Three former Shepherd athletes and the unbeaten 1955 football team have been announced as the latest inductees into the Shepherd athletic Hall of Fame.

Mike Essis, a three-year defensive starter for the Rams from 1977-80, was a two-time all-WVIAC selection and finished his career with 307 tackles. Essis also made two appearances with the Rams in the Coal Bowl, the WVIAC championship game held near Summersville at Nicholas County High School.

Kim Davis Mercier was a nationally prominent swimmer with the Rams from 1974 through 1978. She was a three-year team captain and was entered in three different events at the swim nationals as a senior.

Gary Phalen played basketball at Shepherd from 1963-66. He still holds the single-season rebounds record with 449 as a senior. Phalen was selected as an all-WVAIC first-teamer as a senior when he averaged 18.1 points a game.

The first-ever team was also given its place in the athletic Hall of Fame. The unbeaten 1955 football team, which had an 8-0-0 record, was also selected for induction by this year’s Hall of Fame committee.

The Shepherd Hall of Fame now boasts 148 individuals.

This fall, there will an annual induction banquet for the new Hall of Famers as well as their introduction to the crowd before a Shepherd football game at Ram Stadium.