SHS Announces 2013 HOF Inductees
Seneca High School is proud to announce the Fifth Class of the Athletic Hall
of Fame.
Hall of Fame Night
Friday, September 13, 2013
Seneca vs. Westside Football Game (Ceremony will be held at halftime)
The 2013 five member class includes contributor Dean Davis (posthumously),
coach Tim Howard (posthumously), athletes Dennis Hughes, Caroline Rochester
Kalchthaler, and Debra Roper.
Dean Davis attended Bountyland School and graduated from Seneca High School
in 1940. He loved sports and played football for the Bobcats and ran track.
In 1941-42 he was on the Clemson football team. In 1942, he, along with
thousands of others, went to war. He fought with the Big Red 1 in North
Africa, Sicily, and Italy. After returning home, he went back to Clemson
University and graduated in 1948 with a degree in agronomy. Dean taught
school at Keowee High School and farmed. He was a leader in Richland
Presbyterian Church, The Grange and other civic organizations including
American Legion, the Lions Club, and Boy Scouts. He also coached little
league baseball for a number of years. Dean loved Seneca High School, was a
Bobcat Booster and operated the score board for home Seneca football games
from the 1960’s through the 1992 season. Dean never missed a home game.
While attending Seneca High School, Coach Tim Howard played baseball and
lettered in track. He graduated in 1969 and then attended Mars Hill College
earning a teaching degree. He later attended Clemson University and earned
a Masters of Administration degree. Coach Howard taught at Utica
Elementary, and Seneca Middle School. While teaching at Seneca Middle
School he was named Teacher of the Year in 1981-82. He coached various
sports including varsity football, JV football, golf, tennis, varsity
basketball, middle school basketball, and Legion baseball at Seneca Middle
and Seneca High from 1973 to 1998. He was Athletic Director for Seneca
Middle School and coached in the 1996 State Football Championship game.
Coach Howard coached at Seneca High School until his retirement. The
gymnasium at Seneca Middle School was named Tim Howard Gym in 2002.
Dennis Hughes graduated from Seneca High School in 1966. He lettered in
football (3), track (4,) and baseball (3). In 1965 Dennis was named
All-Conference and All-State in football and All-Conference in track. The
following year he was All-Conference and All-State in track. Upon
completion of high school Dennis signed a football scholarship with the
University of Georgia where he was awarded one of only eight scholarships
offered. He was All SEC Freshman Team in 1966, led the SEC in yards per
reception in 1967, and was All SEC in 1968. Dennis played professional
football for five years with the Pittsburg Steelers, Houston Oilers,
Jacksonville Sharks, and Jacksonville Express. In 1976 he returned to his
alma mater as an Undergrad Assistant coach at the University of Georgia. In
1978 he coached at East Carolina University, and then in 1980 volunteered at
Clark Central High School (GA) for 20 years.
Caroline Rochester Kalchthaler graduated from Seneca High School in 1999.
While competing athletically at Seneca High School, Caroline earned 15
varsity letters in softball (6), volleyball (6), and basketball (3). She
was selected All-Region nine times, softball All-State two times, MVP for
volleyball two times, and MVP for softball two times as Best Defensive
player and Most Offensive player. Caroline was named North/South All Star
1999 for softball, 1999 Wendy’s High School Heisman Award, 1999Tommy Shaver
Award, and as a senior lead softball and basketball teams to state
championships. Following high school, Caroline attended Anderson University
where she played softball and was named All Conference two times and Most
Offensive Player. She had hitting records for the conference and nationally
while at Anderson University and was 2nd in the nation for Hardest to Strike
Out for 2 years in Division II.
Debra Roper graduated from Seneca High School in 1976 and lettered in three
sports while in high school. She played basketball, tennis, and volleyball.
In basketball, Debra was awarded the Captains Award in 1975 and 1977, was
the Best Defensive Player in 1975, had the best free throw percentage in
1974, was named All-County in 1975 and 1976, All-Region in 1974 and 1975,
and All-State in 1975. In 1976, Debra was named the team Most Valuable
Player in tennis and volleyball. After high school Debra went to
Appalachian State (1976-1980) and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in
Physical Education. In 1982 she earned a Master of Religious Education at
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and in 1999 earned a Master of Art;
Health & Exercise Science degree from Furman University. She was named
Teacher of the Year at Greenview Elementary School in Greenville, South
Carolina for the 2000-2001 school-year. Debra has National Board
Certification in Physical Education and is currently teaching physical
education at Thomas E. Kerns Elementary in Greenville.