Class of 2024
Glenn S. Rudacille, Sr - Coach
Evan “Topper” Davis - Class of 1961
Donald Lee Tate - Class of 1965
Carolyn Ford - Class of 1978
Rita Lynn Gilman - Class of 1988
Greg S. Smith, Jr - Class of 1993
Daninelle Derricott - Class of 1995
Erron Kinney - Class of 1995
Glenn S. Rudacille, Sr
Coach
Football, Basketball, Baseball
The legendary Coach Glenn S. Rudacille Sr. (1959-1967) joined the newly formed Patrick Henry High School in 1959 and served as its first head coach for boys’ football, basketball, and baseball.
He was the leader in starting the boys’ track program in 1962, and no matter what the sport, Coach Rudacille set a very high bar for work ethic and always led by example.
Coach Rudacille built a foundation for Patrick Henry athletics that would inspire young student-athletes to work hard and give their best in whatever challenge they faced, on and off the field. Coach Rudacille maintained these high standards throughout his distinguished 55-year coaching career, serving as a devoted coach, teacher, mentor, and father figure to countless individuals.
PH STATS
Coaching Accolades
First Head Coach for Boys Baseball, Football, and Basketball
Successfully consolidated the athletic program for athletes from four high schools
First head coach for Boys Track
Won first four Tomato Bowl games 1959 to 1962
Compiled a 31-14-2 record for football in the first five years
Tied for first in the District for football with Colonial Heights in 1960
Boys’ Track won the district meet in 1962
Coach Charles White, Tommy Latta, Don Tate, and Coach Glen Rudacille, Herald-Progress - August 27, 1964.
Coach Rudacille, Saxon, Farrell, Morgan, Webb, Flournoy, Adams, Street, Reece, Cauthorne, Harper (Tyson, the team's leading scorer is not pictured)
J. Taylor, T. Carter, C. Jackson, D. Bremner, L. Owens, J. Markey, N. Puryear, J. Davis, M. Leonard, D. Reece, Latta, A. Cleaton, D. Durham, Coach Glenn Rudacille
Records broken by PH in 1963
Evan “Topper” Davis
Class of 1961
Football, Basketball, Baseball
Evan “Topper” Davis enrolled at Patrick Henry when it opened in 1959, and he was captain for the Basketball, Baseball, and Football teams for both his years at Patrick Henry.
He was the shooting guard on the basketball team, and Topper played quarterback on the football field. He was responsible for three touchdowns in the first Tomato Bowl, a 38-0 win for the Patriots.
During his senior year, the three teams he played for went 33-6-1. He was PH’s most outstanding athlete and was an all-metro selection for football and baseball.
Topper was offered college scholarships in all three sports as well as several professional baseball offers. He attended and graduated from the University of Richmond on a baseball scholarship.
Enrolled at PH when it officially opened in 1959
Member of the first full graduating Class of 1961
Excelled in 3 sports: Pitcher, #2 Guard, and Quarterback,
Co-Captain of all 3 sports both years
Responsible for 3 touchdowns in the 1st Tomato Bowl on 10-21-1959, won by PH 38-0
Recognized as the most outstanding pitcher in the area, undefeated, and ERA of less than 1.00
All District in both football and baseball in his senior year
Awarded 12 letters in the 3 sports in his 4 high school years
Led all of his teams to a combined record of 33-6-1 his senior year
Awarded Most Outstanding Athlete in 1961
VP of the SCA his junior year and President his senior year
Collegiate/Professional
Scholarship offers to college in all 3 sports.
Professional baseball offers from several clubs including the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Attended and graduated from the University of Richmond on a full baseball scholarship.
Front Row: Waleski, Halbleib, Jones, Murphy, Lloyd, Davis, Goodman, J. Bradford, Harris, and Ferguson. Back Row: D. Tate, R. Tate, Palmore, Matro, Stiles, Ruth, Andrews, Binnes, Eddleton, K. Bradford, and Coach Don Colley
Elected President of the school
Evan "Topper" Davis
Davis had a 10.0 average and led the team from the foul line
Davis, Waleski, Johnson, Ruth, Gowen, Tate, Harris, Loving, Grubbs, Lloyd, and Halbleib compose the tough defensive line
Donald Lee Tate
Class of 1965
Football, Basketball, Track & Field
Donnie Tate was a three-sport athlete at Patrick Henry. He was a three-letterman in Basketball and in Track. He held the Virginia State Discus record for three years in a row between 1963 to 1965, where he beat his own record each year.
In Football, Tate played both ways as a defensive end and the center. He was a captain for the team as well as a team MVP one year, and he was named to all-district and all-state teams.
Tate went on to play defensive end at the University of Miami, where in 1966, he and Miami beat Virginia Tech in the Liberty Bowl. He transferred to West Texas A&M, played professional football for the Buffalo Bills and Houston Oilers
He also coached the D-Line at Division 2 Cameron University.
