Hudson Valley’s Finest

In South Troy in the McDonough Sports Complex, Hudson Valley’s most decorated athletes are recognized.
“It is such an important part of Hudson Valley sports history,” said Hudson Valley Hall of Famer and Physical Education Chairman, Philip Brown.
“It’s recognition for individuals that have made contributions to the athletic department and the college as a whole,” said Athletic Director Kristan Pelletier.
The Hudson Valley Community College Hall of Fame has 55 individual members made up by former athletes, coaches and athletic department staff, and also inducted are three teams: the 1968 Baseball team, the 1988-89 Women’s Basketball team and the 1992-93 Women’s Basketball team.
A familiar face among students and Athletic Department staff, Christina Kelly graduated from Hudson Valley in 1990. In her two years she played Basketball and Volleyball and never knew the Hall of Fame existed.
“I don’t think I had any awareness of it. I’m sure it existed, but I didn’t know anything about it,” said Kelly.
But little did she know, her career 502 points and 540 rebounds in basketball as well as her capabilities in Volleyball would launch her name into Hudson Valley immortality.
“It’s a pretty special moment to know people have that kind of respect for your athletic ability.” Kelly said “It was a pretty big honor to me and it meant a lot that the coaches and administrators held me high enough regard to put my face on a wall for eternity.”
In 1995 she was inducted three times, making her the only three-time Hall of Famer in Hudson Valley history.
“She’s in the top three or four athletes in the history of Hudson Valley and she represented what an athlete should be,” Brown said.
Brown has been a part of Hudson Valley athletics for 44 years and coached three sports per year for 17 years and like Kelly, he was inducted in 1995.
“This has been tremendous for me and a career that anyone should be envious of having,” said Brown.
Brown is a Hall of Fame committee member and remembers many stories of the athletes he coached or watched have success.
Edward Harvey was a three-sport athlete at Hudson Valley and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979, Harvey’s son is now the New York Mets Ace Matt Harvey.
“If you go down there and read some of the accomplishments these people have, it’s really special,” Brown said.
Coaching the Boxing team that won the Golden Gloves is Brown’s most memorable accomplishment.
“That was the most outstanding feeling I’ve had coaching a sport at Hudson Valley,” he said.
As a coach herself, Kelly coached the Hall of Fame Women’s Basketball team to win the national championship.
“My favorite memory as a coach is when we won the National Championship, which was a profound feeling,” said Kelly.
There have been five Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. The most recent ceremony was in 2007.
Nominations are welcome for the next ceremony which has no set date.
“I think we’re in the process of making one, but there isn’t a timetable on when there should be one,” Pelletier said.
Until the next group of Hudson Valley athletics elites enters immortality, Brown said, “We have some real quality people on that wall downstairs.”