
Athlete
The first-ever Golden Eagle student-athlete to win four-consecutive NAIA All-America honors, Nikki (Peterson) Duncan dominated her competition in the pool from 1991-95 and is the second-ever female inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Originally from El Cajon, Calif., Peterson was a standout swimmer in the 200 backstroke, 400 individual medley and the 500 freestyle events, as she earned All-American status in each event her freshman season. At the time of her graduation, Peterson held program records in all three events in addition to the 100 backstroke and the 1650 freestyle. She was named the John Brown University Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year all four years she attended JBU.
In 1992-93, Peterson captured her second-consecutive 200 backstroke All-America honors before going on to win the 100 backstroke National Title. She wasn't done, however, as during her senior campaign, Peterson left with a pair of National Titles, including the 500 freestyle and the 1650 freestyle, landing the NAIA's Swimmer of the Year award.
BILL SEABERT
Athlete
A contemporary of Peterson's in the pool for three seasons, Bill Seabert followed Peterson as JBU's second-ever four-time NAIA All-American, including a pair of NAIA National Championships.
The Lancaster, Calif., native collected a pair of championships and a 1994 NAIA Swimmer of the Year honor during his collegiate career that spanned from 1992-96. As a freshman, Seabert placed fifth in the 500 freestyle, seventh in the 1650 freestyle and the 400 individual medley at the NAIA National Meet, finishes that earned him three All-America accolades. During his second year at the NAIA national meet, Bill improved upon his previous finishes and finished third in the 500 freestyle, fourth in the 1650 freestyle and fifth in the 400 individual medley. His final two years of competition resulted in two NAIA National Championships, including the 500 freestyle during his junior season in 1995 and finally the 400 individual medley in 1996.
Seabert also fared well in the classroom as well, landing NAIA Academic All-America honors on two occasions. At the time of his graduation, he held the program record in the 400 individual medley, 500 freestyle and the 1650 freestyle.
Miller, Pearson, Peterson and Seabert were already members of the Golden Eagle Wall of Fame, which is housed in the Soderquist Family Lobby of Bill George Arena. Wall of Fame members include former John Brown University student-athletes that earned either first, second or third-team NAIA All-America honors during their collegiate career.