Football
Played Defensive End and Offensive Center
Most Valuable Player
Co-Captain
All-District
All-State
Track
Held State Discs Record - 3 years in a row (1963 - 150'7", 1964 - 163'1/2", 1965 - 164')
Basketball
Played 1962-1964
Collegiate
Played at the University of Miami (Football - Defensive End)
Played in 1966 Liberty Bowl w/Miami and beat Virginia Tech
Transferred to West Texas A&M
Professional
Played one season with the Buffalo Bills (DE) and Houston Oilers
Coaching
Coached D-Line (2 yrs) Cameron University
B Row: Ray Markey, Russ Palmore, Robert Ridout. F Row: Marvin Harris, Don Tate, Tom Gilman
Outstanding on defense for PH were Alvin Mills, Donnie Tate, Punk Walton and Jimmy Cobb
Great defense was the key in the Tech game and Don Tate of Beaverdam, VA, was a key factor in that
Don Tate...is one of 38 freshman football candidates at the University of Miami
Tate, a linebacker, led a defense which forced FSU club to go to the air
Carolyn Ford
Class of 1978
Basketball, Softball, Track & Field
Carolyn Ford was a four-year letter winner in Basketball, Track, and Softball.
Ford was the center for the basketball team all four years and the catcher for the softball team for all four years.
In track, she was the Long Jump State Champion in 1977 and was all-state in the Long Jump, High Jump, and in two team relays; the 880 and the mile.
Ford attended Lamar University, where she played basketball and is one of only three women to have her jersey retired. She was also on the Track team at Lamar, broke the national record in the high jump her freshman year, and then attended the U.S. Olympic Trials. She is a member of the Lamar University Cardinal Hall of Honor.
Ford is a U.S. Army veteran, where she played on the All-Army softball team and was selected as the Army Female Athlete of the Year.
3 Sport Athlete:
Basketball, Track & Field, and Softball
Scored the most points in a game
High Jump and Long Jump records (still stand 45 years later)
College
Graduated Lamar University, Beaumont, TX
2 Sport Athlete: Basketball, Track & Field (broke the US High Jump record as a Freshman), went to US Olympic Trials
Have a Lifetime Portrait in the Mildred “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias Museum in TX
l of 3 Women selected in the 41-year history to have her Basketball Jersey Retired
Lamar University Cardinal Hall of Honor member
Military
Served over 20 Years in US Army Desert Shield/Desert Storm era
Honorably Retired
Held a Top Secret/SCI with polygraph clearance
Played on the All-Army Softball Team for 8 Years
Selected All-Armed Forces All-Star
Selected Army Female Athlete of the Year
All American 8 times
Rita Lynn Gilman
Class of 1988
Basketball, Softball
Rita Lynn Gilman was a four-year starter in both Basketball and Softball for the Patriots.
The teams she played on had a combined record of 134-30 (.817), and Rita Lynn was the 1988 Richmond Times Dispatch Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
In basketball, Gilman made All-Colonial District and All-Central Region teams twice. She made the all-tournament teams in districts and the regionals and was the district tournament MVP.
In softball, she was a three-time All-Colonial District and All-Central Region performer and was the PH MVP award winner three times.
Gilman received a scholarship and played Basketball at the University of Richmond.
Basketball
4-year Varsity Starter
Teams compiled a 74-12 record
2-time First Team All-Colonial District & All-Central Region
All-Tournament Team in District & Region
District Tournament MVP
All-Academic Team
PHHS team awards
Coach’s Award Trophy - 10th
Best Offensive Player Trophy - 11th
Most Valuable Player Trophy - 12th
Softball
4-year Varsity Starter
Teams compiled a 60-18 record
3-time First Team All-Colonial District & All-Central Region Pitcher
All-Academic Team
PHHS team awards
Trophy for Best Pitcher in Tournament Play - 9th
Most Valuable Player Trophy - 10th, 11th, 12th
Awards & Accolades
1988 Richmond Times Dispatch Female Scholar Athlete of the Year
Graduated 6th out of 282 Class of 1988 (4.072 GPA)
Collegiate
Basketball Scholarship to the University of Richmond
CAA (Colonial Athletic Association) All-Academic Team ‘89
Rita Lynn Gilman, star basketball and softball player (and student) ... has accepted an athletic scholarship to play basketball at the University of Richmond
Gregory S. Smith, Jr
Class of 1993
Basketball
Gregory Smith was a four year letter winner in Basketball at Patrick Henry. He was All-District twice and added All-Metro and All-State honors his senior year.
He is on the 1,000 point scorer list for Patrick Henry and was a three-year captain for the team.
Smith played basketball for four years at the University of Delaware, was described as a “smooth scoring machine” and was a three-year captain for the Blue Hens as well. He was inducted in the University of Delaware Hall of Fame in 2010, and when he graduated, he held eleven school records in basketball.
Smith averaged a double-double his senior year, and after 27 years, he is still ranked 4th in both all-time scoring and rebounding at UD.
The year after he graduated, Greg played professional basketball in Greece.
Basketball
Four-year letterman
All–District - 1991-92 and 1992-93
All–Metro - 1992-93
All State - 1992-93
Finished his career at PH with 1,235 points
AAU All-American in 1990
Collegiate/Professional
University of Delaware
Class of 1997
Four-year starter
1st team All-American East Conference - 1994-95 & 1995-1996
1996-97 Season
1st player in America East Conference history to lead the league in scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage in the same season
1st player at the University of Delaware in over 30 years to average a double-double
Runner-up for the American East Conference Player of the Year
Was the UD Outstanding Senior Male Athlete of the Year.
