Hall of Fame
A current member of the Big South Conference Hall of Fame, Dr. Donald N. Dedmon was named the fourth president of Radford College on March 20, 1972. He was at the forefront of Radford being granted university status, allowing men to be admitted and giving the athletic programs the nickname "Highlanders." During the two decades that Dr. Dedmon served as Radford's president, the university experienced unprecedented growth in campus size, curriculum and student population. As the campus grew, so did the amenities around it. Located adjacent from the New River, the Dedmon Center, named in honor of Dr. Dedmon opened in 1981. He was instrumental in the building of the center, which became one of the first buildings designed with an inflated air-supported roof. In 1981, Dr. Dedmon led Radford to NCAA Division II status and then onto a NCAA Division I affiliation in September 1984 thanks to a move to the Big South Conference in 1983. He served as Big South President from May 1986-92 and his tenure included the conference becoming a full-fledged NCAA Division I member in September 1986. Dr. Dedmon will enter the hall of fame posthumously.