Professional
Played professionally in France in 1997-1998
Daninelle Derricott
Class of 1995
Basketball, Football
Daninelle Derricott was three three-year letterman in both Basketball and Football. In basketball, he was All-District in 1994 and 1995 and was the leading scorer in the district both years. He was the district tournament MVP in 1995 and is on the 1000 point scorer list at Patrick Henry. In Football, Daninelle garnered many all-district, all-metro, all-region honors culminating in being the 1995 Virginia State Player of the Year. Daninelle continued his football career at Marshall University where he was a three time all-MAC performer and is tied for second all-time for interceptions with thirteen in his career. After graduating from Marshall, he played in the CFL for the Montreal Alouettes where he was a Grey Cup Champion and an All-Canadian League performer.
Football
Three–year letterman
All–District 1994, 1995
All–Region, Metro, State 1995
Hanover County, District, Region, Metro, State Player of the Year 1995
All-time interception leader 1995
Basketball
Three-year letterman
All–District 1994, 1995
District Scoring Leader 1994, 1995
District Tournament MVP 1995
1000 Point Scorer
Collegiate
Marshall University
Class of 2001
Hall of Fame Inductee 2016
1st team All MAC 1998, 1999, 2000
Tied for 2nd all-time interceptions (13)
2nd in the nation for interceptions - 1998
60 tackles as a sophomore
Career statistics
167 tackles, 132 solo tackles, 15 for a loss, 30 pass breakups, 13 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries
Ranked #21 all–time for interceptions in the MAC
Graduated from Marshall University with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management
Professional
Montréal Alouettes 2002 – 2004
Grey Cup Champions
All – Canadian League
7 interceptions
Daninelle Derricot in the Herald-Progress on December 16, 2004 - photo by Doug Buerlein
"I was looking at their film, and I saw that their ends came down on our fullback on the dive option," explained Derricott
PH quarterback Daninelle Derricott (1) hands off to O'Neill Terrell during the first half against Atlee
PH quarterback Daninelle Derricott sets up for a long pass
"When we play, like we can play, nobody can stop us," said Derricott
Erron Kinney
Class of 1995
Football, Basketball
Erron Kinney was a three-year letter winner in both football and basketball.
In basketball, he made the All-District team twice.
In football, Erron was ranked as one of the top TE’s in the country and was a key offensive weapon for the 1994 State Championship Football team. His senior year, Erron was All-Metro, Regional, and State and was selected to play in the Virginia East-West All-Star Game.
Erron went on to play at the University of Florida, where he was a four-year letter winner, played in four straight bowl games, and received several honors both at Florida and nationally. Erron was chosen by the Tennessee Titans in the 3rd round of the 2000 NFL Draft and enjoyed a seven-year career with the Titans.
Football
Three–year letterman
All–District - 1994
All–District, Region, Metro, and State - 1995
Regarded as one of the nation's top tight end prospects in 1994. A SuperPrep All-America selection and named one of the top 15 tight ends in the nation. SuperPrep also selected him as the second-best prospect in the state of Virginia
Named one of the top 12 tight ends in the country by National Recruiting Advisor
Kinney led the PH team to the Division 5 state title. During his time at Patrick Henry, he had 35 catches for 784 yards (22.4 per catch) with 11 TDs in 1994 after catching 26 passes for 531 yards and seven TDs as a junior
Selected to play in the Virginia East-West All-Star Game
Basketball
Three-year letterman
All-District - 1994 and 1995
Collegiate
University of Florida 1995 - 2000
A four-time letterwinner
Played in 45 regular-season games with 15 starts for 1,597 plays.
Played in the 1997 Sugar Bowl, 1998 Citrus Bowl, 1999 Orange Bowl, and 2000 Citrus Bowl
39 career pass receptions for 507 yards (13.0 avg.) and five TDs.
Named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 1996 and 1998
Selected to play in the Senior Bowl and the Florida All-Star Gridiron Classic
Received UF's Fifth-Year Team Player Award on offense
Professional
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans selected Kinney in the third round (68th pick overall) of the 2000 NFL draft, and he played for the Titans from 2000 to 2006.
In 2005, he had a career year, hauling in fifty-five receptions for 543 yards.
Kinney suffered a knee injury in training camp before the 2006 season and was released by the Titans in March 2007.
He finished his seven-year NFL career with 178 receptions for 1,750 yards (an average of 9.8 yards per reception) and ten touchdowns.
Other
2003 ESPN Act of Kindness Award
Erron Kinney proudly displays the plaque he received for being a member of the University of Florida’s 1996 National Championship and SEC Championship football team. Herald-Progress June 5, 1997 - photo by Stephen Katz
Erron Kinney hustles for yardage
An honor student and sports editor of his high school newsletter...
Kinney, known as Deedle around Ashland, caught three TD passes--all in the second half
